I don't think he's neccessarily saying that all these white artists weren't good artists, because, even Mos Def knows this, without them music wouldn't be where it is today. Mos Def's music wouldn't be the same. But everyone thinks that Elvis Presley and The Rolling Stones created rock n' roll, and I think he is just trying to say that this type of music was around before these people popularized it. Don't hate Mos Def for speaking his mind.
I don't think he's neccessarily saying that all these white artists weren't good artists, because, even Mos Def knows this, without them music wouldn't be where it is today. Mos Def's music wouldn't be the same. But everyone thinks that Elvis Presley and The Rolling Stones created rock n' roll, and I think he is just trying to say that this type of music was around before these people popularized it. Don't hate Mos Def for speaking his mind.