Mos Def Hip-Hop with a Consciousness

"Mos Def: Arrested for Guerrilla Performance of 'Katrina Clap'," by D. Firebrand, on September 24 2006:So it was an incident of actual social and cultural import—not to mention courage and heroism—when Brooklyn ambassador to the Universe, Mos Def, rolled up the Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan’s midtown on a flatbed truck. Days after the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which was fresh on the minds of millions of Americans, Mos Def staged a guerrilla performance of “Katrina Clap” (itself a remix of New Orleans’ rapper Juvenile’s “Nolia Clap”). Recorded immediately after the Hurricane last year, at the beginning Mos Def dedicates “Katrina Clap” to “the streets affected by the storm called America.” (source: Revolution #62)

Listen, homie, it's Dollar Day in New Orleans

It's water water everywhere and people dead in the streets

And Mr. President he bout that cash

He got a policy for handlin the niggaz and trash

And if you poor you black

I laugh a laugh they won't give when you ask

You better off on crack

Dead or in jail, or with a gun in Iraq

And it's as simple as that

No opinion my man it's mathematical fact

Listen, a million poor since 2004

And they got -illions and killions to waste on the war

And make you question what the taxes is for

Or the cost to reinforce, the broke levee wall

Tell the boss, he shouldn't be the boss anymore

Y'all pray amin

God save, these streets

One dollar per every human being

Feel that Katrina clap

See that Katrina clap

God save, these streets

Quit bein' cheap nigga freedom ain't free

Feel that Katrina clap

See that Katrina clap

Mos Def Interview Pt 1


Mos Def Interview Pt 2


Mos Def Interview Pt 3


Mos Def Interview Pt 4