By now we’re used to seeing one of hip-hop’s leading thought-provoking artists, Mos Def, going by his true self, Yasiin Bey. In a recent speaking with stopbeingfamous, an eclectic digital magazine, he shed light on his feelings towards a very relevant & contagious issue progression in America is currently suffering from, police brutality. His words were moving, as to be expected.
“Where are we? We’re at [a] critical time,” he said in the first of two audio lengthy audio commentaries posted to SoundCloud. “We’re at [a] watershed moment for humanity. I imagine we’ve been here before and I imagine that we’ve probably been here for longer than we realize. I think many of us are becoming even more aware of where we are. And the urgency to change this miserable condition on this Earth, as Malcolm X said, is occurring to many of us and reaffirming itself. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It’s an opportunity for necessary change. Positive change. And it’s not necessarily convenient or comfortable. As I’m sure it is with any period of growth.
“I read somewhere that in order for an arrow to fly the bow has to be drawn back with some pressure involved and I think we’re all feeling that pressure. Some of us are more aware of it than others. Some of us are trying to drown it out. But we all feel it one way or another in indelible ways in these times and days.”
To hear the full dialogue of his speech click the links provided below.
© 2014, Niyah Nel. All rights reserved.
