Besides rapping, singing, and acting, Yasiin Bey (f/k/a Mos Def) is a Spoken Word artist and a self-proclaimed humanitarian. Deliberately out of the spotlight for much of the last five years, Yasiin opted to put his thoughts to audio, surrounding the murders of Michael Brown and Eric Garner (among others), at the hand of the police, met without court indictment.

Referencing both Malcolm X and Charles Dickens, Yasiin Bey reacts to the news, and gives an artful message that reflects his opinion, and offers something for us all to consider:

Sadly, these issues were present 14 years ago when Mos Def and Talib Kweli (Black Star) organized Hip-Hop For Respect, the collective which included Kool G Rap, Rah Digga, Common, Pharoahe Monch, Posdnuos, J-Live, PMD, Ras Kass, Company Flow, dead prez, Aesop Rock, and many others:

Have things changed at all since then?

Related: Spike Lee Speaks on Eric Garner and Americans Doing the Right Thing (Video)