Mos Def working on documentary about Detroit punk pioneers Death

Contributed by _f______u_____c_________k. Posted by aubin on Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 2:00 PM (EDT)

Critically acclaimed hip hop artist and actor Mos Def is collaborating with Damon Dash of Roc-A-Fella Records to produce a documentary about pioneering punk outfit, Death. The all-black outfit formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1971 and the film will be directed by Coodie and Chike, who are known for working on videos for Kanye West and Mos Def.

The reunited band is set to appear at Fun Fun Fun Fest in November and is currently on tour. They performed and recorded in the early 70s, predating many of early punk bands, but were mostly lost to history and record collectors until this year. Recent reissues and a profile by the New York Times recently put the band back in the spotlight.

Bands in this story

Death

News (45 comments)

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

the_other_scott (September 24, 2009)

a couple of months ago Damon Dash was recording something next door to my friend's apartment. he was always out there smoking so my friend decided to say what's up. he was recording the new Black Keys record.

anyways, my friend asked him how Roc-A-Fella was going and he got kinda pissed off. Apparently he isn't part of Roc-A-Fella anymore?

Dante3000 (rich) (September 24, 2009)

Yeah, man it's been that way since Jay-Z became president of Def Jam.
-Dante

givemeamuseumandillfillit (September 24, 2009)

Your friend should be happy he only got "kinda pissed off". Jay-Z left and bought Dash out for 10 mil.

He kept a few minor Roc-A-Fella artists and started going under a similar name but that tanked and reports a year or so ago revealed that he was starting a new label with The Black Keys.

Dash is one of the few guys in that world I actually respect, he never gave a fuck about the "music business" and never tipped on his toes to please people because he knew he was never going to need to go to them so the burning of bridges never mattered.

the_other_scott (September 24, 2009)

my buddy could handle Dash. i don't think he was too scared.

DrGunn (September 24, 2009)

how in the fuck did dash even get involved with the black keys? random.

the_other_scott (September 24, 2009)

Also - Mos Def is probably my favorite rapper despite the fact that he's insanely racist and hates white people.

Mammoth (September 24, 2009)

I never knew that... He striked me as the complete opposite.

kevgren (September 24, 2009)

I don't think he's racist, either. I think he raises a lot of good points and, sometimes, he comes off as kind of a reactionary. But his intentions are good, and I have a lot of respect for him, musically and otherwise.

Cos (September 24, 2009)

I love Mos Def too.

I don't think he's racist. He's just a conspiracy theorist and insanely paranoid about a lot of ridiculous shit. Kinda like opposing Obama doesn't mean you hate black people, thinking Bush blew up the WTC doesn't mean you hate white people.

DrGunn (September 24, 2009)

he totally peaked on the cosby mysteries.

jacknife737 (September 24, 2009)

The guy's politics are pretty wacky, but I like him as an actor.

everydayballoons (September 24, 2009)

how do you know he hates white people?

MisFit4Me (September 25, 2009)

I remember hearing Mos Def rhyme the alphabet
I just sat there in silence
As a sign of respect
I knew what I had to do
And that's what happened next
I rhymed the periodic table
Hydrogen is number one
Cause hydrogen is what puts the shine in the sun
Through nuclear fusion and when it's done
It leaves element number two
Helium: helium is the second lightest gas that there is
So we use it in balloons we give to little kids
Then there's lithium often used to treat mental problems
Beryllium don't conduct electric currents, it stops them
Boron can be used to make things harden
And that smoke that's coming out of your exhaust, carbon
Carbon is arguably the most important element
And nitrogen in the air is almost eighty percent
The rest of the air is mainly oxygen
And fluorine is the lightest of the halogens

Banal242 (September 24, 2009)

Now this is pretty fucking cool.

brangelina (Chris Farren of Fake Problems) (September 24, 2009)

this band rules.

miniblindbandit (September 24, 2009)

that looks like something the lord made

TheOneTrueBill (September 24, 2009)

They were on the WGN Morning news today and it kind of ruled.

http://www.wgntv.com/news/morningnews/wgntv-death-live- band-september24,0,217726.story

3PuttBogey (September 24, 2009)

awesome

red_eye_inc (September 24, 2009)

I have to start watching WGN again

monkeybeat (September 24, 2009)

Is this the same doc that has been in the works
http://www.wheredowegofromheredoc.com/
or does this mean there will be two docs about Death?

Cos (September 24, 2009)

I think the correct term is "proto-punk"

TheEnforcer (September 24, 2009)

ughhh..
stick to your own shit.

AndreTheGiant (September 24, 2009)

u r dum

TheEnforcer (September 24, 2009)

u r gay

AndreTheGiant (September 26, 2009)

so?

3PuttBogey (September 24, 2009)

it seems that the day after i see a band on that "band of the moment " on the front page and actually check it out, the next day there is big news about it. i gave their myspace a listen and its probably some of the best 70's music i've ever heard.

DrewXFishy (September 24, 2009)

1)mos def rules
2) who the fuck is f___u__c___

Cheesetits (September 24, 2009)

The Gaslight show was so good. I think the cello player for Murder By Death is one of the most beautiful things on earth.

red_eye_inc (September 24, 2009)

It's a shame her band is one of the worst bands on the planet

Cheesetits (September 24, 2009)

Wow could you be more wrong.

IamtheAvatar (September 24, 2009)

I thought MBD blew Gaslight off stage. And yes, she is beautiful. Last time they came through tucson I was in the crowd watching the opening band and I saw this pretty blond girl standing next to me. I started talking to her, thinking the whole time that she wasn't really into the music and a friend had probably dragged her there. She was very polite but I could tell that she thought I was silly. Then she got on stage and I felt like an idiot.

damnitsderek (September 24, 2009)

I'm so fucking jealous that you saw them and I didn't. What tracks did they play off of Sink or Swim?

Cheesetits (September 24, 2009)

Boomboxes and Dictionaries, I Could Have Been a Contender, Wooderson, We Came to Dance, I'da called You Woody, Joe, and Angry Johnny and the Radio. Think that was it, but they also played Blue Jeans and White T-Shirts and then Say I Won't to close it. Man it was awesome.

damnitsderek (September 25, 2009)

I got lucky enough to hear Wooderson, We Came to Dance, I'da Called You Woody, Joe, and Angry Johnny and the Radio the last time I saw them, but holy damn, I want to hear the rest of those live.

I am so fucking mad for not being able to go. I think I'm going to have to kill myself.

mill83 (September 24, 2009)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2406/2528478169_cdf02e4544_o.jpg

You sure about that? I think someone is over-inflating the value of her hotness due to lack of quality in the surrounding area. She's barely pretty, let's not lose our minds.

Cheesetits (September 24, 2009)

It's not really her looks, it's just the way she plays the cello, it's super hot.

mill83 (September 28, 2009)

Haha... that's the lamest thing I've ever heard. You should go check out any high school's orchestra assembly if you're into cello-playing. I played the tuba in high school like the fucking badass I am, so I know for a fact there's a ton of dorky pseudo-decent looking girls playing the cello to mack on.

Tudor (September 24, 2009)

I like the death metal band "death" better but this should be cool.

letthebeatdrop (September 24, 2009)

death is amazing.

stoked to see this!

jeffernator (September 24, 2009)

Dis gon' be off da hook.

BigP (September 24, 2009)

Mos def is da fuggin man.

DreeeamWeaver (September 24, 2009)

get a job!

Jo_punk_promoter (September 24, 2009)

stoked!

Dublinds (September 25, 2009)

Really, really excited about this.

jeph77 (October 10, 2009)

You Idiots!! Def Racist?????The whole idea of you moronic f....ing wannabes talking about Mos Def being racist is ridiculous!!! He isn't even a "rapper" in my opinion. He is an urban social commentator. As a stupid white boy(Which I am) I should know!!! The article that you are commenting on is on a PUNK page. Mos is bad-ass, Death is punk and all of you can suck it!!!!!!
By the way, Jay Z is a Suckafellas!!!!