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Mos Def Promotes his New Album at the Berkeley Community Theater

Mills College Weekly

The audience’s energy was contagious as Mos Def took center stage in front of a roaring, sold-out crowd on Jan. 16.

Mos Def opened with his hauntingly erotic “The Boogie Man Song,” the first track off his new album. His performance at the Berkeley Community Theater was to promote his second solo album “The New Danger.”

Mos Def’s charisma had fans leaping out of their seats and into the isles. When the intro to “Sex, Love & Money” began, the ushers couldn’t contain the hyped crowd. He performed concert-goers’ favorite songs from both of his albums and from his collaborative album with artist Talib Kweli, “Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Blackstar.”

“He was really on his game tonight. Very commanding, very into it,” said Kelly Williams, a resident of Oakland.

Mos Def seemed genuinely astonished by the numbers of fans that turned out to the East Bay show. His enthusiasm boiled over as he danced around on stage and jumped into the audience. He repeated to the screaming crowd, “Wow, this is amazing. Thank you, Berkeley!”

The line-up wouldn’t have been complete without show opener and Bay Area locals Blackalicious. Their funky hip hop beats and their out-of-this-world freestyles primed the crowd for Mos Def’s entrance.

“Their flow was sick. I’ve seen them a lot. They always do an awesome show. This was one of their best,” said Blackalicious fan Cisco Cortez.