De La Soul - Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump (CD)

All Music Guide

De La Soul came storming back after four years of recording inactivity and practically a decade out of the hiphop limelight with a promise to release three full albums in a series they dubbed Art Official Intelligence. From the first volume, Mosaic Thump comes some hiphop/soul with "U Can Do (Life)." Posdnuos' raps are occasionally thoughtful and clever, but he seems obsessed with being as hardcore as DMX or JayZ. There are a few solid productions by outsiders (Ad Lib's "My Writes," Jaydee's "Thru Ya City," Rockwilder's "I.C. Y'All." with Busta Rhymes), but most of Mosaic Thump was produced by De La Soul themselves.

- John Bush, All Music Guide