Yasiin Bey, the artist formerly known as Mos Def, is dropping his first solo project in over five years, and it includes production from the legendary Large Professor. Titled "Money Christmas," the eight-track, 28-minute project is set to be released on Bandcamp for $9.99.
The project is accompanied by artwork designed by Spanish-Moroccan artist Anuar Khalifi, titled "Osanta Bin Lyin." The painting depicts the late 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden in a Santa Claus outfit, adding to Bey's bold political statements.
Unlike previous projects, "Money Christmas" will not be released through traditional channels such as streaming platforms. Instead, Bey premiered the project for fans during a livestream on Sunday, December 15th, and the video playback from the stream will be available this week for those who paid to watch the initial stream.
The material will also be released on vinyl in the coming weeks. Fans can get a preview of the Large Professor-produced track "Condition of Terms" on the second slide of the announcement.
This new project from Yasiin Bey ends a drought of new solo music from the artist, and it doesn't look like it will be followed by another dry spell. According to a press release, "Money Christmas" is "the first of a number of upcoming releases intended to inextricably link the acquisition of music to the artwork and supporting video footage, creating a stronger and more creative bond with fans."
Bey is no stranger to unorthodox rollouts, having released his 2019 album "Negus" exclusively as a listening experience in museums around the world. Similarly, Black Star's 2022 LP "No Fear of Time" was initially released exclusively through the podcast network Luminary before being made available on physical formats earlier this year.
With "Money Christmas," Yasiin Bey continues to push the boundaries of how music is released and experienced, prioritizing the artistic vision over traditional commercial concerns. Fans of the iconic MC can look forward to more unique and thought-provoking projects from Bey in the near future.
Comments