You can’t fault Mos Def for kickin it on Yo Gabba Gabba!  This show has managed to lock down some pretty major artists (including the Roots).  Mos plays a superhero in this that has to go calm down a monster.  It’s equal parts cute and awesome.

If you’re like me, you may feel that Talib and Mos have never stood a chance.  Their solo stuff so far has just not been able to live up to the astounding collaboration record they released as Black Star.  Sure there are standout tracks every once in a while, and Mos’ Black on Both Sides is fantastic.  But somehow, I can never shake the feeling that Black Star was close to the perfect record.
By that I mean one of those records you just don’t ever want to change tracks on.  …

The BlakRoc project is getting mad press these days, so we thought we’d update our last post and bring it back to all you loyal readers.  As you know, the concept is that the Black Keys (a rock band) have collaborated with 11 hip hop/R&B artists.  They’ve done stuff with the RZA, Mos Def, Ludacris, Pharoahe Monche, and Q-Tip.
Now, I haven’t been a big fan of these type of collaborations before.  I mean, quite honestly, Mos Def’s affinity for this (remember The New Danger?) style has been the most to …

In collaborations-to-be-excited-about news, blues group The Black Keys have teamed up with several of hip-hop’s most talented rappers on a project known as BLAKROC.  Featuring the likes of Mos Def, Q-Tip, RZA Pharoahe Monch and Ludacris, BLAKROC promises to be one of the rare rap/rock crossover attempts that suceeeds.  For evidence of its potential, check out this behind-the-scenes look at the making of a track with Mos Def and Jim Jones (for more, check out the BLAKROC website):

Since we here at 4080Records seem to love documentaries oh so very much, I thought I’d keep going with the trend.
Get ready to spend 49 minutes with Mos Def in Japan.

I’m not sure where these are coming from, but this little video of what Mos Def would do if he was president is amazing.  Most of his ideas aren’t really that surprising based on the stuff he’s said in the past, but I particularly cared for the way he ended things….by declaring a 100 year moratorium on several phrases including “in the club”, “that’s hot”, and “shortie”. 
The best part is that he even says he’s not sure how the world would get better if he banned the word shortie, …

It’s true.  Apparently the police in Las Vegas have issued a warrant for his arrest.
Why would anyone want to arrest Mos?  Good question.  According to Pitchfork, Mos allegedly was in a confrontation with some photographer at the Men’s Apparel and Garment Industry Convention.  Leave it up to Mos to get into a tussle at what sounds like one of the most boring conventions in the world.
Apparently Mos got upset at a photog named Volker Correll and allegedly smashed his camera and then took off with the pieces.  Frankly, I find …

Okayplayer had a pretty solid post about Mos Def’s performance at Carnegie Hall the other night.  Apparently, post-show, he went out and performed with the Robert Glasper Experiment
In another touching tribute, they fully focused on a tribute to Dilla, performing Slum VIllage’s Fantastic and Falling in Love.  They also apparently did a little De La tribute, performing Stakes is High.
The post has an impassioned description of the performance, and I won’t do it the injustice of reposting it here.  So just quickly head over to Okayplayer and take a read.
Mos …

Youtube has served some fresh battles in the past, and I just wanted to take a quick chance to present this Kanye/Mos friendly freestyle backstage.
Let us know who you think won.
Part 1

Part 2