The artist formerly known as Mos Def, Yasiin Bey, officially announced his retirement today (October 14) via Facebook Live and will be live streaming his very last show from Cape Town, South Africa.
He made the announcement along with news that he’d be canceling his remaining U.K. tour dates. Ticket-holders will see Bey perform his classics as well as unreleased music from his upcoming collaboration with Ferrari Sheppard (called Dec. 99th) for the first and last time.
“I’m retiring for real this year, this week,” an excited Yasiin said on Facebook Live. “With the 17th anniversary of Black on Both Sides being released, I am grateful to have had the career that I have been able to enjoy.”
He also showed gratitude for his fans, friends and collaborators including Jay Z, Jay Electronica, Madlib and Kanye West, all of whom have publicly supported Bey’s movement. Now, he has plans to venture into fashion and has a few films to complete.
The 42-year-old rap veteran previously announced his retirement through Kanye West’s website and now has set it in stone. The Brooklyn-bred Grammy nominee, born Dante Smith, has called Cape Town, South Africa home for some time now after immigration issues with the United States.
“I’m retiring from the musical recording industry … and also from Hollywood effective immediately,” he said in an audio message on West’s site announcing his retirement. “I am releasing my final album this year and that’s that.”
You turned your back in hip-hop to be a C-list actor then rushed out wack, half assed albums when you needed $. Plus your ego denied us another Blackstar album. Good riddance.
dude can act though
Ecstatic was a dope album.
Great, i didn’t wanna see him fuck up his legacy more.
He didn’t want to catch those Lupe bars either…
There is no retiring from this shit.
Leave Mos alone Amplified is one of my favorite albums.. Oh wait that was Qtip, fukk this bum.
Gimme summa dat complimentary fingalickin
He will retire just like Jay-Z did.
Already has. Like twice.
We want miss you. You are a great rapper but you never made a classic. Talib had more hot shit then you. Besides you are talking to much bullshit since the name change
We want miss you. You are a great rapper but you never made a classic. Talib had more hot shit then you. Besides you are talking to much bullshit since the name change.-.-.-.-.-.-.-tiny.tw/3qVg
“Black on Both Sides” is a certified classic. The f**k talmbout? Kids, smmfh.
You’re clueless
THIS CLOWN THINKW HE’S A MODERN DAY MANDELA!!!! MAN, SIT YO ASS DOWN DANTE!!!!
With comments like most below, it’s understandable he wants to retire.
Fuck these so-called hip hop fans/connoisseurs, criticizing just about everything and doin’ nothin’ constructive.
Agreed brother…can’t blame him
Exactly. Mos is a great rapper, albeit with a quite uneven catalogue. “Black On Both Sides” is his best album (though not a classic imo, but that’s another discussion..), but none of his other albums are that wack as some people want you to believe. Add to that, the countless features & non-album cuts like “Beef”, “All Praises Due”, “The Light Is Not Afraid Of The Dark” a.o. and we can only be grateful we’ve gotten the chance to listen to such a talented brother.
In general, give it up while they’re here, even when their output is erratic or, in some occasions, not up to par, instead of tearing it down every chance you got.
Incase you’re seeing this comment, please order comments by “Fire”
Thank you.
This has been a silly and enjoying friendly anouncement. M’Kay.
I lost respect for this dude when I found out he was just another puppet in the game who put a womans dress glad its over hope some more these clowns join him on retiring!
He hasn’t brought out anything significant for a while so to me he’s been retired. Salute
Name me one rapper who has actually “retired”. I remember when Too $hort was supposed to retire on album number 10… That was 1996! Mos/Yassin is too talented, artistic and expressive to mute one of his creative outlets. I think he’s sick of the industry, but I don’t believe he’s going to fully retire. Maybe an extended break.
he is a great example on how to go from smart to dumb, he started as a lyrical intellectual and ended hanging out with kanye on some stupid shit
suicide iz a real solution for really fucked up life.
maybe some of us would take this into consideration if you, our great teacher, would show us on yourself how to do that
I remember when jz threw a huge retirement party like two times.
People should show some respect for a great legend. Black on both sides is a straight Classic, the Black Star album too. The Ecstatic is Beautiful if you’ve listened to it more than once and understand it. The rest of his catalogue is not bad, not great but include dope music also. Lyrically, voice and flow-wise he’s for me top 5 all time. Just my opinion.
Right on.
My opinion on his albums may differ some from yours, but anyway you look at it, the man’s a living legend.
And in general, I don’t understand shit about people being so overtly critical about an artist’s work.
I mean, what did THEY give to the people, let alone entertain them. If you don’t like it, just don’t like it.
Mos def
I LOVE YOU YASIN!!!!!!