Biggie would be 40 today; Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) drops "Bey" in tribute, is playing the Apollo

Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) is playing the Apollo Theater on June 14 as part of the month-long Blue Note Jazz Festival (which originally announced the Mos Def show as happening on June 29). Tickets are on sale.

Today, 5/21, would have been Biggie Smalls‘ 40th birthday. In tribute to Biggie and Malcolm X, Yasiin Bey released a new song called “Bey”, part of his continuing “Top 40 Underdog series“. Hypetrack points out that the song is Bey rapping over the instrumental of Lil Tunechi’s single “John (If I Die Tonight)”. Listen to that, along with some just-uncovered footage of Christopher Wallace performing with Jay-Z, below…

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