Yasiin Bey (Formerly Mos Def) At The Howard Theatre

2012 finds him collaborating on a new album with Kweli and working on his Top 40 Underdog project, which features his unique freestyle recreations of classic hip-hop tracks.

[Music]

Yasiin Bey appears at The Howard Theatre  on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Showtime: 11:30 PM. Doors open 10:30 PM. Tickets $45 in advance, $50 day of show.

Produced By Jill Newman Productions

Regarded as one of hip-hop’s most introspective and insightful artists, Yasiin Bey –formerly known as Mos Def– has shaped a career that transcends music genres and artistic mediums. A child of hip-hop’s Golden Era, this native Brooklynite spent his childhood embedded in the culture surrounding him as well as absorbing knowledge from across the artistic spectrum.

With the release of Universal Magnetic (1996), Bey became an underground favorite in the hip-hop world, leading to his legendary collaboration with Talib Kweli. The two formed Black Star, a group whose debut album, Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star (1998), would become one of the most critically acclaimed hip-hop albums of the decade. Bey followed that release with his 1999 solo debut Black on Both Sides, which was certified Gold and credited by critics as bringing hip-hop back to its soapbox roots.

In 2004, Bey released his highly-anticipated and critically acclaimed sophomore solo release, The New Danger, which inspired The New York Daily News to proclaim that “no one is doing more to change our notion of how hip-hop can sound.” The first single, “Sex, Love & Money,” earned Bey his first Grammy nomination for Best Alternative/Urban Performance. The next few years saw Bey release two additional solo albums and garner a slew of additional Grammy nominations. 2006 saw him drop True Magic, which he released with virtually no promotion or fanfare. The Ecstatic (2009), his latest full-length release, nabbed a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album in 2010.

In addition to his music, Bey has also demonstrated insight and passion with his acting career. He has accumulated an extensive resume that includes appearances in movies like The Italian Job (2003), Something the Lord Made (2004). Cadillac Records (2008), and Next Day Air (2009), as well as various television shows, including House, Dexter, and My Wife and Kids.

His work in Something the Lord Made was especially well received, garnering him nominations for both an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe. Of course, he continues to revolutionize the hip-hop world with his music as well. 2012 finds him collaborating on a new album with Kweli and working on his Top 40 Underdog project, which features his unique freestyle recreations of classic hip-hop tracks.

The Legendary Howard Theatre
620 T Street, NW Washington, DC 2001

General Admission Standing — All Ages
Limited Seats Available — First Come, First Seated
Full Dinner Menu Available
Parking Tickets Available on Ticketmaster.com

JILL NEWMAN PRODUCTIONS

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