Now that the Drake/Meek Mill ghostwriting controversy finally seems to have died down, hip-hop fans have another case of ghostwriting to occupy their attention: Yasiin Bey's new song "Basquiat Ghostwriter," which has now gotten its own video.
The fast-moving rap track was inspired by the works of late artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, and the video shows footage of Basquiat making graffiti from the film Downtown 81. We also see various visual references to the lyrics including footage of videogames, professional wrestling and more. All of the images appear as silvery negatives.
The rapper also known as Mos Def shared this statement about the video:
Good tidings in this season of the lion. Black August action.
Peace. Happy Wednesday morning. In commemoration of the birth week of one Marcus Garvey, herein is an arrangement of visuals for the sonic composition "Basquiat Ghostwriter", directed and produced by A Country Called Earth. Special thanks to I. Attallihi, J. Cuba and S. bin Sharifu.
FREE THE LAND. We are already in outer space. The local time is always now. Free Shmurda. If you are reading this, you are already reading. We appreciateyuh.
Negus. Eternal pedigree. Noble Empire. So real. Surreal.
L T P F J. peace.
– Yasiin Bey
Check out the clip below.
The fast-moving rap track was inspired by the works of late artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, and the video shows footage of Basquiat making graffiti from the film Downtown 81. We also see various visual references to the lyrics including footage of videogames, professional wrestling and more. All of the images appear as silvery negatives.
The rapper also known as Mos Def shared this statement about the video:
Good tidings in this season of the lion. Black August action.
Peace. Happy Wednesday morning. In commemoration of the birth week of one Marcus Garvey, herein is an arrangement of visuals for the sonic composition "Basquiat Ghostwriter", directed and produced by A Country Called Earth. Special thanks to I. Attallihi, J. Cuba and S. bin Sharifu.
FREE THE LAND. We are already in outer space. The local time is always now. Free Shmurda. If you are reading this, you are already reading. We appreciateyuh.
Negus. Eternal pedigree. Noble Empire. So real. Surreal.
L T P F J. peace.
– Yasiin Bey
Check out the clip below.