Following in Prince’s footsteps, Mos Def has decided to change his name at the end of this year. Next time he runs into Ms. Fat Booty, he’ll introduce himself as Yasiin. We can’t help but wonder if his new Arabic namesake will deflate his chances at smashing it like an Idaho potato. Of course, if she’s a moneygrubber, and a wise one at that, she’ll realize his new name is just another way of saying “rich.”
And no, before you think his label head Mr. West got to his head, fret not. Mighty Mos will not act a fool if you run into him at a dinner party and mistakenly refer to him by his so-totally-90s-sounding hip-hop moniker. He’s just used to calling himself Yasiin, and with any luck you soon will be too.
Watch the short clip of Mos, er, Yasiin announcing the official change on MT’’s Sucker Free. As he says on Black on Both Sides, “a lot of things have changed, a lot of things have not.” Just make sure you add Yasiin Dante Smith Bey’s name switch to the ever-evolving list of changeovers, and commit this tidbit to memory for trivia games of the future.
• Mos Def: http://www.myspace.com/mosdef
• G.O.O.D. Music: http://www.goodmusic-blog.com
