Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) and producer Ferrari Sheppard have unveiled their Dec. 99th collaboration, exclusively on TIDAL.
The album, titled December 99th, was produced entirely by Sheppard and brings 10 tracks to the table with no listed guest features. The sound is a far cry from Bey’s days as Mos Def, mostly doing away with rapped verses and replacing them with echoey singing. The album includes previously released songs “Seaside Panic Room” and “NAW.”
The album was expected to drop on December 9, but that date came and went without a release or an explanation for the delay. Several days later, the group put out a cryptic statement that raised more questions than it answered.
The project was recorded in South Africa, where Bey spent much of 2016 detained after passport issues. He was finally allowed to return to the United States in November after apologizing to the government. Since his return he’s done some live shows and has teased more new music before his impending retirement.
Check out the tracklist and album art below and the stream above.
1. Naw
2. Blade In The Pocket
3. SPESH
4. Local Time
5. Tall Sleeves
6. Seaside Panic Room
7. Shadow In The Dark
8. IT GOES
9. Special Dedication
10. Heri
I haven’t listened to it so it would be stupid to judge… but “The sound is a far cry from Bey’s days as Mos Def, mostly doing away with rapped verses and replacing them with echoey singing” sounds worrying.
I’m listening to “Naw” and it’s fucking terrible.
Yeah fr all these snippets sound pretty bad
XD Jesus christ that’s the opening track… Let’s just pretend that the Ecstatic was his last album and erase Yasiin Bey from our memories
Fell off hard……..always can revert back to blackstar I guess
Was excited for the album, more than j coles and ab souls, but after seeing him live in LA idk man…I’m worried for the album .the brotha looks lost….
…I was there too…so yep.
Wow. He’s smoked out. This is an unfocused if not a train wreck of a project. He doesn’t have the patience to write anymore cause he’s fient out. Sad.
yeah this sounds like a really stoned man just fucking around.
Amazing project. ?
Amazing project.
Mos Def’s solo material has always been a bit patchy with a few great tracks per release. It’s the sing songy non rap efforts on these albums I often find a distracting low point. Saying that, “Speed Law” will always be one of my favourite tracks, so I’ll always love him for that. Say what?
nah.. black on both sides is great… still gets spins to this day… but this new shit here……i can’t get jiggy to it… not at all
This is completely terrible, dude never rips the mic anymore just dumb chants and poor singing. I could have made a better album and I have no skilz! Dudes keep falling off everyday.
Member “Black On Both Sides”? Member Mos Def working with Dj Premier & Hi-Tek? Oooh! Member Black Star?! I member!
I member! Member “Know That”? Member “Children’s Story”? Member “Universal Magnetic”? Member no competition with the clear Mos Definition? I member 🙁
Why theses artsy ass people always trying to make stuff we don’t want to hear. I want to hear you spitting some hot bars like you used to be for the fame and money made you crazy
RIP Mos Def.. Yassin Is tryin to Ruin that man’s legacy with this trash…
Yep this will not be purchased by me.
How come nobody wants to rap anymore?
This album is motherfucking garbage. Oh my God man, always knew this dude was overrated but he used to at least be decent. This is one the worst albums I’ve heard in years. HORRIBLE!
Somebody beay the hell out of Yasiin Bey and bring Mos Def back…this is trash
garbage, garbage, and more garbage. Hope his acting career works out.
Yasiin Bey needs to call Mos Def’s ghostwriter asap.
Maybe Mos Def is still recording in South Africa and sent his body doubled imposter to tour this trash album. Talib….come and get your boy!
See, the flip side of the no-features philosophy: there was nobody to save his album. Of course, it’d have took more features than what’s on a random Game album to turn this into a semi-decent effort. Or just rename it to No Pain, No Gain: it’s painful to listen and you gain nothing from it.
Umi says this was some bullshit.
????
Album is classic!!!
This nigga man SMH, Talib slap this boy
When I last saw Yassin whirling around on stage in the UK and asking for bizarre lighting changes I thought he was just hitting some of the dank stuff and it was a phase. This album is clearly coming from that same trippy place. Hookah bar & hippy cafe ready yes. My earphones….no. Come back to us Mos….
Damn, this shit is horrible. Come on MOS!!!