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On current ironically-titled single Life In Marvellous Times (DOWNLOAD HERE from RCRD LBL.com) the Black Dante drops some lyrics of fury – “Mr Showman what a prick/ Attitude match his wardrobe uglier than sin” stands out for some reason, though it doesn’t especially capture the track’s political ire. Also, listening to it you might be forgiven for imagining the following conversations had taken place when it was being produced:
Mos Def – I want something with synths – you know like the soundtrack to Day Of The Dead
Mr Flash (Producer) – Got you.
(Some time later as track nears completion)
Mos Def – You know that track you were doing for me?
Flash – Yes…
Def – Well, I’ve been thinking – I’ve been watching Flash Gordon a lot recently…
Flash – (Warily) Yes…
Def – I really quite like the fanfares when Ming The Merciless comes onscreen and I want lots of them in this!
Flash – Er – well, I don’t th-”
Def – It’ll sound great!
Flash – Hmm.
(Later still, post-production)
Def – See, I told you!
Flash – Yep fair do’s.
New York rapper Mos Def releases new single Life In Marvellous Times via iTunes on 11 November. It will be the first single release from new LP The Ecstatic and you can hear Black Dante spit flames over its synth-backed boom-clapness on Mos’ myspace. Rumours abound that (among others) Kanye West, Chad Hugo, Madlib and Oh No had a hand in production and that Slick Rick, Talib Kweli and Q Tip will guest. New label Downtown Records are also home to Spank Rock, Santogold and – er – The Eagles of Death Metal. Let’s hope Downtown can go one better than Geffen did with True Magic and actually give The Ecstatic it a proper cover…
