Every part of 1998's "Black on Both Sides" that critics dismissed as flirting with pretentiousness or too diverse for its own good is back and amped up on Mos Def [ tickets ]'s second solo release, "The New Danger." This is a good thing.

One of hip-hop's most versatile performers, the Brooklyn rapper slathers on rock jams from his Black Jack Johnson project--which features Bernie Worrell, Doug Wimbish and Dr. Know--on "Freaky Black Greetings" and "Blue Black Jack," but applies equal verve to the album's thoughtful MC showcases ("War", "Modern Marvel").

Nothing if not littered with risk-taking, the disc opens with Mos singing "The Boogie Man Song": "I am the most beautiful boogie man/Let me be your favorite nightmare/Close your eyes and I'll be right there." Crafted verse from one of rap's most dangerous MCs. It's not gonna put Lil Jon out of business, but "The New Danger" does give hip-hop an edgy new twist.