Capetonians may have thought they were going mental seeing Mos Def buying groceries at their local convenience store. But for those who don’t know, the international hip-hop star has been living in the Mother City for a while now.

The artist formerly known as Mos Def, (now called Yasiin Bey) has called Cape Town home since May last year. Bey was the keynote speaker at the Music Exchange, which took place on Friday at the Cape Town City Hall.

I came to Cape Town in 2009 and I was like, ‘Yeah’. I know when the good vibe gets to you. I thought about this place every day when I left. People were like, ‘You’re crazy. It’s light years away. They’re crazy. They’re going to eat you. You shouldn’t go there. I said, ‘I’m going’.”

Bey said it was hard for him to leave the States, especially Brooklyn, but is glad he did. Living at the tip of Africa hasn’t stopped Bey from being involved in the international music scene. He is busy working on a couple of projects, one being a tribute album to Gil Scott Heron.

I got the vibes to be here and now I’m here. It’s amazing and it’s crazy. South Africa is crazy. Cape Town is crazy. I’ve seen some of the craziest people in my life walk down Long Street. And I’m from New York.”

“Crazy. But worthwhile,” sums up his experience in Africa. Bey said he noticed the determination of the country’s artists, who are often in doubt about their appeal to an international audience.

The arts, the crafts, the energy, the people coming out of this continent, are like no other in the world. Be aware that you are in a special place at a very special and unique time in history,” Bey said.

To read the rest of the interview with Mos Def, click here.

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[ Source : Mail&Guardian ]