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Over the years, the multi-talented Mos Def has split his time between music and acting. And judging by his last two albums it seems that music has taken a backseat to his big screen ambitions. In his defense, New Danger and True Magic were both bold attempts at embracing different styles, but his choice in producers didn’t inspire him enough to lyrically surpass what he did on Black on Both Sides. His latest album, however (The Ecstatic), seems to have gotten him on the right track, thanks to the contributions of hip-hop super producers Madlib, Oh No, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Chad Hugo and the late J-Dilla. It certainly isn’t vintage Mos Def, as this is an aesthetically different MC with a new lyrical sensibility about him. The ticket prices are a bit steep, but the hefty tag should prove worthy, considering that this is the sharpest that Mos Def has sounded in years. (J. Min)