Avg Rating: 
3.3 ( 23 total votes )
Mos Def - Casa Bey
Artist: Mos Def
Producer: Dante Smith & DJ Preservation
Album: The Ecstatic
Label: G.O.O.D./Downtown
As far as I’m concerned, anybody who spends time in Brazil is bound to become enchanted with the South American nation’s distinctive, boundlessly innovative music scene. Hip-hop veteran Mos Def is no exception. Introduced to Rio de Janeiro group Black Banda Rio through local rap heavyweight MV Bill (who accompanied him on a journey through the city’s slums in an ‘06 4Play documentary), he fell head-over-heels for their inventive blend of funk, soul, jazz, and local rhythms. Now, the ensemble’s Casa Forte, tweaked by producers Dante Smith and DJ Preservation, has become the backbone of his latest single. Casa Bey is as unconventional as you’d expect, but it’s also very familiar—Mos Def’s bouncy, sung-rapped vocals blend beautifully with the genre-bending instrumental, and the end result sounds like funky old-school hip-hop shot into space and beamed back into your earbuds “...from a distant star.” If the rest of The Ecstatic (due out June 9th) is this exuberant and creative, the LP is sure to live up to its name and leave open-minded listeners everywhere enraptured.
This song first appeared on the
Independent Chart
on May 18, 2009
Listen to More: Mos Def Written by richard
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Member Reviews and Ratings
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 1624 |
Rating:
Little different sounding from Mos Def, but I can dig it. I’m mostly talking about the flow I guess, but it was still fresh.
It’s ironic because I was just listening to “Oh No” the other day…that was such a dope song! Haven’t really heard from him in a minute, so any new Mos Def in my life is always a plus. Not his best by any means, but enjoyable to say the least. |
| Posted on May 11, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 2281 |
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As this son@ starts I don't like it, but by the time it ends I realise that I have been taken on a sonic mission. This beat switches up over 5 times and @ets more intricate and more amazing@ as it progresses. Mi@hty Mos with a Classic symphony with wordplay.
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| Posted on May 11, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1642 |
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yeah im not feelin def's flow.
i pass on this song. |
| Posted on May 11, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 4267 |
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Im With BDF44 on this ... back on the scene with dis smokin hot joint ... One Word: DYNAMIC
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| Posted on May 11, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 177 |
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Bedstuy on the check in, BK stand up! Mos Def reppin. What more can you ask for?
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| Posted on May 11, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 502 |
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lmaoo, I just watched Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy a few days ago, Nice to see him back out there, Listenable I guess, Can't really think of anything else to say..
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| Posted on May 11, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 11866 |
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I happen to really like Mos Def the actor, so I have not been torn up over his lack of new music over the past four years.
This record is interesting and I expect many members to refrain from comment because of it. However, I beg of you to open up (with proper claims). Will this work for Mos? Should he push this? Should he stick to acting? Let us know! 
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| Posted on May 11, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1191 |
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@Z - He should re-unit with Talib Kweli. I REALLY want another Black Star album, though any music from Mos Def is always good to hear.
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| Posted on May 11, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 908 |
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Mos Def should mos def continue rapping. Can't help but love the guy. Will this work for him? Not so sure..
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| Posted on May 11, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 34 |
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It's a little raw but I love the Brazilian sounds they lace in on the beat and Mos Def's flow is nice. One thing I've always liked about Mos Def is that he isn't afraid to completely change what he's doing in the middle of a song and just be soulful and fun, and he definitely does that here. 5 for creativity.
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| Posted on May 11, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 84 |
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Im liking this alot actually. At first I was kinda unsure about it, but as it went on, it picked up and I got into it. Im a huge Mos fan, so I've been waiting for the Ecstatic for what seems like forever. This reasures me that Mos is taking his time to make hot tracks. I can't wait for June 9th.
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| Posted on May 11, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member Total Ratings: 84 |
Rating:
Oh yeah, almost forgot. Mos Def is a great actor, but I prefer his rap career, so if I had to pick one, I would choose it, but I think he manages to do both pretty well so I guess I'll say both. :P
PS. Im really enjoying the piano at the end of the track. |
| Posted on May 11, 2009 |
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Tastemaker |
Rating:
I like Mos Def the actor, but I would love to hear another couple of albums from him. The track was tight. The production was cool and he sounded great.
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| Posted on May 11, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 3217 |
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I didn't like this song. The production sounds a lil too confused for my tastes. I didn't like his flow, either! I've heard worse but I'll pass on this
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| Posted on May 11, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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Yeah I agree with you Patty. I don't like the production or his rapping at all. pass....
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| Posted on May 11, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 267 |
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I think that Mos Def will be successful with anything he puts his mind to. From Black on Both Sides to "Be Kind Rewind" (who wouldn't love him with Danny Glover and Black), he has been a force in any media he's wanted to take part in. I think that Mos will continue to grow as both actor and musician, which only benefits us spectators. Looking forward to his work in the future.
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| Posted on May 11, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 222 |
Rating:
Def has been hanging around Talib too much. The flow is beginning to get erratic and sloppy. The production was out of place and that ending was painful.
Mos, slow it down just a bit, throw out the production, kill (preferably, via stoning) the producers, and just read your verses in prose form. Stop wasting your time Mos, become a poet. Mos' needs some direction from a higher power (Marley Marl). |
| Posted on May 11, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1077 |
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I dont see why this type of track won't work just as well as any other Blackstar or Mos Def project did, but it will not fare any better. I, personally, liked the innovation and inclusion of newly learned culture in his music. For me, Mos Def's flow has always been undeniably lyrical and intelligent but kinda boring to listen to. The production and flow do push this into rotation for me tho.
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| Posted on May 12, 2009 |
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Tastemaker |
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The production is amazing with all the different sounds blended together perfectly. Mos Def brings a nice flow as always. Banger!
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| Posted on May 12, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 44 |
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I like the different sound mixing together. Made me feel like I'm at a wedding and some drunk took the mic and a impomptu karaoke broke out, mixing whatever tracks he found under the table.
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| Posted on May 12, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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i like all the instruments
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| Posted on May 12, 2009 |
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Tastemaker Total Ratings: 1191 |
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@Mr. Reliable - How does hanging with Talib make him 'erratic & sloppy'?
That would be one of the more head scratching statements i've ever read here |
| Posted on May 13, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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WHoa!!!!!!!
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| Posted on May 23, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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a lil too much singin
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| Posted on Mar 11, 2010 |
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| Posted on Nov 06, 2012 |
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