It's been announced that Yasiin Bey (fka Mos Def) will be playing a DJ set at Nairobi's Ebony Lounge this coming May 28. Publicized as his "first trip to East Africa," the set will see the longtime Okayplayer and recent Cape Town transplant performing for the first time in Kenya alongside Just A Band's Blinky Bill, Bamboo & Rabbit, and G Money. According to a press release, Yasiin Bey will also "visit a community center in Nairobi to do some charity work with young people in the slums." Tickets for the show, presented by Nairobi Hip-Hop Rapsody, are available now over here.
Blinky Bill confirmed the set via e-mail with Okayafrica. He writes "There's a Kenyan music promoter called Buddha Blaze, who also happens to be a good friend, who has been running this hip-hop show every Thursday in Nairobi billed 'Nairobi Hip-Hop Rapsody' and I happen to be one of the DJs who play the show every so often. It's a show that aims to promote hip-hop culture and develop local talent as well. Last year we had Talib Kweli come through and play a set, and Yasiin Bey has been touted as one of the next to come through and I'm super glad that it's happening. He is without a doubt a huge influence on me and as a ritual I always finish my hip-hop sets with "Umi Says." There's already a lot of excitement that he's coming through and it's gonna be an amazing show."
Check out the show's flyer below and head here for additional details and tickets. For more, revisit Yasiin Bey's recent collaboration with South African 'noir waver' Petite Noir in "Till We Ghosts."
