Yasiin Bey needs no introduction. He’s one of the most acclaimed rappers of his generation, and someone who’s been praised for putting artistry before commercialism. It’s this propensity for artistry that led Bey aka Mos Def to criticize Drake during a January interview. He claimed the Toronto rapper failed to meet his definition of hip-hop. A lot has transpired since then, however. The Big Three was destroyed by Kendrick Lamar, and Drake took another high profile L in a rap battle.
Yasiin Bey has decided to resurface in the aftermath of the Drake vs. Kendrick battle and drop a new freestyle. His instrumental choice? The song that started the whole Big Three conflict in the first place, “Like That” by Future and Metro Boomin. Bey sounds sharp as ever over the sparse beat, but the lines that turned the most heads were aimed squarely at the Big Three. The Black Star rapper appears to criticize the artists connected to the moniker for being superficial and greedy.
Yasiin Bey Claimed The Big Three Is “Not Much To Look At”
“Greedy, seedy, and creepy/Corny, horny, and boring,” Bey raps. “Bougie, goofy, and moody/Foolish, ruthless, and clueless/Variations on a petty Big 3/A whole lot to look at, but not much to see.” Calling rap’s most popular artists “petty” is enough to offend the younger generation, but Bey doubles down and claims that the Big Three don’t provide much substance. “A whole lot to look at, but not much to see” is a root of the rapper’s original problem with Drake.
In the aforementioned January interview, Bey dubbed Drake a “pop artist” instead of a rap artist. “Drake is pop to me,” he asserted. “In the sense like if I was in Target in Houston and I heard a Drake song. It feels like his music is compatible with shopping. You know, shopping with an edge in certain instances.” He drew so much negative attention for his comments that he clarified them on Instagram. That said, he stood by his opinion. “I require more of myself and others than just talent or charm or charisma,” he told Drake. “Particularly in times of urgent crisis.” Bey’s freestyle can be seen, consequently, as a triple down.
Black Star is a prolific and influential rap duo born and bred in Brooklyn, New York, and consisting of Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli. The two MCs have made a massive mark on the hip hop soundscape, together, and in their solo catalogs, with a combined total of over a dozen LPs and mixtapes between them. Through their extensive catalog, Bey and Kweli have pushed the boundaries of the conscious rap sound. The duo first formed in 1996 with an unparalleled blend of intellect, lyrical prowess, and social consciousness, delivered over inventive instrumentation.
Their critically acclaimed 1998 debut album, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, resonated as a groundbreaking masterpiece, elevating the duo to cult status. While the pair continued to collaborate on film soundtracks, feature verses for other rap icons, and many appearances on The Chappelle’s Show in the years following the release of their debut, many fans wondered why they never produced a sophomore effort in the early aughts.
Though Talib Kweli reportedly expressed to media outlets that a second album was underway in 2002, no such effort would arise until the 2022 record No Fear Of Time. Here’s a look into what the MCs have been up to since the origins of Black Star nearly 20 years ago.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 15: Mos Def attends Black Star In Concert at Sony Hallon November 15, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Yasiin Bey recently made headlines due to his criticism of Drake, referring to the rapper’s prolific catalog as pop music, suitable to accompany day-time shopping at commercialized locations like Target. Long before he became known to the public as Yasiin Bey, the Brooklyn native headed Black Star under the stage name Mos Def. In fact, Bey abandoned the Mos Def moniker specifically because he felt that it was becoming more of a brand than an actual name. As a result, the known anti-corporate artist transitioned to publicly using his assumed name taken from the 36th surah of the Qur’an.
As a solo act, Yasiin Bey made waves with landmark releases such as Black On Both Sides, which touted such chart-topping records as “Ms. Fat Booty” and “Mathematics.” The rapper also holds an impressive career in television and film, having appeared in over 50 credited roles per IMDb. Bey most notably starred in films such as 2003’s The Italian Job, 2008’s Be Kind Rewind, and a 5-episode stint in the Showtime series Dexter. In 2016, Bey announced plans to retire from both acting and rapping, though he has continued to tour in the years since.
In 2021, Bey teamed with his Black Star compatriot Talib Kweli and comedian Dave Chappelle to launch The Midnight Miracle podcast. The series is available exclusively through the subscription-based podcasting app Luminary, which also hosts the long-awaited Black Star reunion album.
Like Yasiin Bey, Talib Kweli has held a prominent position as one of the most thoughtful and introspective rappers of his generation. In the years since Black Star’s debut, Kweli has gone on to release 8 solo albums, as well as 9 collaborative projects, showcasing his unyielding commitment to hip hop as an art form. Despite releasing most of his chart-topping singles in the early years of his career, Talib Kweli has continued to inspire generations of rap listeners with hard-hitting lyrics, poignant social commentary, and a distinct sound that defies replication.
In 2019, Talib Kweli launched his first podcasting venture, The People’s Party, alongside his co-host Jasmin Leigh. The show has aired over 100 episodes, each taking on a different recognizable guest with a deep dive into what rap means to them. The show has enjoyed the privilege of featuring guest appearances from notable figures such as Ice Cube, Kxng Crooked, Styles P, Black Thought, and others. Kweli’s second venture in podcasting came in the form of the aforementioned Luminary-exclusive Midnight Miracle.
Talib Kweli partnered with Luminary to bring a host of new music to the podcasting app, including the long-awaited Black Star reunion album No Fear Of Time, which released in 2022. Unfortunately, the album has still never been released outside of the Luminary app, leaving many fans without access to the duo’s latest work.
In addition to linking with Yasiin Bey, Kweli also released a memoir in 2021, titled Vibrate Higher: A Rap Story. The following year, the book won a PEN Oakland award. Most recently, Talib Kweli has been engaged in an ongoing feud with Consequence, resulting in the pair throwing near-daily shots at one another on social media, and occasionally dissing each other on wax.
Yasiin Bey, also known as Mos Def, is a hip hop legend from Brooklyn, New York, best known for his work on tracks such as “Oh No,” “Ms. Fat Booty,” and “Mathematics.” The rapper has an extensive catalog of hit solo records and serves as one-half of the iconic hip-hop duo Black Star alongside fellow Brooklyn MC Talib Kweli. Though many young listeners may not be familiar with Yasiin Bey’s work, a brief glance at his bio showcases his versatility and influence on the modern rap sound.
Currently, the rapper is making headlines in the news for referring to Drake as a pop star who makes commercial music for mass consumption. While these comments are objectively true, some have taken issue with Yasiin Bey’s wording, misinterpreting the comments as a diss. Regardless, hip hop heads have long revered the legendary emcee for his thoughtful lyrics, capable rhymes, and powerful social commentary. Here’s a brief look at Bey’s career, examining the artist’s life and legendary career.
Yasiin Bey was born Dante Terrell Smith and raised by his mother in Brooklyn. In his youth, Bey encountered a range of traumatic issues in his community, including gang violence, drug use, and poverty. A particularly traumatic moment occurred when the rapper saw a car hit his five-year-old brother. Though his younger brother survived the incident, Bey chose to avoid the streets as much as possible in the years following the event.
To stay away from crime and poverty, Yasiin Bey took up acting at a young age. By the time he was a Sophomore in high school, he had already flown out to Los Angeles to film a season of the short-lived sitcom You Take The Kids and appeared in leading roles in multiple stage shows. Before long, Bey quit school to perform full-time. As he began to launch his rap career, he had already shared the screen with legendary performers of both music and film, including Michael Jackson, Bill Cosby, Deion Sanders, and many more.
Later, Bey launched his solo rap debut Black On Both Sides under the moniker Mos Def in 1999, with the chart-topping single “Ms. Fat Booty.” Throughout the early 2000s, Mos Def found massive success in both film and music by frequently collaborating with the likes of Kanye West, Q-Tip, Dave Chappelle, and many other prolific artists. His largest screen acting credits include works such as 2003’s The Italian Job, 2005’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and a 5-episode stint in the Showtime series Dexter.
In September 2011, the rapper elected to legally change his name to Yasiin Bey and retire the Mos Def moniker. He explained that after years of cultivating a diverse media career, the title of Mos Def had become more of a product or brand than an actual person. During interviews, the rapper clarified that close friends and family members had been calling him Yasiin for over a decade. He expressed his readiness to officially adopt the name in all aspects of his life.
The name Yasiin is derived from the 36th surah of the Qur’an, holding special significance for the artist formerly known as Mos Def due to his roots in the Islamic community. During an interview with The Guardian, the rapper explained, “Mos Def is a name that I built and cultivated over the years, it’s a name that the streets taught me, a figure of speech that was given to me by the culture and by my environment, and I feel I’ve done quite a bit with that name… it’s time to expand and move on.”
In January 2016, Yasiin Bey announced his retirement from film and music. His final screen acting credit came later that year for his appearance in the film Tour de France. His final album, December 99th, serves as a collaborative effort with producer Ferrari Sheppard and debuted in December 2016. Despite his claim to retire, Bey has continued to tour and appear on tracks as a featured artist. In March 2019, he performed songs from an unreleased album, Negus, at Art Basel Hong Kong. According to a press release from the artist, the album is not intended for mass consumption through digital or physical means. Instead, he plans to release the music exclusively through a series of live installations.
Podcasting, Future Ventures, And Return To Black Star
In 2021, Yasiin Bey teamed with Dave Chappelle and Talib Kweli to launch The Midnight Miracle, a podcast series available exclusively through the subscription-based platform Luminary. As part of an ongoing promotion for the podcast hosting service, Kweli has released several albums available only through streaming on the Luminary app, including a Black Star reunion project with Bey in 2022. Though the long-awaited project No Fear of Time has gained a cult following by die-hard fans of the duo, the inaccessibility of the platform has left many fans to miss out on the 2022 release.
Still, this marks a turning point in Yasiin Bey’s career, leaving many fans to wonder what’s next for the visionary artist. For now, only time will tell, though Bey has continued to tease new music since his alleged retirement.
Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, recently made headlines after sitting down with The Cutting Room Floor for a rare interview. During the conversation, he was asked about whether or not he considers Drake to be hip hop. As he laughed, the rap legend responded, “Drake is pop to me. In the sense, like, if I was in Target in Houston, and I heard a Drake song. It feels like a lot of his music is compatible with shopping. Or, as you know, shopping with an edge in certain instances.” Bey continued about Drake, saying that his music is “likable” and joked about shopping, exclaiming, “So many SKUs!” On a more serious note regarding the Canadian rapper, he asks, “What happens when this thing collapses?”
Bey’s remarks took the internet by storm, with Drake’s response referencing an old Method Man interview. The debate on whether or not Drizzy is hip hop divided the rap community, with purists backing Yasiin Bey’s opinion and others coming to Drake’s defense. Many also criticized the artist formerly known as Mos Def for a Fashion Week performance, calling it hypocritical after calling out Drake for making “shopping music.”
No matter the position one takes on his comments, Yasiin Bey is one of hip hop’s most respected lyricists. His prolific career speaks for itself, with classic records including Black On Both Sides and the first Black Star album with Talib Kweli. Beyond his most well-known works are plenty of gems within his discography. Today, we are taking a look into Yasiin Bey’s best underrated hip hop songs. Check out the list below.
7. “Zimzallabim” (2004)
While not as highly regarded as his debut album, Yasiin Bey’s 2004 sophomore effort, The New Danger, includes numerous underrated highlights. The album combined hip hop with psychedelic rock and soul, with the help of many producers and his band, Black Jack Johnson. One track that effortlessly displays this combination of genres is “Zimzallabim.” Co-produced by Easy Mo Bee and Bey himself, Yasiin applies his signature rap style to a rock-fused track, resulting in one of his most confident vocal performances. The song breathed new life into Bey’s eccentric rap style and remains one of his most underrated hip hop songs.
6. “Champion Requiem” (2004)
“Champion Requiem,” the closing track on The New Danger, is a standout moment that deserves more shine. Produced by 88-Keys, who lent beats to Black on Both Sides and Black Star’s debut, the upbeat track allows Bey to spit tough bars. Some of his best flows are on this song as he keeps up with the thumping groove. Compared to the off-kilter production on the rest of the album, “Champion Requiem” perfectly blends Yasiin’s traditional style with the album’s funky approach.
5. “Revelations” (2009)
Many of Yasiin Bey’s best underrated hip hop songs come from his fourth studio album, 2009’s The Ecstatic. Seen as a return to form by many following True Magic, The Ecstatic saw a reinvigorated Bey applying his conscious rap style across a range of musical influences. The album’s quirky and adventurous soundscape contained beats from many producers, including Madlib. The Beat Konducta produced “Revelations,” originally an instrumental from his Madvillainy 2: The Madlib Remix album. Yasiin Bey’s relaxed flow matches the ominous production and his sung melodies enhance the unique production. Songs like “Revelations” helped foreshadow the sound of Black Star’s Madlib-produced No Fear of Time.
4. “Wahid” (2009)
Another underrated Yasiin Bey song and one of the four beats that Madlib contributed to The Ecstatic is “Wahid.” Bey manages to float over the abrasive production, smoothly flowing over the unpredictable instrumentation. “Wahid” may be a short song, but it is unparalleled in Yasiin Bey’s discography. It is a hard-hitting Madlib production that contains some of Bey’s most impressive rhyming. On an experimental album, it provides a burst of energy that leaves quite the impression.
3. “Black Fantastic” (2013)
Yasiin Bey’s close collaborator and tour DJ, Preservation, remixed The Ecstatic in 2013, giving each song a reworked instrumental. The album, titled The REcstatic, includes a standout track titled “Black Fantastic.” The Minnesota-produced song replaced “Casa Bey” as the album’s closer, featuring the same lyrics but delivered differently over a gorgeous beat. The stunning piano-based instrumental creates an excellent backdrop for Yasiin to reimagine “Casa Bey” in a brand new, arguably superior way. “Black Fantastic” is an underrated deep cut in Yasiin’s discography.
2. “History” feat. Talib Kweli (2009)
Between Black Star’s seminal 1998 debut and their 2022 return with No Fear of Time, Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli released a number of individual collaborations. “History” is quintessential Black Star, featuring a soulful instrumental from the late J Dilla. Both Bey and Kweli sound comfortable over the beat, which samples Mary Wells’s “Two Lovers History.” Outside of the exciting and rare union between both members of Black Star, “History” is arguably one of their best collaborations ever, as it highlights their collaborative chemistry.
1. “Sensei On The Block” (2015)
Over a decade since his last solo album, Yasiin Bey appears to go wherever the wind takes him musically. Whether it is a sound installation, the long-awaited Black Star album, or a rare guest feature, his next move cannot be predicted. In 2015, Ski Beatz promoted a track he produced for Bey titled “Sensei On the Block.” The single saw him returning to the “Mos Def” moniker. However, Yasiin Bey released a statement following its release, saying that “any music that’s been released under that name is without [his] consent” and that “it’s being sold illegally.” Despite it being released against his permission, the song is definitely underrated. Bey’s lyrical performance is on par with some of his most classic works, and the steel drum-laced instrumental still sounds fresh nine years later.
This month marks the 16th anniversary of Talib Kweli’s third studio album, Eardrum. It was released on August 21, 2007, via the rapper’s Blacksmith Music and Warner Bros Records, and was Kweli’s first album to be released on a major label. His only other major release was 2010’s Revolutions Per Minute with Reflection Eternal.
Eardrum arrived just five months after Liberation, the first collaborative album between Talib Kweli and Madlib. Both Eardrum and Liberation marked the first releases on Blacksmith Records. Eardrum is currently Talib Kweli’s highest charting album to date, peaking at No. 2 on both the Billboard 200 and the U.S. R&B/Hip Hop charts. The 20-track project features a long list of notable guest features and a host of talented beatmakers and producers. Today, we look back at Talib Kweli’s Eardrum for its 16th anniversary.
A Host Of Guest Appearances
Known for his conscious subject matter and skillful rhymes, one of Talib Kweli’s artistic strengths is his ability to collaborate with others. Eardrum puts Kweli’s collaborative chemistry with his peers on full display as the album has a plentiful amount of guest features. Further, it showcased the roster of Blacksmith Records features from Strong Arm Steady and Jean Grae. Roy Ayers, Musiq Soulchild, Norah Jones, Sizzla, Marsha Ambrosius, and Little Brother also contributed standout features to the album, as did KRS-One on the Bob Marley-sampling “The Perfect Beat.”
The song “Country Cousins” saw Talib Kweli bridge New York and the South with features from UGK and Raheem DeVaughn, who he had worked with on “Real Women” the same year. Eardrum also hosted notable names such as Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, and will.i.am. The latter sang and produced “Hot Thing,” the most commercially successful single on the album.
Eardrum’s eclectic guest list brought the best out of Talib Kweli, as did the equally impressive range of producers. Madlib contributed multiple beats to Kweli’s third album, adding to their extensive musical history. Reflection Eternal partner Hi-Tek produced “More or Less.” Kweli and Kanye West had previously worked together on “Get Em High” and the hit single “Get By.” The two came back together for “In the Mood,” on which Ye also raps. Additionally, Pete Rock, DJ Khalil, and will.i.am produced multiple tracks on Eardrum. The features on the album displayed Kweli’s chemistry with a wide range of musicians that brought the best out of him. The collaborations made for a varied tracklist of songs that expanded Talib Kweli’s sound.
Eardrum Is Talib Kweli’s Favorite Album In His Catalog
Eardrum is a significant album in Talib Kweli’s extensive catalog. It may be one of his highest-charting albums with many features, but Kweli considers it his best work. In a 2020 Instagram post, the rapper ranked his discography, with Eardrum securing the No. 1 spot. His first album with Yasiin Bey as Black Star, Reflection Eternal’s Train of Thought, 2002’s Quality, and 2017’s Radio Silence rounded out the top five. Additionally, in his 2020 autobiography, Vibrate Higher, Kweli explained the thought process behind the recording of Eardrum. He wrote that he intended to “marry the lessons” learned from recording The Beautiful Struggle with those learned from making Liberation, combining “musical authenticity” with “inclusiveness.”
Eardrum clearly marked a moment of self-realization for Talib Kweli with the way he wrote about the album in his book. He wrote, “Eardrum was twenty tracks long and featured many of the artists I considered to be the best at this craft because I was recording it as if it were my last statement to the world.” The album helped him solidify his place in hip hop, responding to criticisms of being too radio-friendly or conscious. Kweli aimed to craft an album with mainstream appeal and “real hip hop” authenticity. He drew from big names and close collaborators to help him accomplish his objective. Looking back at the album, he writes, “My hardcore fans loved it, and I felt vindicated in my vision.” After 16 years since Eardrum’s release, these sentiments still hold true.
Talib Kweli and Madlib created an undeniable classic when they joined forces on Liberation. The 9-song effort showcased Talib Kweli’s sharp lyricism over Madlib’s soulful, psychedelic production. It was a perfect pairing of collaborators, though its success didn’t necessarily spark an immediate urge to release a sequel. Fans waited for years, hoping to hear some sort of update from Kweli and Madlib.
In recent times, Talib Kweli and Madlib began working closely together again. It began with the release of the latest Black Star project, No Fear Of Time. Madlib held down the production on the entirety of Talib Kweli and Mos Def’s follow-up to their 1998 debut, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star. The reunion between Kweli and Mos Def alone was enough to leave backpackers salivating at the mouth. However, Madlib’s assistance in the production sealed the deal for those who waited over 20 years for Black Star to reunite. And then, they began plotting the release of Liberation 2 when they dropped, “Longevity.”
Talib Kweli & Madlib – Liberation 2
Though it’s been less than a year since Mos Def and Talib Kweli reunited for No Fear Of Time, Kweli is back less than a year later with the sequel to Liberation. He and Madlib team up for the 15-song endeavor, which they launched with the release of “After These Messages” ft. Amani. The project includes a posthumous appearance from Mac Miller, as well as features from Westside Gunn, Roc Marciano, Q-Tip, Pink Siifu, and more.
“The materialism and debauchery that is stereotypically associated with hip-hop has lost some of its luster,” Kweli said of the project. “Madlib and I have been consistent in our messaging. Never has there been a better time for such honest, message-driven music that pays tribute to the sounds that came before us.” Unfortunately, Liberation 2 is exclusively available on the Luminary podcast network and there hasn’t been much mention of its release on DSPs yet. We’ll keep you posted on any more updates.
Liberation 2 Tracklist
Assata’s Code (feat. Diani)
Best Year Ever
Air Quotes (feat. Diani)
Nat Turner (feat. Cassper Nyovest & Seun Kuti)
One For Biz (feat. Wildchild & Q-Tip)
Loop Digga’s Revenge (feat. Goapele)
Ad Vice (feat. Diani & Pink Siifu)
Wild Sweet Love (feat. Moonbyrd & jessica care moore)
Wild Beauty (feat. Moonbyrd & Keenyn Omari)
The Right to Love Us (with Mac Miller)
After These Messages (feat. Amani)
Richies Part Two (feat. Roc Marciano & Westside Gunn)
Talib Kweli’s making a statement against the major label machine and streaming service in his new collab with Madlib. On Tuesday, Kweli debuted his new single, “Longevity.”
Talib and Madlib cooked The 10-year-old record for Liberation 2, though it never landed on the final cut. Madlib’s production embodies the bustling energy of the New York City streets, a perfect companion to Kweli’s rugged flow. The Black Star member reflects on his tenure in the rap game, kicking off the hook with a rhetorical question to the listener. “How he stay makin’ that paper? It’s longevity,” Kweli raps in the song.
Now available on DSPs, Talib said that he wanted to help support Bandcamp to empower indie rappers.
“I have released a song I recorded with @madlib from ten years ago, when I first started working on Liberation 2,” Kweli wrote on Instagram. “There have been many songs recorded for this project since then, but I wanted to give my supporters a taste of the earlier ones so they can take this beautiful journey with us. I appreciate your support and I will see you all at Bandcamp! Culture over everything. Shout out to Madlib.”
The relationship between Madlib and Kweli developed over the years, leading the former to produce the latest Black Star album in its entirety. No Fear Of Time dropped on May 3rd, 2022, exclusively on Luminary. Perhaps, we’ll be hearing more from Kweli and Madlib in the near future.
Check out the song below and sound off with your thoughts in the comments.
Quotable Lyrics Unless we talkin’ skills on this mic, my shit is state of art When real n***as rap, just shut the fuck up and play your part You just an actor, you clearly need some direction Like Tyrone look at crack, consider us intervention
