The artist formerly known as Mos Def emerges victoriously with "R.E.D."

Yasiin Bey and Iraqi-Canadian MC Narcy, teamed up with an indigenous Canadian trio, A Tribe Called Red for a brassy, musical resurgence. The Canadian group samples North American indigenous music with “pow wow step," a Native American musical beat. The single, “R.E.D.” is off A Tribe Called Red’s upcoming album, We Are The Halluci Nation, and also features native drum crew Black Bear.

The video directed by Narcy, was shot in Cape Town, South Africa and it's a blistering narrative that addresses Bey’s ongoing immigration issues by following the two MC’s through the loose borders of their enemies’ nation. Bey is currently facing legal troubles in South Africa due to the alleged use of a fake passport and shady travel documents.

In a press release, the group said, “The Halluci Nation has no barriers, it sees no borders and their operatives are everywhere."

Summoned by the indigenous trio, Bey continues to shatter conventions and breaks his silence by spitting complete fire over the tribal, thumping ballad.

“The day like lightning and the thunder/ The sun, moon, the stars, and the thunder/ Abundance in bundles, Blessings and chuckles/Towers and tunnels, views and valleys.”

The story is an honest tale of “Alie Nation” (or alienation) and rips into the reality that "all the things of the earth and in the sky have energy to be exploited, even themselves, mining themselves into souls, sold.”

In a statement about the collaboration, Narcy said, "I think it is the first time in history where you have an African, an Iraqi, and the Indigenous of Canada on one song. It's an important breaking in culture, we are coming together to counter the narratives built around the history of our communities and showing the power of our people combined. It feels like the beginning of something new and old, the rebirth after many injustices."

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