Artist Profile

Amino Alkaline | Mos Def

By Nirav ⋅ September 30, 2008 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Have I ever announced that I love Mos Def? That if I ever had got an interview with him, all I would say under my breath is “I Love You”. And if he ever knew my name or acknowledged us, I would live and die a fullfilled man for the rest of my days. Well if I didn’t, now you know. And if you thought I had a man-crush on Common (check out Mike’s comment), you better believe that I’m infatuated with the man they call Mos Def.

Last weekend on September 21st, 2008, I got the distinct pleasure along with Dan to see the most amazing and versatile hip hop artist perform on stage. And not only did he lead the show with his vocals and emcee skills, he also orchestrated a 25 piece orchestra with full string and horn sections. Maybe he didn’t do that actual orchestrating (props to Robert Glasper), but he damn well led them in front of a sold out Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. I love this man!

The performance was extraordinary. I couldn’t recognize any of the songs from Mos Def’s albums except Umi Says which he performed towards the end. And the two remixes which I did recognize were Poison by Bel Biv Devoe and Sardine and Pork & Beans by The Junkyard Band. The latter is a very popular Go-Go song from the DC area. Mos Def had the entire crowd on their feet once this song dropped. I love when an artist can actually take the flavor of a city and add it into his own lineup of songs. Did I mention I love Mos Def? 

The audience that came to the show was the biggest “wow” factor. There was everybody from the age of 8 to 80 and every possible race. No race or age dominated the audience either, which is the rarest thing I’ve seen from a hip hop artist. Either its all black or pre-dominantly white (at conscious hip hop shows). We had a mother with two kids sitting in front of us. The mother was actually more into the show than the two children. And the mother was white and had to be atleast in her 40’s. I love it!

I’m not sure if the group is performing elsewhere, but if so - go check it out. Amazing show and really theatrical style performance. Mos Def commands the stage and audience. First time I’ve ever seen Mos Def do something outside of straight hip hop on stage (besides in Topdog/Underdog which was on Broadway). If anyone knows where the group name came from, let me know. I think it has something to do with raw food?! He said in this video that it comes from the building blocks of good health and that watermelons are the symbol of black people.

Check out the photos available at Photoshelter. Someone took some really good photos of the NY show!

Tags: hip hop, jazz