By DCist contributor W Jacarl Melton

When Mos Def dropped the mic à la Randy Watson in Coming to America at the conclusion of Saturday’s 9:30 Club show, it was hard to tell if he was just being playful or if it was indicative of sentiments he harbored.

A name like Mos Def, when announced to hip-hop heads or general music aficionados, is bound to create some buzz. This night was no different as the sell-out crowd stood shoulder-to-shoulder on the main floor and nearly the same in the balcony. Opening act Anwar Superstar couldn’t inspire a genuine positive response from attendees unless he uttered Mos’ name or kicked verses from popular rhymes like Pharoahe Monch’s “Simon Says” or Talib Kweli’s “Get By,” As Mos made his entrance two hours after some folks had arrived, the audience was more than receptive.

While out of view, he began singing an ode to the District to the tune of Gil Scott-Heron’s “New York City.” Club denizens began to roar. Sporting a backpack which harkened back to his early days on Rawkus Records, Mos took center stage supported by two DJs and went into tracks from his last two solo projects, New Danger and Tru Magic, as well as some new material from his forthcoming release. Unfortunately, the last albums weren’t as popular as his Black Star or Black On Both Sides recordings and, therefore, left us feeling that the palpable admiration in the air was just for the man and not necessarily the music.