The Midnight Hour
Ali Shaheed Muhammad · 2018
60 min · 20 tracks · hip-hop
A soulful blend of jazz, hip-hop, and R&B elevates the listening experience into a meditative journey through sound.
Top tracks — play these first
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It’s You — This track embodies the album's essence with its smooth instrumentation and heartfelt lyrics, showcasing Muhammad's ability to blend emotional storytelling with rich soundscapes.
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So Amazing — Featuring lush arrangements and a groove-heavy beat, this song captures the uplifting spirit of the album and highlights Muhammad's skillful production techniques.
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Love Is Free — With its infectious rhythm and positive message, this track stands out as a celebration of freedom and connection, resonating deeply within the context of both personal and societal themes.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends genres effectively, showcasing strong craftsmanship and a unique sound within contemporary hip-hop.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of live instrumentation, with jazz-inflected melodies layered over hip-hop beats throughout its duration.
- Several tracks incorporate spoken word elements, creating a narrative flow that connects the pieces thematically.
- The first half of the album maintains an upbeat tempo, while the second half transitions into more introspective and slower-paced compositions.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- reflective late-night listening
- gradual builds and payoffs
- layered, dense sonic textures
- immersive storytelling journeys
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By the release of The Midnight Hour in June 2018, Ali Shaheed Muhammad was well-established as a member of the influential group A Tribe Called Quest and had shifted his focus towards solo artistry and production. This album represents his continued evolution as an artist, following his previous work on various collaborations and projects that highlighted his skills beyond traditional hip-hop.
- Stylistic neighbors
- A Tribe Called Quest· The Roots· Robert Glasper
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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It’s You
The narrative shifts from introspective musings to a direct declaration of love marks a pivotal emotional peak in the song.
This transition deepens the listener's engagement by contrasting reflective thoughts with an earnest proclamation, emphasizing vulnerability in relationships.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Black Beacon 4:00
- 2 Mare 1:05
- 3 It’s You 4:56
- 4 Questions 3:27
- 5 So Amazing 4:12
- 6 Gate 54 4:03
- 7 Do It Together 3:08
- 8 Redneph in B Minor 2:48
- 9 Better Endeavor 2:48
- 10 Smiling for Me 3:02
- 11 Don’t Keep Me Waiting 3:17
- 12 Bitches Do Voodoo 0:53
- 13 Possibilities 3:11
- 14 Mission 2:55
- 15 Dans un moment d’errance 3:02
- 16 Love Is Free 2:43
- 17 Together Again 3:20
- 18 Feel Alive 2:56
- 19 There Is No Greater Love 2:19
- 20 Ravens 2:24
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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