Bey will be joined by Academy Award-nominated actor John Hawkes (Deadwood, Winter's Bone) who will take on the role of Louis Gara, previously helmed by Robert De Niro. Switch will take place 15 years prior to the events of Jackie Brown where Ordell and Louis shortly continue an alliance of crime just after being released from prison for auto theft.

Switch is based off the Elmore Leonard novel The Switch, similar to Tarantino's adaption of the Leonard book Rum Punch which formed the basis for Jackie Brown. If the plot follows the book, Switch will possibly feature some of the same tense drama much like the preceding film.

Filming is said to start in May of this year according to a Variety magazine report with a still undetermined release date of 2013. Bey recently starred in the Showtime murder drama Dexter in the role of complex criminal turned spiritual leader Brother Sam.

Speaking with Hypebeast, Bey revealed the impetus behind his upcoming 'Top 40 Underdog' project and what he hopes to achieve as a result of the music, which is simply Bey's take on modern day rap hits such as the recently released “Ni**gas In Poorest,” a redo of The Throne's “Ni**as In Paris”

“The tradition, taking someone's song and making your version of out of it, is not new to hip-hop,” said Bey. “It is similar to dancehall music, where there one rhythm and many artists offer their interpretation of it.”

Bey vaguely revealed some of the themes that will be present on Top 40 Underdog as well. “Regarding the content on the Top 40 Underdog, I cannot open up too much on it, but let's say it will not be just about reinterpreting or even re-appropriating modern day hits,” shared Bey. “It will deal with a range of various subjects, covering socially conscious and political themes since it is a staple in my life and an expression of who I am.”

Rap fans have been salivating at the news of the Black Star reunion, especially after the well-received, Madlib produced “Fix Up” track. Bey said the album is on the way but fans will need to exercise patience.

“We are in the studio all the time and we will continue putting out songs on a regular basis,” said Bey. “I appreciate the anticipation. Making an album is very time consuming and requires lots of energy. So yea, we are on the road and in the studio and we hope to get it out as soon as possible.”

Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, Yasiin Bey, aka Mos Def, reminds the people not to get "caught up in the throne" with his twist on the smash hit "Ni**as in Paris." Bey has launched a "Top 40 Underdog" project, where he'll put his twist on Top 40 hits. Listen to his spin on one of 2011's biggest hits below.

Download Here

Talib Kweli & Yasiin Bey (better known as Mos Def) hit the Late Night With Jimmy Fallon to perform their new, Oh No produced single "You Already Knew," off of their mixtape Aretha, due out sooner than later. The music didn't stop with the performance of new music, as the Brooklyn duo paid homage to the late Jay Dilla with a rendition of "Little Brother." The Roots with the musical accompaniment, of course.

Props to Yardie.

Yasiin Bey aka the Mighty Mos Def has always been fashion forward. Although concrete details are sketchy, the Brooklyn rapper and actor has started a design collaborative called Fellowship Mission with friends that include Chris Gibbs of LA streetwear shop UNION. In the video below, courtesy of We Are Blind, the “Umi Says” rapper is seen in Paris visiting a trade show, discussing his inspiration and what he hopes to eventually convey in his designs.

One of Fellowship Mission's first products is a fragrance called Harun –No. 7-. Bey worked on the scented oil, which boasts that it's free of alcohol and chemicals, with fellow MC Chace Infinite of the group Self Scientific.

Talib unveils a new track from his forthcoming album, Prisoner Of Conscious,  dropping in 2012.

The Brooklyn rappers stays dropping  gems and it's no different as he wrecks this Oh No produced track.

That Black Star album hopefully will come soon as well.  Let's go Mos Def Yasiin Bey.  We've waited long enough.

After dropping a new track on iTunes yesterday, Mos Def and Talib Kweli announced plans to release a new Black Star mixtape dedicated to Aretha Franklin.

Check out the duo's first release from the project.

Welcome back, Mos and Kweli. Black Star fans already know.

Listen To More Wired Tracks Here

The Blackstar reunion is here, as Talib Kweli and Mos Def (now known as Yasiin Bey) are back with the first new Blackstar song in years.

Pick up the new single on iTunes here and take a listen to it below.

Listen To More Wired Tracks Here

Mos Def and Talib Kweli fans may finally get the Black Star reunion album they've been waiting on.

According to a recent Talib interview with MTV News, the Brooklyn rapper confirmed that Mos Def and himself are working on a new Black Star LP, which they expect to release next year.

“We have a bunch of songs recorded,” Kweli said.
“We are just trying to figure out the best way to release them, whether it's going to be one by one, EP or album.”

Kweli also spoke on the latest song “Fix Up,” released by the group on The Colbert Report Showlast month saying, “When you heard “Fix Up” on Colbert, it wasn't even mixed; it was something we recorded a week before.

“Now we're at the mixing stage of the song and we are going to put that out ourselves.”

Mos Def and Talib Kweli released their only Black Star album in 1998.

Hip-Hop mogul Dame Dash, along with rapper Mos Def and producer Ski Beatz are being sued by record label TufAmerica over Ski Beatz's 24 Hour Karate School compilation album.

According to reports, TufAmerica filed the lawsuit against Damon Dash, Mos Def and Ski Beatz on Wednesday claiming that Mos Def illegally sampled the songs “Hook & Sling Part 1” and “Hook & Sling Part 2,” which were used on the Ski Beatz compilation released through Dash's DD172 imprint in 2010.

The sample was used in the "24 Hour Karate School" title track and single.

TufAmerica is seeking, compensatory and punitive damages, along with an injunction barring any further distribution of the 24 Hour Karate School compilation, stating that the "24 Hour Karate School" track was released without permission.

This is the second time Damon Dash was hit with legal troubles over the last two months.

He was served papers for bootlegging alcohol, though charges have since been dropped.