Mos Def on Real Time with Bill Maher

We at 4080 Records have professed our admiration for Mos Def in the past, but my respect for the Brooklyn actor/mc took a serious dip after watching him on Real Time with Bill Maher. Mos comes across as ignorant and paranoid, drawing ridiculous comparisons between American law enforcement and al-Qaeda and rejecting bin Laden’s involvement in 9/11.

Although Mos’ wit and intelligence lend humour to the interview’s opening note…

Maher: You have to admit that there are people who do want to kill Americans.

Mos Def: Yeah, some of them are called the police.

… the interview quickly descends into ludicrous conspiracy theory and baseless accusation:

Maher: But you don’t think bin Laden knocked down the World Trade Centre?

Mos Def: Absolutely not!

Maher: C’mon.

Mos Def: I don’t. I don’t!

Maher: That’s where you lose me. And I’m so on your side.

Mos Def: You go to any barbershop: I am so not alone. I am so not alone.  

Maher: That doesn’t mean you’re right.

Mos Def: That don’t mean that it’s not valid, neither.

Actually, it does Mos. Just because people are willing to discuss them in barbershops, at work or in church doesn’t make 9/11 conspiracy theories valid. It makes them popular.

Fortunately for our boy, professor Cornel West is on hand to bring a modicum of reason to the proceedings at about the 2:23 mark.

Overall, while I agree with much of what Mos has to say (his thoughts on the root causes of terrorism at around 4:45, for example), I find it difficult respecting anyone who seriously believes the 9/11 attacks were a hoax, or an inside job, or whatever, or that we never landed on the moon:

Mos Def: I don’t believe these motherfuckers been to the moon, neither, but that’s just me.