Yasiin Bey--while onstage with his Black Star partner (Black CoStar?) Talib Kweli at a recent L.A. show--gave a subliminal shout to the people of Palestine, altering the lyrics to "Re: DEFinition" to include the call "Let's get free just like the Palestinians." Trill Gladiator Sama’an Ashrawi, had the chance to sit down for a quick follow-up interview with Bey, who shared a few more thoughts on the universal nature of struggle for balance and justice, regardless of geography (below). Meanwhile back at the boutique, Bey dropped the latest in his series of Greatest Words tributes to Muhammad Ali (after the jump), in collaboration with calligrapher Niels Shoe Meulman and couturier Louis Vuitton--lest we forget that swag is as much about purpose as style.

spotted at EI