Monday, May 18, 2009

The poetry of Mos Def

Mr. Mos Def is one of my favorite artists.  He makes words tumble out of his mouth in a very amazing way considering the genius of what he has to say.  In one of my favorite songs, he even talks about usury (loans made with interest), which is illegal under Muslim law:

Yo, I’m sure that everybody out listenin agree
That everything you see ain’t really how it be
A lot of jokers out runnin in place, chasin the style
Be a lot goin on beneath the empty smile

Most cats in my area be lovin the hysteria
Synthesized surface conceals the interior
America, land of opportunity, mirages and camoflauges
More than usually—speakin loudly, sayin nothin

You confusin me, you losin me
Your game is twisted, want me enlisted—in your usury
Foolishly, most men join the ranks cluelessly

Buffoonishly accept the deception, believe the perception
Reflection rarely seen across the surface of the lookin glass
Walkin the street, wonderin who they be lookin past
Lookin gassed with them imported designer shades on

Stars shine bright, but the light—rarely stays on
Same song, just remixed, different arrangement
Put you on a yacht but they won’t call it a slaveship
Strangeness, you don’t control this, you barely hold this

Screamin brand new, when they just sanitized the old shit

Mr. Mos Def is a Muslim, who begins all of his records by say “bsmillah ir-rahman ir-rahim,” which means “In the Name of God, the compassionate, the caring.”  If someone says that and then starts rapping, you know you are in for something awesome.

Here he is talking sense on Bill Maher’s TV program.  Talking sense.

This clip is also awesome because it features Dr. Cornel West: Smartest Man in America.  Cornel West is a genius.  Genius.  Someday I will post a speech of his.  Genius.

Here he discusses the rap of MF DOOM, which I find really fascinating. One because it gives good insight into the art of rapping. (If there was one super power I could have, it would be rapping.)
Two because MF DOOM is totally weird, which Mr. Mos Def sums up nicely by saying “he rhymes as weird as I feel.”  That makes loads of sense to me for some reason it is why I like weird things.