Track of the Day: “Mathematics” – Mos Def

Everyone knows that numbers are infinite. Apparently the lyrical skills of Brooklyn emcee Mos Def are just as unlimited, as he uses numbers to take his social commentary above and beyond in “Mathematics,” a politically charged single from his 1999 debut album “Black on Both Sides.”

The first verse kicks off with an interesting scheme, as Mos uses each single-digit number from one on up to ten to complete a rhyme. This is simply filler, though, as he is leading us into the real heavy stuff – how discouraging the mathematics of reality can be.

In one line he says, “I got 16 to 32 bars to rock it / but only 15 percent of profits ever see my pockets.” This illustrates how the quality of work that he puts in as lyricist isn’t appropriately matched by the income he receives in return. The verse is solid with these mathematically inspired observations, and closes with, “You want to know how to rhyme, you better learn how to add,” indicating that one cannot achieve the level of a respected rapper unless they understand the pros and cons of their own environment.

The chorus is a showcase of what DJ Premier does best, and that is put turntables to the test, mixing and scratching with immaculate precision. Seaming together a string of lines that mention mathematics and science, Premier uses samples from rappers Ghostface Killah and Fat Joe, singer Erykah Badu and even the legendary father of soul James Brown.

In the second verse, Mos begins with the same concept as the first, rhyming about single-digit numbers as a warm up: “It’s one universal law, but two sides to every story / three strikes and you be in for life – mandatory / four emcees murdered in the last four years / I ain’t trying to be the fifth one, the millennium is here.”

Once again, when it gets down to the meat of the verse, Mos doesn’t disappoint. This time, the subject matter is more focused, though, as he paints a picture of the American justice system and how it takes advantage of the disenfranchised urban population. He says, “Stiffer stipulations attached to each sentence / budget cutbacks, but increased police presence / and even if you get out of prison still livin’ / join the other five million under state supervision.”

The verse concludes with a word to the wise in reference to the imbalance of economic statistics in society: “Numbers is hardly real and they never have feelings / But you push too hard, even numbers got limits / Why did one straw break the camel’s back? Here’s the secret: the million other straws underneath it – it’s all mathematics.”

Arithmetic has never seemed more interesting.