Mos Def first made his name for himself with his rhymes, but the thoughtful MC now goes by the new name Yasiin Bey.
“I began to fear that Mos Def was being treated as a product, not a person, so I’ve been going by Yasiin since ’99. At first it was just for friends and family, but now I’m declaring it openly,” Bey tells GQ.
Over the years, we have come to look at Mos Def Bey as an intricate part of conscious hip-hop. With his various projects outside of rap like Broadway and acting, he has managed to keep our interest. During the interview (photo by Steven Pan/GQ), he explains why he decided to switch his name and offers a few fashion tips on style and hip-hop.
Yasiin Bey on his style:
“I like drawing connections between pieces and patterns that would make someone else think,’Those two things would never go together.’ Well, to me they do.”
…on representing his hip-hop roots through fashion
“Hip-hop is the last true folk art. I got involved with Ale et Ange because it represents hip-hop in a way that isn’tpandering. It’s nice to see something that’s elegant, skillful, and raw.
…on what fashion advice he’d offer to others
“I don’t have advice for people on how to dress. People should dress based on what they find beautiful. My best advice: Keep your clothes clean.”
For more of the full interview and photos, visit GQ.
