LOS ANGELES (Geffen Records) - 'Ghetto rock and righteous hip-hop from dazzingly talented Def' - Rolling Stone.
Mos Def will release his highly-anticipated sophomore solo release, The New Danger (Goodtree Media/ Geffen Records), next Tuesday, October 12th. The release will mark his first collection of original material since 1999's
Black On Both Sides.
Recorded at
Longview Studios in North Brookfield, MA and The Cutting Room in New York City, the album features 17 new songs including 'Boogie Man,' 'Bed Stuy
Parade and Funeral March,' 'Close Edge,' 'Lap Dance (YEA)' and 'Sex, Love and Money,' the album's first single. A video for the single is set to be shot by director Paul Hunter in New York City later this month.
Def produced several of the tracks of the album with additional production credits going to Minnesota, Easy Mo Bee and 88 Keys.
Mos Def has kicked off the release of The New Danger with a series of high-profile performances to debut a variety of new material from his new album. September 23rd marked the television debut of his Black Jack Johnson Band, featuring Will Calhoun, Doug Winbush, Bernie Worrell and Doctor Know, when the group performed 'Ghetto Rock' off of The New Danger on The Late Show With David Letterman.
On October 4th, Mos Def took the stage at the ACLU's Freedom Concert at New York City's Lincoln Center and performed a stunning rendition of Gil Scott Heron's 'New York,' 'The Star Spangled Banner' and 'Umi Says,' off of his previous album release.
Said prodcuer and ACLU Freedom Concert musical director Phillip Glass of his performance, 'Without a doubt, one of the highlights of our ACLU concert was Mos Def and his exceptional ensemble. He began with a riveting rendition of the 'Star Spangled Banner' and by the end of the set he had the audience standing and cheering. I think his personal qualities of warmth and musical talent touched everyone at the concert including myself.
In addition to the above, Mos Def and his Black Jack Johnson Band will perform 'Blue Black Jack' off of The New Danger on the Tonight Show With Jay Leno on October 11th. Acclaimed guitarist Shuggie Otis, who plays on this song on the album, will join Mos and his band onstage for this performance.
Def's Leno appearance will be followed by a three song set on the The Jimmy Kimmel Show the day of the album's release, where he will perform 'Champion Requiem,' off of The New Danger, as well as the album's single 'Sex Love and Money' and 'Umi Says.'
On October 18th, Mos Def will kick off a small club run in support of his new album. Dates are as follows:
Monday, October 18th Seattle Benorya Hall (opening for Jill Scott)
Tuesday, October 19th Santa Cruz The Catalyst
Friday, October 22nd Sacramento Freeborn Hall
Sunday, October 25th Los Angeles House of Blues
Tuesday, October 26th Boulder, CO Boulder Theater
Wednesday, October 27th Toronto The Docks
Friday, October 29th Wilberforce, Ohio Wilberforce Univ
Saturday, October 30th Philadelphia Electric Factory
Sunday, October 31st New York City Venue - TBD
Sunday, November 7th Ithaca, NY Cornell
Saturday, November 13th Anaheim, CA Rock The Bells(festival)
Following the tour, Mos will return back to New York City's Blue Note for the 'Another Side' series where he will perform with his jazz quintet on November 4th, 5th and 6th.
Regarded as one of hip-hop's most introspective and insightful artists, Mos Def has shaped a career that transcends music genres and artistic medium. With the release of 'Universal Magnetic' in 1996 he became an underground favorite, leading to his legendary collaboration with Talib Kweli. The two formed Black Star, whose debut album, Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are…Black Star, would become one of the most critically acclaimed hip-hop albums of all time. Mos followed that release with his 1999 solo debut, Black On Both Sides, which featured the classic tracks 'Ms. Fat Booty' and 'Umi Says.' The album was certified gold and credited by critics as bringing hip-hop back to its soapbox roots.
In addition to the album, Mos Def recently finished work on the Disney film Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which will hit theaters in 2005. He also is back as host of The Peabody Award-winning, acclaimed late-night series Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry, which returned to HBO for its fourth season in July of this year.
He received a 2004 Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie for his critically acclaimed role in HBO Films' Something the Lord Made. Def's next motion picture release, The Woodsman will hit theaters on December 24th, 2004.
For more information on Mos Def and The New Danger please go to www.geffenrecords.com.
