Search - Def Jef :: Soul Food

A DEF masterpiece that fell on deaf ears (5 stars)

Alan Pounds | Minneapolis, MN | 02/24/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Def Jef was always hailed by critics as an excellent rapper and producer with superb political/socially conscious messages held within. However, he never received much fanfare, and his solo career sadly slipped into obscurity. His second and final solo album "Soul Food" is most certainly a long-forgotten gem. Def Jef has managed to stay relevant over the years as a producer. Aside from his solo work, he was producing for Mellow Man Ace & Tone-Loc. He later went on to produce and remix records for Nas, 2Pac, Boss, Snoop Dogg, Krayzie Bone, Daz, & Diamond D, among others. Unlike the sound some of those other artists held, his solo work fits comfortably into The Flavor Unit and Native Tongues style similar to A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul & Jungle Brothers, while also including hard hitting message raps similar to Lakim Shabazz or Tragedy Khadafi. Surprisingly, his music also held some very nice mainstream appeal that simply got lost in the shuffle of the golden age.



"Soul Food" is honestly my favorite of his two records. His flow tightened up a bit more here, and he's working a little more fluidly with his also improved production. It's evident that Jef has an impeccable ear for samples, and can craft an excellent and memorable hook/chorus. Many of the cuts here feature excellent soul singers (such as Kenyatta & Pamela Fernandez) on the hooks over his soulful and jazzy production. Def Jef's rapping is on point throughout, and mixes in a variety of message tracks, as well as fun, feel good jams. Even Tone Loc and Funkytown Pros have great guest spots on here. All 55 minutes of this album is filler free in my opinion. The whole disc is filled with standouts. Anyone interested in golden age alternative rap should most definitely check this album out, along with his debut."