Bright Light From A Distant Star

I have this sort of cosmic love for Mos Def’s soulful voice and ability to produce uninhibited intellectually charged lyrics. A certain beauty lingers within this combination, making his style nearly impossible to dislike. With his July 2009 release of The Ecstatic, Mos has proven himself to be one of the most talented MC's on the scene, with a passionate flow and a signature sound that is not easy to forget. The Ecstatic, having been produced by an assortment of renowned names, including Madlib, Oh No, J Dilla, Preservation, Chad Hugo, and Mr. Flash- showcases an abundance of hard hitting beats and experimental flavor. Not to mention hearing the likes of Slick Rick on the joint Auditorium was a seriously pleasant surprise.

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Before the album officially dropped, I had the opportunity to see Mos perform the tracks at Sasquatch Festival '09. Let me tell you, that was some straight awe inspired dopeness. He took stage as the sun had just begun to set on the horizon behind us. After a heated day in the crowded festival grounds I was beginning to feel somewhat defeated and almost ready for a break. Waving his hands toward the sky and shouting- “Just look around you...This is the dream. It’s beautiful." Mos was quick to remind us all of the beauty that lied within our presence. Shortly after, DJ Boogie was quick to drop a beat and get the crowd all sorts of excited.

At this point, the show had far exceeded my expectations. They were flipping through track after track and the crowd was shelling out nothing but love. But When I heard the familiar and soulful sounds of Umi Says flowing out the speakers, it was official, all I wanted to do was shine my light on the world from that point on.

Photography by Chris Graham

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