I have lost count as to how many times I have seen Mos Def perform. One thing is for sure, Mos Def knows how to put on a show and you will get your money’s worth. It’s hard to describe what a typical Mos Def show is like. Depending on how he may feel, he may perform a show complete with very few of his own songs, but more like the songs from artists that influenced him like Nina Simone, Howling Wolf, or even Bell Biv DeVoe. He interacts with the crowd as if they are sitting in his living-room digging through old vinyl records or CDs. The fact remains, Mos Def is a storyteller. It is clear to the audience that each song and it’s order were given considerable thought.
Since the last time I saw the multi-talented Mos Def perform, he has dropped two albums, True Magic and Ecstatic , and starred in several films like Be Kind Rewind, Cadillac Records, and Next Day Air. When it was announced that he would be closing the AfroPunk Festival in Brooklyn, there was no question that I had to be there.
Brooklyn’s native son, Dante “Mos Def” Smith-Bey, took the AfroPunk stage dawning a clean shaved head and a well-groomed beard resembling a Muslim holy man. The almost 90-degree weather did not discourage anyone in attendance because they knew that they were about to witness a show that was like none he had done before. It’s hard for me to pick my top ten favorite songs from his albums Black on Both Sides, The New Danger, True Magic, and Ecstatic, and I challenge any fan to try. Mos Def gave the audience a well-planned outset that would please any hardcore follower. He captured the crowd’s attention with such songs as Supermagic, Casa Bey, Roses, and Life in Marvelous Times. As his set went on, he schooled the crowd in Hip Hop 101 giving his rendition of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s The Message and smoothly transitioned into his song Close to the Edge. He kept everyone enlightened and chanting along as he went through his classic tracks such as Hip Hop and Umi Says, while his interludes not only showed his quick wit but also gave us a glimpse into the real Dante Smith-Bey. He dedicated his performance to his 93-year-old grandmother who has been a constant inspiration not only in his life, but in his music.
John Simon Daily caught every moment, check out what you missed.
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Photos by Yuri Guanilo for John Simon Daily