Yasiin Bey, the artist formerly known as Mos Def, is bringing The Ecstatic back into print and, via Qobuz, back online. Originally released on Downtown Records in 2009, a decade on from Black on Both Sides, the album was hailed as a return to form—and featured all-star production from the likes of Madlib, Oh No, and the late J Dilla—but disappeared from official internet channels in the streaming era. The physical reissues are set for August 14 and include a 2xLP that comes with a 120-page hardcover book and a 7″ of bonus tracks “The Size” and “The Tournament.”
The reissue introduces Bey’s new partnership with the Minneapolis independent label Rhymesayers Entertainment. The partnership with Qobuz, meanwhile, aligns Bey with a streaming platform that touts its high audio fidelity and industry-leading pay-per-stream for artists.
