Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, has announced his retirement from both music and movies following his arrest from South Africa for holding an alleged fake passport and residing in the country illegally.
Bey posted a freestyle on Kanye West's website in which he alluded to being kicked out of the African nation. The freestyle begins "No more parties in SA," a reference to both Bey's situation and Kanye West's recent single.
Bey's retirement announcement came after the freestyle the Brooklyn rapper posted on KanyeWest.com, in which he called Kanye a "real friend."
The announcement, spoken by Bey instead of rapped, states that the rapper will halt all music and acting jobs "effective immediately." Bey speaks of South African governmental malfeasance, and asserts that he is a "world citizen" and thus entitled to such a passport. In the recording, Bey seems quite eager to leave South Africa.
According to NYDailyNews, Bey came to South Africa as an American, but overstayed his visa alongside members of his family.
When asked why Yasiin Bey did not have a United States passport by Okayafrica.com, his official representative replied, "He considers himself a world citizen and wanted to use his World Passport in support of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. Although South Africa did not sign the declaration in 1948 - probably because they were governed by Apartheid at the time - Nelson Mandela believed it was a necessary document for the continued growth of South Africa after the abolishment of Apartheid."
Yasiin Bey also revealed, in the recording posted to Kanye's site, that he would be releasing an album later this year. This is bittersweet news for many Hip Hop fans that eagerly await its release, but not its implications. Bey will be sadly missed in the Hip Hop and acting communities.
