Yasiin Bey AKA Mos def live @ stylus, Leeds

Image: Mos Def

“Yasiin Bey is in the building!"

The ear-popping cheer greeting this information is an indication of just how hotly anticipated this show is. The rather-too-clean-for-a-student-union Stylus is packed to bursting; due not only to a fantastic previous UK performance with Black Star over two years ago, but a first glimpse since Mos Def became Yasiin Bey.

Problem is, the information delivered by a woefully out of his depth hype man a full 15 minutes after the billed stage time, isn't exactly true. The news that "Yasiin Bey is in a Taxi!" 10 minutes later doesn't receive such a positive reaction, but as the man himself finally emerges around an hour late with a big grin and a bunch of flowers, all sins are instantly forgiven. 

After an electrifying opening salvo of "Casa Bey", "Brooklyn" and an amped up and deconstructed "Auditorium", it becomes clear that Bey is treating this three date mini tour as a means to road test a few ideas. The frequent pre-song conferences between him and his DJs betray evidence of a setlist created on the fly. This playful atmosphere allows him the freedom to forsake some of his biggest hits, like 'Ms Fat.Booty' and 'Oh No', in favour of a  varied selection of musical interludes, including a snatch of Notorious B.I.G's 'Juicy' over the distinctive, dancing bassline of "Embassy". 

Although there is no sign of recently released snippets ‘Sunshine Screwface’ or ‘Black Jesus', we are treated to a handful of promising new tracks. None are named or even announced, but all of them carry a broad stroke of musical influences, from Jazz and Bossa Nova to the Arabic instrumentation first introduced on 2009's The Ecstatic. This evolution of style explains a set that leans heaviest on this most recent album, with a few nods to his critically acclaimed debut Black on Both Sides. While it's clear most of the audience are familiar with The Ecstatic, it's telling that 'Mathematics' provokes the first sea of heads nodding in unison.

Bey could easily be mistaken for a confused artist searching for an identity; dressed in full Muslim Thobe, topped off with a Baseball cap; scattering the stage with red rose petals that match the colour of his iconic vintage microphone. However, the most striking element of his performance is the genuine elation etched all over his perspiring face. Nearly every song is accompanied by a spontaneous outbreak of dancing, and despite his recent political activity and often incendiary lyrics, the closest Bey comes to preaching is to gently remind the crowd to "look after each other out there".

At this point he could have asked everyone to strip naked and hug and they would gleefully oblige, so potent was the potion of charisma and talent on display. This is clearly an artist in love with what he's doing right now, drawing creativity from the music he's grown up with, as he informs us before embarking on a medley of soul standards that morph into a closing couplet of 'Umi Says' and 'Traveling Man'. Without explicitly giving away too many details, tonight's show proves that the future of Yasiin Bey is bright and exciting, for him as much as for us.

For more events at Stylus/Leeds Union join the group here.