![]() While he was still talking in depth about it, Whosane interrupted: “Yasiin is a brother, mentor and friend to me and me watching that, I felt pain for him as a human being, as a brother…and though ‘wow this is him…as a person not just the entertainer… ‘” “I never spoke about it or explained why I did it, I think the statement is in the action.” “The reason I did it is because I felt very strongly that people needed to see what is happening to innocent human beings who are being denied just their rights whether they are criminal or not,” he explained. Moving away from music a little – after all, Yasiin is an actor, phillanthropist, fashion icon and other cool shit – we asked him about his daring Guantánamo Bay experience where he underwent the horrid force-feeding procedure used on detainees on hunger strikes at the controversial detention camp. Last time I saw him, he said, ‘we need to get into studio’” he said imitating Kanye’s voice. There’s been some talks but no formal deals or anything. Possibly in the future we can do something together. He also revealed that he wasn’t officially signed to Kanye’s G.O.O.D Music imprint which he has worked closely with in the last few years. Me and Kweli have a plan,” he revealed subtly. One significant revelation he made off-air is that the second Black Star album is definitely happening. Our conversations would carry on even off-air. And I can’t agree more, listening to it gave me the same impression. On Ecstatic I was dealing with each song like it could have been a single on its own,” he explained. “I was like I’m only going to do songs that I’m crazy about. His 2008 aptly titled comeback, Ecstatic, a personal favourite of mine, was what Mos Def fans had, for several years, been asking for from him: a good Mos Def rap album. ![]() However, he felt he could have done better with the latter but he had issues with the label (Geffen) that’s why the album would go on to be released without an artwork and credit list. I was pleased with True Magic ,” he stated. “I was pleased with the record ( New Danger). “And the label was like, ‘Na, we want a Mos Def rapping album’ and I was like, ‘Okay, cool’” He made it clear that he likes both albums. I thought, ‘this is where I’m at, this is the zone I’m in and feeling’” he defended himself. He claimed it had the most challenging music he has ever made. I’ve always been curious what was going on in his head when he chose to make such cringe-worthy albums especially New Danger which would suffer comparison to his culture-defining debut, Black On Both Sides (1999). The range of topics we covered was wide his demonstration of the inhumane force-feeding at the Guantanamo Bay procedure, Nelson Mandela, his most criticised albums New Danger and True Magic… and a whole lot more. All questions me and Andy posed got long erudite responses that would end up veering into other topics. Yasiin is a chilled individual, forever wearing a wry inviting smile indicating utmost humility and an overall hospitable personality. Both Andy and I were nervous at first.īut, as we started conversing, it all vanished. We offered everyone Red Bulls, Yasiin opted for water. ![]() We exchanged greetings and everybody took their seats. As Yasiin walked into the studio with his cousin and rapper Whosane, we were, as a welcome gesture, playing the Premo-produced “Mathematics” which would be followed by Whosane’s “Mamela (Listen)”. Yasiin Bey agreed to sit down with us on the last Friday of the year 2013 which marked the last Headwarmaz episode of the year. Promoters who have reached out haven’t been successful either. Yasiin Bey has turned down almost all interview requests since moving down here. My partner in all things art, Andy Mkosi and I got an opportunity to encounter the hip-hop legend on three different days in Cape Town as he prepared his Now Years Eve concert held at the iconic Zula Bar.įriday, December 27 th: Bush Radio, Salt River ![]() It’s said he lives in a penthouse somewhere in the CBD. You either have spotted him yourself or know someone who has. Written by Sabelo Mkhabela, Images taken by Benjamin Moyoīy now, you should know that Yasiin Bey (the artist formerly known as Mos Def) has been a Cape Town resident for a few years.
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