Mos Def is Retiring His Name and Will Go By Yasiin in 2012

Adios Mos, hello Yasiin!

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Mos Def is taking cue from the artist formerly known as Prince and P.Diddy and pulling a name change on us. He recently announced that he's leaving his famous moniker (one of the most recognizable names in Hip Hop) behind and will be releasing music under the name Yasiin in 2012.

Def revealed the news of his name-swap to MTV's 2's Sucker Free, and explained: "Mos Def is a name that I built and cultivated over the years, it’s a name that the streets taught me, a figure of speech that was given to me by the culture and by my environment, and I feel I’ve done quite a bit with that name and it’s time to expand and move on. Also, I didn’t want to have to deal with having any moniker or separation between the self that I see and know myself as'"

The reasoning behind this move might make sense if his real name was Yasiin, but his born name is actually Dante Terrell Smith. So, we're kind of confused on just how this new handle will help him get back to his roots. 

Honestly though, we don't care what the hell he calls himself, just as long as he puts out another Black Star album.

[via MTV]

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