Yasiin Bey, the artist formerly known as Mos Def has reversed course on his purported retirement to drop a surprise new track, a soul-style curveball titled “Dec. 99th – N.A.W.”
The track was produced by Ferrari Shepard aka @StopBeingFamous, the controversially charged commentator and Bey’s partner in the A Country Called Earth project. In the song, Bey catalogues the needs and wants of others as a distant organ loops in the background, beneath a shuffling brush beat.
Bey has recently been caught up in legal woes, having to cancel much of his recent tour after trying to leave South Africa with a fake passport and travel document. He was also charged with helping his family illegally leave the country.
Back in January, the rapper shared a message via Kanye West’s website that he would no longer be making music or films after his final album release, expected later this year.
