UPDATE: According to a piece posted on hiphopdx.com today, Mos Def has "suddenly called off his tour of Australia and New Zealand just days before it was to begin". Saying that a "statement was released by the promoters" (which we've not seen), it reads:

“Hip-hop artist Mos Def will not be performing in New Zealand and Australia this week. We wish to advise that the near sold out Mos Def Auckland show at The Powerstation scheduled for Wednesday 19th January has been postponed…there has been an incredible amount of excitement around the concert and we understand that many fans will be disappointed by this news.” Make up dates are expected to be announced shortly and ticket holders to the canceled gigs are all eligible for a refund.

Organisers of the HOT BBQ festival in Victoria this weekend seem a little more optimistc however, with an update this afternoon saying "never fear MOS DEF will be coming fellow Hot Barbicans! Press release to follow =)".

UPDATE 2: Roots drummer questlove tweeted that Mos Def was at the Prince concert at New York's Madison Square Garden last night. Oops.

UPDATE 3: We've had word that Mos Def is "airborne". And on his way to Australia. Meaning his appearance at the HOT BBQ will be his first showing in the country for 2011. Wait and see.

More updates as they happen.

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After a series of delays and reschedules, US rapper Mos Def has failed to appear at his first (already rescheduled) Australian show in Adelaide last night.

In the months leading up to the legendary hip-hop artist's first ever headline tour of Australia, Mos Def had previously already scotched an appearance at the Soundscape Festival, as well as two sideshows, one each in Melbourne and Sydney. Now comes news that despite Mos Def being scheduled to kick of his tour in Adelaide last night at HQ, he failed to appear. In fact, he's not yet even in the country, according to promoters Peace Music:

“We are at this time, awaiting advice from his management team in regards to what has created this delay.

Additionally Mos has also failed to arrive in Australia in time to make his scheduled journey out to the Australian red centre to undertake 2 days of community work, music workshops and cultural exchange activities with indigenous communities in and around Uluru. Everyone at Peace Music is particularly saddened by this outcome.

The factors that have lead to this outcome remain beyond our control. A more detailed statement regarding clarifying Mos commitment to the remaining dates and the reasons for his delayed arrival to Australia will be released directly.”

The factors beyond Peace Music's control in having Mos Def appear in the country. thus far include:

- Illness of Mos Def's DJ
- The Queensland floods
- the ill-health of an immediate family member and a resultant delay in departure from the USA.

The remaining (re)scheduled dates for the Mos Def tour are as follows. Good luck:

MOS DEF - AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2011

Saturday 22nd January – Hot BBQ, Point Nepean VIC
Sunday 23rd January – The Enmore Theatre, Sydney NSW
Wednesday 26th January – Hi Fi, Brisbane QLD
Thursday 27th January – Metro City, Perth WA
Friday 28th January – The Espy, Melbourne VIC