I’ve been very intrigued by Mos Def’s name change to his Muslim and legal name Yasiin Bey. Mostly, my intrigue comes from what impetus encouraged Bey to drop the pseudonym and share his chosen name with the world. In this article from Scott Korb, the journalist delves quite deep into Yasiin Bey’s history of hip hop and Islam. I’m not sure if there are those that believe that the MC is some fly-by-night Muslim, but that’s quite the contrary. According to Korb, Bey is one of the most recognizable Muslims in pop culture since boxing great Muhammad Ali. For anyone that has followed Ali’s career and conversion to Islam, it’s a very telling comparison. Ali was a staunch Muslim, displaying this in instances such as his refusal to join the Armed Forces. The artist formerly known as Mos Def has taken such sociopolitical stands through his music, integrating his beliefs with his passion. Although lengthy, the article is a great read and shines some light on the struggle between one’s perceived self and one’s true self.
Audio Gumbo 