Mos Def Says He's Done With Hollywood, Retiring from Rap

The rapper formerly known as Mos Def, Yasiin Bey, who was arrested in South Africa last Friday for attempting to use a fraudulent document called a "word passport" to travel internationally, will be releasing his final album later this year.

Through a tweet from rap superstar Kanye West, the 42-year-old artist released a pre-recorded message to his fans and supporters. In the message, Bey opens up with a freestyle about his innocence.

"Please tell them no more parties in SA. Hey Home Affairs, I don't need to stay. I'll leave and I'll stay away. I committed no crime any place," Bey freestyles in the telephone message. "Why these police up in my face, why they up in my place. Why don't I feel safe? This isn't an expression of fear." 

In the freestyle, Bey references his longtime collaborator West's newest song "No More Parties in L.A." and thanks the rapper for being a "Real Friend," another song from the upcoming Yeezy album Swish.

Bey says that his travel document, "the world passport" is a valid document for international travel. "Anyone can do their research about the world passport," Bey says. "It is not a fictitious document."

The world passport represents the inalienable human right of freedom of travel on planet Earth, according to the World Government of World Citizens, who issues the travel document.

Bey, who in 2013 raised awareness about the plight of detainees in Guantanamo Bay by subjecting himself to be force-fed, suspects there are "political motivations" behind the arrest. "It's curious. I haven't broken any law," Bey says. "And I'm being treated like a criminal."

Bey says that his family and himself are "never to return to this state again."

At the end of the message, Bey announces that he will be retiring from the entertainment industry completely. 

"I'm retiring from the music recording industry as it is currently assembled today, and also from Hollywood, effective immediately," the artist says. "I'm releasing my final album this year, and that's that. Peace to all."

Yasiin Bey is currently detained in South Africa, as the release of the message.