The Year of the Underdog - A Conversation with Yasiin Bey (Preview)

After almost two decades in the game Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, has seen many ups and downs in the ever demanding music industry without compromising his art. Due to his thought-provoking rhymes in regards of social and political issues, the Brooklyn native belongs to hip-hop’s elite rhymesayers. Having recently re-teamed with his frequent partner in rhyme Talib Kweli to reform Black Star and a new series called Top 40 is officially back in the music game, we caught up with Yasiin and conversed about his latest music endeavors. Read some excerpts below and be on the lookout for the full interview to go live on Hypebeast real soon.

What can we expect from your new series Top 40 Underdogs and what inspired it?
I am doing this for the culture. The tradition, taking someone’s song and making your version of out of it, is not new to hip-hop. It is similar to dancehall music, where there one rhythm and many different artists offer their interpretation of it. Covering songs is certainly in the DNA of the culture. 50 Cent, as a matter of fact, built his name in New York for awhile doing just that. I also like the community mind aspect of it that it belongs to all of us. It basically gives and extends the life of our culture, our rhythm. Thus, this series is something that comes quite natural for me to do. I’ve done it before. Just look at “Children’s Story,” or even my version of Jay-Z’s “Takeover” in 2004. It is something that is really fun to do, you know, giving different perspectives on a familiar piece. There are a lot of songs on Top 40 Radio, not just in current day charts, that I have been a fan of and obviously my content is a lot different from what people would hear on Top 40 Radio to say the least. That being said, I am a fan of music and I seek for just another opportunity to express myself and give my point of view on certain things.

Can you open up on the content of the series? Is it under one common theme or just a compilation of distinct songs?
Regarding the content on the Top 40 Underdog, I cannot open too much on it, but let’s say it will not be just about reinterpretating or even reappropriating modern day hits. It will deal with a range of various subjects, covering socially conscious and political themes since it is a staple in my life and an expression of who I am. I am observing and experiencing life and I express it in this form. Hip-hop to me is just one medium of expression for me. Although I am an artist and I work in various disciplines, I am enthusiastic about my culture, which is hip-hop. It is very dear to me since it started out local.

You have been re-teaming with Talib Kweli lately and have started to put out songs as Black Star together. How did you get back together with him and What is the status of the new Black Star album?
Me and Talib have always worked on one project or one song ever since we have been together as Black Star. We always did shows together and whatnot. We have been close friends for at least 15 years now. There is no pressure whatsoever. We did not form our identities as solo artists to start the group. Kweli was a solo artist, I was a solo artist and we came together and produced Black Star much in the same tradition that you have seen with jazz collaborations. John Coltrane and Don Cherry teamed up with a group of artists to do one specific project. And that was the real intention behind Black Star. I like what this guy is doing. I have always liked his approach, his skill and I like what he is doing and what he has to say. Kweli has a striving and solid solo career. We have great success as solo artists, so there really was no pressure. But now it feels like the right time for Black Star to come back. My sentiment was always like Black Star has always been a special time and space for both of us as men and artists. If we want to do it, then we have to do it for the right reasons. We do not want to come back solely on the basis that people wanted it or a big check. In our professional and personal space we are very open and clear. Kweli is completely independent – no label, no obligation and it is good to have this full circle, having even more control to do what we actually want to do. I am excited