Mos Def Pays Tribute At Hill In Ann Arbor For Late MC



By Talitha Johnson
Writer/Reporter
Tell Us Detroit



It was a highly anticipated concert as the sold out crowd gathered to hear rapper/ actor, Mos Def and his Big Band, now named Watermelon, as they performed a live tribute to Detroit’s famed producer, J Dilla.

Mos Def and his six-piece band, which is just one of his many bands, gave a mellow jam session paying homage to the late J Dilla, who deceased in 2006 from Lupus. Mos Def approached the stage resembling the cover of his New Danger album, dressed in a New York cap and a due rag covering the bottom of his face.

“The thing I like most about Dilla is his sound was raw and beautiful,” Mos Def said. He spoke a lot about J Dilla’s musical vision. He said J Dilla’s music was a reflection of where his people are and where they need to be.

Maureen Yancey, J Dilla’s mother admitted to Mos Def backstage, whom in turn shared with the audience that it was one of J Dilla’s dreams to hear his music with live band.

Mos skipped through J Dilla, The Roots, Bob Marley, and of course his own tracks throughout the tribute. But, most of all he orchestrated the band throughout their medleys, as he grooved to the beats.

After an encore from the audience, Mos returned to the stage to receive a visiting professor award from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. After his acceptance for the award, he closed the show with one last number and stepped into the crowd slapping the hands with as many of his fans as possible and waved to those in the balcony.

Motioning tears coming from his eyes and wearing a said face, Mos waved a final goodbye and exited stage right.