Mos Def has gone mad. Mos Def has gone completely mad.
The mighty Yasiin Bey (FKA Mos Def) has announced his retirement from music. In an audio message released via Kanye West’s website, the New York rapper stated: “I am retiring from the music recording industry as it is currently assembled today, and also from Hollywood, effective immediately. I’ll be releasing my final album this year.”
Yasiin says his retirement is “related but not directly related” to his recent arrest in South Africa over an allegedly false passport, which he says isn’t false and claims has been accepted by South African officials in the past. Which is what he mainly speaks about for the other 9 minutes and 50 seconds of the 10 minute audio message.
Oh, wait. There was also that awkward spoken word freestyle, with the recurring line “no more parties in SA” – a reference to West’s new song, No More Parties In L.A.. “I’ve committed no crime,” he adds. The only crime I’d say he’s committed is this freestyle, so hopefully it’s not an appetiser for his just announced 2016 album.
The message was recorded in Cape Town, South Africa, where Yasiin is currently being prevented from leaving. He says that his ‘World Passport’ (a document issued by the World Service Authority, a non-profit organization) is real and “is not meant to deceive.” A representative for Yasiin has previously told Pitchfork that he doesn’t use his US passport for “social and political” reasons.
“I have reason to believe or suspect there are political motivations behind the way I’m being treated, because this is following no reasonable train of logic, and it’s also curious,” he says. “I haven’t broken any law, and I’m being treated like a criminal.”
Whatever the case, I hope it is sorted out soon so Yasiin can get busy in the studio working on his final album. I won’t hold my breath for fire, it will still be interesting to see what he does next.
To hear his ramblings and the seriously questionable freestyle for yourself, you can check out the full message below.