I don't know if this thread should be posted here, but did anybody catch the scuffle between him and Christopher Hitchens?

I thought Mos handled himself pretty damn good and didn't back down despite all dismissive, condesending, drunken foolishn attitude that was displayed by Hitchen.

Ya'll can check it out in youtube(its 7 parts and this dame is just lazy to post 'em ).

Anyway, for those who watched it already, what do you think?

Harlepolis said:

Everyone should also check out, (if they missed it) Bill's AMAZING New Rules from the week before when he did a whole thing on the Bullshit of reality stars, and fake stars and next top model etc... basically saying that we get sucked by this crap because everyone thinks they can be a model or singer or actor, well guess what YOU CANT!

Harlepolis said:

Yeah, Mr. Hitchens attitude towards Mos, rubbed me the wrong way. Mr. Hitchins spent most of his time trying one up Mos instead of listening very carefully to what he was saying. Instead, Mr. Hitchens flipped him off, expressed "horror" (you mean to tell me...) and answered Mos in two/three clipped sentences. Mr. Hitchens was as boorish as much as Mos was uninformed. It was uncomfortable to watch. Mos acknowledged his lack of understanding about Taliban and Al-Qaeda and he simply expressed skepticism.

At the beginning of the show Mr. Maher asked a question about Gitmo. I wonder if the audience had been asked why those prisoners had been released, could they have told us? Mr. Hitchens knows why those prisoners were released. He choose not to give an explanation because it didn't gel with his political point of view. Mos mentioned something to the effect.... 'just because you say it doesn't make it true' He was correct and if someone on the panel had been a little more adapt, they would have gotten in Hitchens butt.

Yeah, there's quite a debate goin' on here too...

http://prince.org/msg/105/302655?&pg=1

"Mos Def" is what the less-politically-correct amongst us would define as "retarded".

http://www.youtube.com/wa...Yx_EfG1yF8

yeah, he's a big idiot

Ace said:

Agree. You could tell he was trying to think of his comeback rather than listening to what the other guests had to say.

Dred said:

That is what is so funny about the video. It's like he was trying to revert back to a kindergarten level with his come backs. Everyone else was participating, giving decent insight.. then here comes Mos with loud arrogance of how his voice should be heard, regardless of what shit comes out.

I saw it. I like Mos Def and I love that show!

Just asking,,,

Why is he labeled "retarded/idiot"?

For asking the "wrong questions"? He wanted to be informed and these so-called intellects brushed him off instead. If anybody displayed idiocy, its those who couldn't answer him and retreated to mind games tactics as comebacks instead.

He could've backed down and joined the crowd, but he stuck his ground. I respect him for that.

Harlepolis said:

It's how he handled it... I don't believe anyone is calling him that for this question, but it's how he handled. He wouldn't even listen, and had to revert to his "i'm from Brooklyn" speech.. childish, uneducated, and misinformed.

The Mighty Mos Def!

I couldn't continue to watch how stupid Mos actually is. It's embaressing. To think, he's considered more of a thinking type of rapper ...what a joke.

What I can't understand is why Mahr would have a moron like Mos Def in the same conversation with Rushide and the other guy.

LIke I said, I couldn't sit thru that pain. Did Mahr shut Mos up eventually?

I think Bill had Mos back based on his last showing -- I think with Michael Eric Dyson? He was almost impressive last time around.

BlaqueKnight said:

I've stated something similar in another thread here that though he doesn't articulate his thoughts the way some people would like, at least his audience understood what he was saying. Also, he should do research on the Taliban and Al Qaeida to get an idea what they stand for.

Bill unlike other tv hosts, opens the door to everyone on his show, he really does like Mos as an artist and a poet, Michael Stipe was another of Bill's favorite, along with me, Bill thinks REM's "around the sun" was a fucking masterpiece.

The thing with Real Time is that ALOT of people refuse to come on this show because they have to answer real questions, Clinton and Obama turned this show down during their campaigns, while Joe Biden and John Edwards were there

BlaqueKnight said:

I'm trying hard to make sense of this...

If you can't make your point, how do we know you have a point? Look, I don't doubt Mos Def is a smart guy (especially for a rapper:) but he just does not have the intellect required to sit with Bill Mahr or/and Salman Rushdie. Only in America do you see fools believing themselves to be so wordly while never having visited the wordl outside of their block. Who would I listen to if my choice was a rapper bragging about being from New York, or a writer who has seen the world, written books that other great writers praise etc. It's a foolish comparison and a foolish decision to have these people sharing a conversation.

Ronny said:

Uh, what in the hell makes you think Mos Def hasn't visited the world? He's a recording artist - they TOUR. Bill's ass rarely leaves the U.S. (by his own admission) but that doesn't stop him from having a grasp on some things. That's a real pompus, presumptive and condescending assumption. First, you attack the man's profession as if that has anything to do with anything. There's a difference between the projected stereotype of a rapper and the actual people themselves - who are very varied as are people in ANY profession. Chuck D is a rapper but I bet he'd easily school both Bill and Salman in some areas. He STAYS abreast of what's going on. Mos has been on the show before. His first appearance was much better but its not as if he has nothing to offer to a conversation - that all depends on the subject matter. Like I said, you holier-than-thou faux intellectual wanna be know-it-alls have this mindset that just because someone's life experiences differ that they have nothing to offer in the exchange of ideas. If you get into a conversation of something like say - black history - Mos Def would more than hold his own with Maher and Rushde - he'd school them. Thats more his forté. I've seen Bill put his foot in his mouth on this subject before and try to intellectualize his way out, only ending up having to default to a joke and then changing the topic. The panelists never know what's going to be discussed and how the conversation is going to go. Everyone's knowledge is limited in some capacity and as I've already stated, while Mos is not the ideal communicator when it comes to certain social circumstances, he makes points - IF YOU ARE LISTENING. He summarizes while Salman, Bill,and Chris Hitchens like to expound in detail.

BlaqueKnight said:

My only issue with Mos was the immaturity he displayed by talking louder or over someone and thinking thats how one "wins" a debate. Big pet peeve.

[color=blue][b]Uh, what in the hell makes you think Mos Def hasn't visited the world? He's a recording artist - they TOUR.


By what he said and how he came off on the show.

It is clear that you are as ignorant as he is. It's clear I'm as ignorant as you as I'm still going back and forth with you.

Uh, what in the hell makes you think Mos Def hasn't visited the world? He's a recording artist - they TOUR. Bill's ass rarely leaves the U.S. (by his own admission) but that doesn't stop him from having a grasp on some things. That's a real pompus, presumptive and condescending assumption. First, you attack the man's profession as if that has anything to do with anything. There's a difference between the projected stereotype of a rapper and the actual people themselves - who are very varied as are people in ANY profession. Chuck D is a rapper but I bet he'd easily school both Bill and Salman in some areas. He STAYS abreast of what's going on. Mos has been on the show before. His first appearance was much better but its not as if he has nothing to offer to a conversation - that all depends on the subject matter. Like I said, you holier-than-thou faux intellectual wanna be know-it-alls have this mindset that just because someone's life experiences differ that they have nothing to offer in the exchange of ideas. If you get into a conversation of something like say - black history - Mos Def would more than hold his own with Maher and Rushde - he'd school them. Thats more his forté. I've seen Bill put his foot in his mouth on this subject before and try to intellectualize his way out, only ending up having to default to a joke and then changing the topic. The panelists never know what's going to be discussed and how the conversation is going to go. Everyone's knowledge is limited in some capacity and as I've already stated, while Mos is not the ideal communicator when it comes to certain social circumstances, he makes points - IF YOU ARE LISTENING. He summarizes while Salman, Bill,and Chris Hitchens like to expound in detail.[/quote]


Sorry, I have to say something...

You have included me as a 'holier than though faux-intellectual' based on a few lines I have written. I have concluded Mos Def as a definite idiot based on his appearance on a show on which he rambled on for over 30 minutes:) All I am saying is that Mos Def should not be on with guests of Rushdies calibre. We saw something similar, certainly not as bad, when the Repubs chose Palin to run against Obama/Biden. I think everyone understands taht although she was a Governer, she just was not in the same league as the others.

Ronny said:

Fair enough.