Yasiin Bey - The Ecstatic - World Exclusive 'Red & Black Marble'

RELEASED AUGUST 14, 2026.

yasiin bey, the legendary artist formerly known as Mos Def, today announced a new partnership with Rhymesayers Entertainment, with the first release being the long-awaited reissue of his seminal 2009 album, The Ecstatic.

It will be released on August 14th, marking the first time it has been available in more than a decade-and-a-half. 

Originally released on Downtown Records a decade after his celebrated solo debut Black on Both Sides, The Ecstatic was widely regarded as bey’s strongest work in years. The album earned near-universal praise for its lyrical breadth and eclectic production and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Album, weaving a global sonic tapestry shaped by a roster of visionary producers including Madlib, J Dilla, Oh No, Preservation, Mr. Flash, Chad Hugo (of The Neptunes), and Georgia Anne Muldrow.

The reissue brings the album’s jazz, soul, and Middle Eastern inflections back to the analog format, allowing listeners to experience tracks like “Supermagic” and the Grammy-nominated “Casa Bey” with the warmth and depth the production deserves. The album also features iconic guest performances from hip-hop royalty Slick Rick and Talib Kweli.

This world exclusive Impressed variant is pressed on red and black marble, with an individually-numbered obi strip, and strictly limited to only 500 copies. 

It ships on August 14th. Only on Impressed.

About yasiin bey:

yasiin bey is widely regarded as one of hip-hop’s most thoughtful and dynamic voices, celebrated for a career that bridges music, film, and cultural commentary. Emerging in the mid-1990s as one half of the acclaimed duo Black Star alongside Talib Kweli, bey quickly established himself as a leading figure in a new generation of lyrically driven hip-hop. His 1999 solo debut Black on Both Sides is considered a modern classic, praised for its fusion of sharp social insight, soulful production, and expansive musical vision.

Throughout the 2000s and beyond, bey continued to push creative boundaries with projects including The New Danger, True Magic, and the critically celebrated The Ecstatic, collaborating with forward-thinking producers and exploring a wide range of global musical influences. Known for his incisive lyricism and fearless artistic curiosity, his work has consistently challenged conventions while remaining rooted in hip-hop’s storytelling traditions.

Beyond music, bey has built a notable career in film and television, appearing in acclaimed projects including The Italian Job, 16 Blocks, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Be Kind Rewind, and the Showtime series Dexter. Across disciplines, he remains an enduring cultural voice whose work reflects both artistic independence and a deep engagement with the world around him.

bey continues to innovate through his Substack newsletter, yasiin bey presents: The Local Time is Always Now, which features new music and monthly live-streamed performances from around the globe. He is currently on tour with frequent collaborators Gorillaz.