Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) On His Favorite Musicians, Chappelle & New Art | Full Interview | MSNBC

Artist Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) talks to MSNBC anchor Ari Melber in this extended interview from inside Bey's new installation at the Brooklyn Museum, where Bey explains his approach to making music and art today, why Dave Chappelle is one of “his dearest friends for life,” and his reflections on verses from Bey's classic album “Black on Both Sides.” Bey also lists some of his favorite artists, including Kendrick Lamar, Earl Sweatshirt, Blu, JPEGMafia, Kelsey Lu, Blood Orange, Robert Glasper, Eubie Blake, The Tony Williams Lifetime, and Emahoy Maryam. (On Dec. 20, 2019, an edited version of this interview aired on MSNBC’s “The Beat with Ari Melber,” ).

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Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) On His Favorite Musicians, Chappelle & New Art | Full Interview | MSNBC

28 comments

  1. Can somebody explain to me what MOS DEF means ?? It sounds like some satanic MSNBCannibal ritual phrase *MOS DEF* Def Leppard ??????? I am need some help here!!

    1. @Some Person I figured, but u never know if someone else is reading thru the comments and can learn a thing or two. 🙂

    2. @Harlow Jade Mermaid I definitely agree, just a fair warning. This particular troll lives on the MSNBC page and tried it’s best to be as racial and hateful as possible. I pray someday they find some sort of peace, but I’m not going to hold my breath. Have a good 2020, and keep spreading that positive vibe we need more of it. Cheers

  2. MOS DEF’s mind is brilliant and I LOOOOOVVVVEEE his energy… I also love how Ari strives to connect with the culture through our music. It’s a beautiful thing ❤

  3. Absolutely LOVE and RESPECT Mos Def!!!!! WONDERFUL interview, Ari!!!!!! I’m not and never have been a fan of the hip-hop culture. BUT a couple of the ladies on my old job back in NY had taken me out to celebrate my birthdate. It was a HUGE surprise!!! They’d taken me out to dinner and then took me to Central Park for this concert. I didn’t know who was playing or anything.

    I had never seen Mos Def except on TV. And he came out and started doing his thing. And he had REAL musicians backing him!!! That BLEW MY MIND!!!!! And they were playing a bunch of JAZZY music!!!! Being a bassist, I had soooo much respect toward this dude!!!

    I was in TEARS most of the time because I’d never seen anything like that performance!!! Still haven’t. Then I’d started seeing Mos Def on TV with Dave Chappelle, then Mos Def in movies… this brother can ACT!!!!! And he never seems [to me] to break with his character or moral center. THAT is outstanding to me!!!!

    And THAT’S why I LOVE this brother!!!!

    1. Yes, he does. I am worried for him. He has battled with downs his whole life. He is a really good dude, with a huge heart, and he is very misunderstood & highly underrated.

  4. yikes… hope Yaslin sings better than he speaks… his speaking voice is incredibly distracting from what he’s saying… sounds stoned…

  5. “I am not a divine man, but I do believe in divine guidance, divine power, & divine prophecy. I am not an educated man, nor am I an expert in any particular field — but I am sincere, and my sincerity is my credential.” ~ Yasiin Bey

  6. Love Mos Def, very deep person and not behold to any one person or fad. Very good to hear from him. Thank you, the world needs more reporting about people like him to cleanse the air, so to speak. ♥️🇨🇦

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