UPDATE: If you missed Yasiin Bey's LIVE FROM AFRICA stream this past Friday in honor of Muhammad Ali's 72nd birthday, then that was it. It was a one-time-only live exclusive (turn the page for the whole story) beamed out from a rooftop in Cape Town, South Africa. If you tuned in at 7pm, you missed it. Go home. It's over.
This being the internet, however, we should not be surprised that some enterprising soul created a bootleg archive of the event by picking up their cameraphone andripping the stream right off the front page of Okayplayer--! (watch for our cameo right in the very beginning). The audio here is pretty terrible--and certainly doesn't do justice to the transatlantic echo modulating Mos' voice on the live performance and the exhilarating, goosebump-ly experience of watching it unfold in real time. No word yet from Team Yasiin whether there will eventually be an official archive (like the man said, The Time Is Always Now). But while we watch the skies, consider this a digital memento of that singular moment in time, a "Happy Born Day Champ" e-card you can tape to your cybernetic fridge. Because nothing says "Happy Born Day, Champ" like interpolating Eric B. & Rakim over some Ethiojazz. Enjoy:
[Content Removed By Request]
-----------------------------------------
It's coming, it's coming...it's here! Watch below to experience 3 new exclusives from Yasiin Bey FKA Mos Def, broadcasting "Live From Africa" in tribute to the birthday of heavweight champ and cultural icon Muhammad Ali, who turned 72 years old today. The new material is being grouped under the title "The Time Is Always Now" and brought to you by a collective working as A Country Called Earth. Watch and then turn the page to get more backstory...
UPDATE: Yasiin Bey& crew have just released the official Press Release and a 2nd trailer for the Muhammad Ali tribute Bey is performing live from an undisclosed location in Africa on the Champ's born day (that's tomorrowTODAY Friday, January 17th) at 5:30pm. All we know is that the forever-mighty artist formerly known asMos Def will be performing "3 New Yasiin Bey Exclusives" and we know for sure we'll be hosting the stream here on Okayplayer when it all goes down at 5:30pm EST. Watch the new trailer below and scroll down for the full text of the official press statement.
Full Press Release:
Internationally acclaimed artist Yasiin Bey is set to perform a set of all new exclusive material Live From Africa, capturing this experience from one of the many breathtaking locations on the continent (to be disclosed at the end of the performance)-- streaming worldwide in real time, this Friday on January 17th at 12:30 AM (CAT)/ 17:30 PM (EST).
Presented by the newly formed, Bey-helmed arts collective A COUNTRY CALLED EARTH, this performance will commemorate the birth-date of one of the worlds greatest personalities, Mohammed Ali. This is the inaugural episode for a series of live stream events taking place in Africa, entitled The Time is Always Now. Stay tuned for further details.
------------------------------------
UPDATE: Yasiin Beyhas been in touch with Okayplayer and confirmed that they will be broadcasting live from somewhere in Africa, a performance of exclusive original material in honor of Muhammad Ali's Birthday tomorrow Friday, January 17th, 2014--and Okayplayer will be hosting! Stay tuned and watch this space for more details.
Yasiin Bey shouts out his predecessors and promises exclusives in the LIVE FROM AFRICA trailer, ahead of 3 new joints slated to drop on January 17th. Bey delivers the trailer dotted with nods to a host of influences, including the Black Panther Party and Muhammad Ali, whose birthday coincides with the release date of the tracks inspired by his remarkable story. The project includes three new exclusive tracks live from Africa, though the exact location of Bey's return to the mic remains a mystery for the time being. The trailer does offers a bit of an explanation for Bey's increased presence on the continent as of late. Aside from allowing folks curious about his whereabouts to connect the dots, it also offers something for Bey's insatiable audience to look forward to. Check the link below to view the trailer. Hit up Okayafrica for more details.
>>>Watch Yasiin Bey's 'LIVE FROM AFRICA' Trailer via Facebook
Post by Mos Def Official.
