yasiin bey Archives

Yasiin Bey Takes Over Petite Noir’s Till We Ghosts and Shines (Audio)

Yasiin Bey slips into "Umi Says" mode on Petite Noir's "Till We Ghosts." More than just a featured appearance, Bey (formerly Mos Def) takes over at 1 minute in and closes out the ambient, string-driven track. He progresses from meditative verse to plaintive wail. This is the kind of free... Read more

December 17, 2014 Audio

Yasiin Bey On Recent US Events: “We Are At A Watershed Moment For Humanity”

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),... Read more

December 5, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Finding The GOAT: Mos Def vs. Pharoahe Monch…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

October 21, 2014 Featured-homepage, Fresh

Here’s a Playlist of the Best Hip-Hop to Drop in June 2014 (Audio Playlist)

June brought some of the best Hip-Hop of the year, so far. We got new music from G-Unit, Common, Marsha Ambrosius & Dr. Dre, Ab-Soul & Kendrick Lamar, Souls of Mischief, Cormega, Mac Miller & Pete Rock, Black Thought, The Lox, Buckshot, Yasiin Bey & Mannie Fresh, Black Milk, Ice... Read more

July 3, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh, Playlists

The Marvin Gaye & Mos Def Mash-Up Gets A Bonus Round In Yasiin Gaye: The Return Side Two (Mixtape)

Less than three months after musical-mixologist Amerigo Gazaway unleashed Yasiin Gaye: The Departure: Side 1, the mythical, digital tape gets turned over for the B-side. Yasiin Gaye: The Return: Side Two really captures Marvin Gaye's studio and vocal innovations, while deeply considering the late '90s Mos Def material often overlooked in... Read more

June 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

Mannie Fresh and Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def) Release Some New Bounce Just in Time for Summer (Audio)

More than a year after the release of their single, "Black Jesus," Mannie Fresh and Yasiin Bey release another collabo and it's got that BOUNCE. Check out the instantly-catchy "Let's Go." Related: Mannie Fresh Premiers New Mos Def Collaboration, Talks Making Juvenile’s 400 Degreez With NPR (Video)... Read more

June 2, 2014 Audio

Yasiin Gaye’s (Mos Def & Marvin Gaye) Ms. Fat Booty Gets A Mashed Up Visual Component (Video)

Just when it felt like Yasiin Gaye could get no bigger, the creator of the fully-produced Marvin Gaye and Mos Def (aka Yasiin Bey) mash-up project, Amerigo Gazaway, went to the visual medium. For the Gaye-enhanced remix of Mos Def's Black On Both Sides single, "Ms. Fat Booty," Gazaway morphed... Read more

April 8, 2014 Fresh, Video

More Marvin Gaye & Mos Def Mash-Ups, This Time Tackling A Complicated Thing Called Love (Audio)

After the strong reaction to "Inner City Travelin' Man" last week, the Yasiin Gaye (Mos Def + Marvin Gaye) blend, another track is unveiled. This time it's (Marvin's deeply personal) "Anna's Love," a combination of Marvin's "Anna's Song" (from Here, My Dear), and Yasiin Bey's "Love." Besides urban living and... Read more

February 10, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Some Classic Marvin Gaye & Some Classic Mos Def Mixed Together Like They’re Soul Mates (Audio)

The quality in mash-up mixes are really improving lately. From Girltalk to DJ Z-Trip to others, the once-gimmicky (to some Heads) practice of intermixing songs from different genres and eras has gotten technically strong, and artful. 2DopeBoyz put the spotlight on this new "Yasiin Gaye" project from Amerigo Gazaway, who... Read more

January 30, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Preservation – SePtember 1200 (Barry White Tribute Mixtape)

Preservation is a producer/DJ closely associated with Yasiin Bey aka Mos Def. The touring-mate of the former Rawkus Records standout offered up The REcstatic earlier this year, a fully-remixed version of Mos' 2009 Downtown Records album (which along with Madlib and Oh No, Preservation produced). After doing that acclaimed re-working... Read more

September 12, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

They Die By Dawn – The Bullits ft Yasiin Bey, Jay Electronica & Lucy Liu (Video)

The video for They Die By Dawn, the collabo between Yasiin Bey, Jay Electronica, Lucy Liu and The Bullits, plays like an extended trailer for the eponymous film which looks pretty epic. The movie is a virtual who's who, with appearances from Giancarlo Esposito, Michael Kenneth Williams, Rosario Dawson, Erykah... Read more

May 28, 2013 Video

Living Legends: Yasiin Bey (Playlist)

Dante Smith. Mos Def. Yasiin Bey. No matter the name, it still equals the same result--DOPE MC. The gifted rapper, singer and actor has been in the game for more than 20 years both as a solo artist and as a member of groups like Urban Thermo Dynamics and, of... Read more

May 10, 2013 Audio, Playlists

Yasiin Bey Performs in Paris (Video)

Yasiin Bey recently performed in Paris with the Robert Glasper Experiment. Here's some video of the event, which includes a guest appearance by Kanye West who performed Can't Tell Me Nothing. Check it out below. Related: Mos Def – The Light is not Afraid of the Dark (Prod. Kanye West)... Read more

April 18, 2013 Video

AFH: Best Hip-Hop of March 2013 Playlist (Audio)

As we ease into April, here's a look back at some of the best hip-hop to drop in March. You'll hear music from Kendrick Lamar & Jay-Z, Big K.R.I.T., Big Daddy Kane, Raekwon, AZ, Drake, Ghostface Killah, Schoolboy Q, Kanye West, Jay Electronica, Yasiin Bey, Rapsody, Yelawolf, Stalley & Scarface,... Read more

April 6, 2013 Audio, Featured-homepage, Playlists

Yasiin Bey & Mannie Fresh – Black Jesus

After months of behind the scenes videos of them in the studio, Yasiin Bey and Mannie Fresh release their first song. Check out "Black Jesus." Related: The making of OMFGOD by Yasiin Bey & Mannie Fresh (Video) Click here to download... Read more

April 1, 2013 Audio

The Bullits – They Die By Dawn ft Yasiin Bey, Jay Electronica & Lucy Liu + They Die By Dawn Trailer (Video)

Whoa. Here's something you don't hear every day--Yasiin Bey and Jay Electronica flowing over a Spaghetti Western track. The song is for an upcoming Western featuring Erykah Badu, The Wire's Michael Kenneth Williams, Breaking Bad's Giancarlo Esposito, Rosario Dawson, Isaiah Washington, Bokeem Woodbine and more. Both the soundtrack and the... Read more

March 22, 2013 Audio, Video

AFH Best of November Playlist (Audio)

As November winds down, here's a playlist of some of the dope music that dropped (and there's a lot) this month. You'll hear new music from Redman, Ghostface & Sheek Louch, Masta Killa, T.I. & Andre 3000, KRS-One, Rick Ross, Dead Pres & Nas, Big Boi, Freeway, Wiz Khalifa, Joe... Read more

November 30, 2012 Audio, Playlists

Yasiin Bey – I Don’t Like

Wow. Here's a nuts contrast. Yasiin Bey goes in over a Chief Keef beat. You can bet there are quite a few differences in the things they don't like. Check out Yasiin Bey's version of I Don't Like below. Related: Yasiin Bey: A Modern Marvel in Marvelous Times (Video)... Read more

November 28, 2012 Audio

Yasiin Bey: A Modern Marvel in Marvelous Times (Video)

Here's a cool video on Yasiin Bey (formerly the Mighty Mos Def). It features some recent performance footage and an interview with Yasiin where he talks about living in New Orleans, working with Mannie Fresh and more. Check Yasiin Bey: A Modern Marvel in Marvelous Times. Related: The making of... Read more

October 22, 2012 Food for Thought, Video

J-Live – Hot vs. Dope Vol. 1 (Mixtape)

Some (though not enough) know J-Live as a dope MC. Heads know he is a skilled DJ, as well. Here's a new mixtape from him featuring recent music from Yasiin Bey, Kendrick Lamar, Murs & Fashawn, Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Killer Mike, Rick Ross, Skyzoo, CL Smooth, Raekwon, Jean Greae,... Read more

October 17, 2012 Audio, Mixes

Yasiin Bey recites Muhammad Ali (Video)

A short version of Yasiin Bey reciting Muhammad Ali's "Float" poem surfaced a few months ago. Here's the full video. Check it out below. Related: Mister Cee - The Best of Black Star Mix (Mixtape)... Read more

October 17, 2012 Food for Thought, Video

Black Star perform at the Lyricist Lounge 20th Anniversary Celebration (Video)

More footage has surfaced from the Lyricist Lounge 20th anniversary celebration that took place earlier in the year. Check out this video of Black Star performing part of Astronomy (8th Light). Related: Black Thought and Prodigy Perform at the Lyricist Lounge 20-Year Reunion Party (Video)... Read more

October 6, 2012 Video

Here’s a Pete Rock remix of a song by Robert Glasper featuring Yasiin Bey (pka Mos Def). Super Ill. Check out Black Radio (Audio)

Related: The making of OMFGOD featuring Yasiin Bey and Mannie Fresh (Video)... Read more

October 2, 2012 Audio

Here’s a video documenting the making of an incredibly unexpected but extremely dope collabo between Yasiin Bey and Mannie Fresh. The track is called OMFGOD and it’s about to be a PROBLEM. Check it out (Video)

These are parts 1, 2 and 3 of 4 videos. Related: Yasiin Bey recites Muhammad Ali's Rumble in the Jungle poem (Video)... Read more

September 1, 2012 Video

Here’s a beautifully shot clip where Yasiin Bey recites one of Muhammad Ali’s most famous rhymes–the one leading up to the Rumble in the Jungle with George Foreman (Video)

Check out the video. Related: Yasiin Bey performs with the Brooklyn Philharmonic (Video) Louis Vuitton "Dream" - Directed by Stuart McIntyre from Steam Films on Vimeo.... Read more

July 29, 2012 Food for Thought, Video

Yasiin Bey (pka Mos Def) – Life in Marvelous Times (Video)

Yasiin Bey (pka Mos Def) graced the stage in Brooklyn last night with a special performance with the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra. Here's a blisteringly hot performance of Life in Marvelous Times. The live strings make it sound epic. Check out the video. Related: Yasiin Bey performs Umi Says with The... Read more

June 10, 2012 Video

Yasiin Bey (pka Mos Def) – Bey

Here are some new verses from Yasiin Bey (pka Mos Def) over the John track in honor of the birthdays of Malcolm X and The Notorious BIG. Malcolm X was born on May 19th and Biggie would have been 40 today. Check out Bey. Related: Rare footage of Biggie performing... Read more

May 21, 2012 Audio

Behind the scenes look at the making of the Trayvon Martin tribute featuring Yasiin Bey (pka Mos Def) and Dead Prez (Video)

Here's a behind the scenes look at the making of a Trayvon Martin tribute that's being done by Yasiin Bey (pka Mos Def) and Dead Prez. The song will be called Made You Die and is set to the track from Nas' Made You Look. Check out the video below.... Read more

April 6, 2012 Video

Yasiin Bey (pka Mos Def) – Forever Alive & Sexy Sax Man (Video)

Yasiin Bey (pka Mos Def) performed a bunch of new songs in Paris a few weeks ago. A couple of videos dropped previously and now here are 2 additional songs. Check out his performances of Forever Alive & Sexy Sax Man below. Previously: Yasiin Bey - Niggas in Poorest (Video)... Read more

March 19, 2012 Video

Yasiin Bey (pka Mos Def), Talib Kweli and Posdnous perform Stakes is High (Video)

And, speaking of Posdnous...here's some footage that recently surfaced of him performing De La Soul's classic Stakes Is High with none other than Yasiin Bey (pka Mos Def) and Talib Kweli, also known as Black Star. The sound quality is not great but you get a good sense of the... Read more

March 11, 2012 Video

Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) performs Sunshine Screwface and Quiet Dog (Video)

Here are 2 dope performances by Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) of Sunshine Screwface (performed by J. Dilla) and Quiet Dog. Check out both videos below. Click here for his N*ggas in Poorest video. Sunshine Screwface http://vimeo.com/38084710 Quiet Dog http://vimeo.com/38028615... Read more

March 7, 2012 Video

Young Guru Speaks on Nggas in Paris vs. Nggas in Poorest (Video)

Young Guru (engineer extraordinaire for Kanye West & Jay-Z and ill DJ) steadily has been establishing himself as a hip-hop scholar. Check out what he has to say about N*ggas in Paris vs. N*ggas in Poorest. Rather than pit the two songs against each other he reconciles them and argues... Read more

February 27, 2012 Food for Thought, Video

Yasiin Bey (previously known as Mos Def) laid down his response to Nggas in Paris a few months ago. He goes even harder in the video…Check out his video for Nggas in Poorest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFg7-4vBPWM&context=C35b717eADOEgsToPDskKgnfvMqtxskqepunxQhhEQ... Read more

February 21, 2012 Video

Black Star – Little Brother + You Already Knew Performances (Video)

Here are a couple of very dope performances of new music by Black Star with The Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Check out their songs Little Brother and You Already Knew. Little Brother You Already Knew... Read more

January 4, 2012 Video

Mos Def performs new music that features tracks by Madlib and J. Dilla (Video)

The Mighty Mos Def (soon to be Yasiin Bey…though he’ll always be Mighty) performed some new songs at New York's S.O.B.'s. The tracks were produced by Madlib and J. Dilla (click here for a new song from Immortal Technique that also sports a previously unreleased Dilla beat). In a word--RUGGED.... Read more

October 22, 2011 Video

Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def) and Talib Kweli performed their new song on The Colbert Show recently. Check out the Fix Up below.

October 7, 2011 Video