Mos Def
Background information
Birth name	Dante Terrell Smith
Born	December 11, 1973 (1973-12-11) (age 34)
Origin	Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Genre(s)	Alternative hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper, actor, Poet
Years active	1994–present
Label(s)	Rawkus, Geffen, Downtown
Associated acts	Soulquarians, Black Star, Talib Kweli, Kanye West, Native Tongues Posse, Beyonce Knowles
Website	http://www.mosdef.com

Dante Terrell Smith (born December 11, 1973), better known by his stage name Mos Def, is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award-nominated and Grammy Award-nominated acclaimed American actor and MC, respectively. Mos Def started his rap career as a member of the Native Tongue Posse collective and by guesting on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. He released a well-received album with Talib Kweli as Black Star, and was a major force in the late 1990s underground hip hop explosion spearheaded by Rawkus Records. His name does not have anything to do with the words 'most definitely,' which is often erroneously presented as the origin of his stage name Mos Def. 'Mos Def' refers instead to his belief that he is in fact the most 'def' of all ('def' being the old school Hip Hop term for 'cool'). He would, however, later release a compilation album which makes reference to his name called Mos Definite. is the 345th day of the year (346th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... This article is about the New York City borough, or Kings County, New York. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Alternative hip hop (also known as alternative rap) is a genre that is defined in greatly varying ways. ... Rapping is one of the elements of hip hop and the distinguishing feature of hip hop music; it is a form of rhyming lyrics spoken rhythmically over musical instruments, with a musical backdrop of sampling, scratching and mixing by DJs. ... Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... A poet is a person who writes poetry. ... In the music industry, a record label can be a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Rawkus Records is an American hip hop record label, known for jump-starting the careers of both Mos Def and Talib Kweli. ... Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as one third of UMGs Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group. ... Downtown Records LLC is an independently owned record label and publishing company based in the United States. ... Soulquarians (common misspelling: Soul Aquarians) was a neo soul-informed hip hop musical collective with members from Philadelphia, Detroit, Richmond and Chicago. ... Black Star is an alternative hip hop group formed by MCs Mos Def and Talib Kweli. ... Talib Kweli Greene (born October 3, 1975), better known as Talib Kweli, is an American MC from Brooklyn, New York. ... Kanye Omari West (pronounced /kÉ‘njÉ›j/) (born June 8, 1977) is an American record producer and rapper who rose to fame in the mid 2000s. ... The Native Tongues Posse is a collective of late 1980s and early 1990s hip-hop artists known for their positive-minded, good naturedly-Afrocentric lyrics, and for pioneering the use of eclectic sampling and later jazz-influenced beats. ... Beyoncé in 2004 with her five Grammys. ... is the 345th day of the year (346th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ... An Emmy Award. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... MasterCard logo Manchaster Town Hall MC can mean: Mini Cooper: Macao: FIPS PUB 10-4 territory code Machine, (also m/c) Manchester, England (also m/c) Mariah Carey, American songstress Marginal cost Marin Catholic Master cylinder Master of Ceremonies Rapper (also emcee), or a prefix for the names of rappers... The Native Tongues Posse is a group of late 1980s and early 1990s hip-hop artists known for their positive-minded, good-naturedly Afrocentric lyrics and jazzy beats. ... Da Bush Babees are members of the late 1980s to early-mid 1990s rap alliance known as the Native Tongues Posse. ... De La Soul is a Grammy-award winning hip hop group from Long Island, New York. ... Talib Kweli Greene (born October 3, 1975), better known as Talib Kweli, is an American MC from Brooklyn, New York. ... Black Star is an alternative hip hop group formed by MCs Mos Def and Talib Kweli. ... Underground hip hop, underground rap, or undie (to draw comparison to indie or independent rock) is an umbrella term for hip-hop and rap music outside the general commercial canon. ... Rawkus Records is an American hip hop record label, known for jump-starting the careers of both Mos Def and Talib Kweli. ... Mos Definite is a rare album by Brooklyn rapper Mos Def, which features unreleased songs of his career. ...

Initially recognized for his musical output, Def's screen work since the early 2000s has established him as one of only a handful of rappers who have garnered critical approval for their acting work. Def is also a critic on several social and political issues, and was particularly vocal in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 2005. ...

Biography

Early life

Mos Def was born Dante Terrell Smith in the Roosevelt Houses of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City.^[1] He has younger brothers -- Abdul Rahman, a.k.a. "Gold Medal Man," who is Mos's full-time DJ, and Anwar Superstar, famous for his collaboration with world renowned electronica DJs The Chemical Brothers on their 2006 Grammy-winning album Push The Button, for the politically charged song "Left Right" (Astralwerks), and for his most recent collaboration with Mos Def on the song titled "Here Comes The Champ", featured on the critically acclaimed video game soundtrack for NBA 2K7 produced by Dan The Automator, (Dan The Automator Presents: NBA 2K7); DCQ (Medina Green, Cross Town Beef). He has a younger sister, Ces. Mos Def is a convert to Islam and joins millions of the famous raps of "Huslah" and "Jacka" who are also known as muslims. In addition his brothers are all muslims^[2] Mos Def grew up during the golden age of hip-hop and has been rapping and acting since he was 9 years old.^[3] Bedford-Stuyvesant (also known as Bed-Stuy) is a neighborhood in the central portion of the New York City, USA, borough of Brooklyn. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... The Chemical Brothers are the UK-based Grammy Award winning electronic music duo of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons (occasionally referred to as Chemical Tom and Chemical Ed). ... Cover of NBA 2K. NBA 2K is a basketball video game series that was initially exclusive for the Sega Dreamcast starting in 1999. ...

Rap career

Mos Def began his music career in 1996 in the short-lived group Urban Thermo Dynamics with his younger brother DCQ and his younger sister Ces. Despite their contract with Payday Records, the group only released two singles, and their debut album Manifest Destiny was not released until 2004, when it was distributed by Illson Media. In 1996, he emerged as a solo artist and worked with De La Soul and da Bush Babees, before he released his own first single, "Universal Magnetic," which was a huge underground hit. A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... An album or record album is a collection of related audio or music tracks distributed to the public. ... De La Soul is a Grammy-award winning hip hop group from Long Island, New York. ... Da Bush Babees are members of the late 1980s to early-mid 1990s rap alliance known as the Native Tongues Posse. ... Underground music is music which has developed a cult following, independent of commercial success. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ...

After signing with Rawkus Records, Mos Def and Talib Kweli formed the group Black Star, and released a full length album under the name, Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star. The album was released in 1998 and featured Hi-Tek as producer on most of the tracks. Rawkus Records is an American hip hop record label, known for jump-starting the careers of both Mos Def and Talib Kweli. ... Talib Kweli Greene (born October 3, 1975), better known as Talib Kweli, is an American MC from Brooklyn, New York. ... Black Star is an alternative hip hop group formed by MCs Mos Def and Talib Kweli. ... An album or record album is a collection of related audio or music tracks distributed to the public. ... Black Star is the self-titled debut by Black Star - the pairing of rappers Talib Kweli and Mos Def. ... Hi-Tek is an American Rawkus Records alternative hip hop artist from Cincinnati. ... In the music industry, record producer designates a person responsible for completing a master recording so that it is fit for release. ...

Mos Def released his solo debut Black on Both Sides in 1999 through Rawkus Records. Def was also featured on Rawkus' influential Lyricist Lounge and Soundbombing series of compilations. After the collapse of Rawkus, he signed to Interscope/Geffen Records, which released his second solo album The New Danger in 2004. Black on Both Sides is an alternative rap album by Mos Def, released on October 12, 1999 (see 1999 in music). ... Rawkus Records is an American hip hop record label, known for jump-starting the careers of both Mos Def and Talib Kweli. ... The Lyricist Lounge Show was the first sketch show of its kind, combining comedy with hip-hop music, creating sketches with raps interspersed throughout the sketches. ... Soundbombing is a 1997 compilation album from independent Hip Hop label Rawkus Records. ... Interscope Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as one third of UMGs Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group. ... Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as one third of UMGs Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group. ... The New Danger is the long-awaited second album by Mos Def, released on October 19, 2004. ...

"The New Danger" received criticism from fans and critics for its eclectic mix of several musical genres, including soul, blues and rock and roll, performed with his rock band Black Jack Johnson. Black Jack Johnson contained members of the bands Bad Brains and Living Colour. The New Danger is the long-awaited second album by Mos Def, released on October 19, 2004. ... Black Jack Johnson is the house band for Mos Defs sophomore album The New Danger. ... Black Jack Johnson is the house band for Mos Defs sophomore album The New Danger. ... Bad Brains are an American punk rock band, originally formed in Washington, D.C. in 1979 . ... Living Colour is an American heavy metal band formed in New York City in 1983 by guitarist Vernon Reid. ...

Mos Def has drawn some criticism from his fan base about "keeping it real" after he appeared in a commercial that endorsed the GMC Denali sport utility vehicle.^[4] Mos Def's final solo album for Geffen Records,True Magic, was quietly released on December 29, 2006. 2007 saw the release of another solo album: Mos Definite. This album was released under the Frequent M (Groove Attack) label. Indie cred is how cool you are in the independent music scene. ... 2005 GMC Yukon Denali 2007 GMC Yukon Denali The GMC Denali nameplate is used by General Motors light truck division, GMC, on its top-of-the-line luxury models. ... A fourth-generation (2006-) Ford Explorer, the best-selling mid-size SUV in the United States. ... True Magic is the third solo album from New York rapper Mos Def. ... is the 363rd day of the year (364th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Mos Definite is a rare album by Brooklyn rapper Mos Def, which features unreleased songs of his career. ...

Throughout his music career he has received several Grammy Award nominations, first for "Ghetto Rock" from his 2004 album The New Danger, and then for Undeniable in 2007. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Acting career

Mos Def's background in film and theater date back to his days at New York University, studying experimental theater. He began his professional acting career at the age of 14, appearing in the TV movie God Bless the Child, starring Mare Winningham. He then played the oldest child in the short-lived family sitcom, You Take the Kids, starring Nell Carter and Roger E. Mosley. His most notable acting role before his music career was that of Bill Cosby's sidekick on the short-lived detective show, The Cosby Mysteries. He also starred in a 1996 Visa check card commercial featuring Deion Sanders. New York University (NYU) is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational research university in New York City. ... Experimental theatre is a general term for various movements in Western theatre that began in the 20th century as a reaction against the then-dominant conventions governing the writing and production of drama, and against naturalism in particular. ... Mary Megan Winningham (born May 16, 1959) is an American film and television actress. ... Nell Carter (September 13, 1948 – January 23, 2003) was an American singer and film, stage, and television actress. ... Roger Earl Mosley (born December 18, 1938 in Los Angeles, California) is an American actor best known for his role as the helicopter pilot Theodore T.C. Calvin on the long running television series Magnum, P.I. which starred Tom Selleck as the title character. ... Bill Cosby (born William Henry Cosby, Jr. ... The Cosby Mysteries was a television mystery series starring the great George Ronald Cosby. ...

After brief appearances in Bamboozled and Monster's Ball, Mos re-invigorated his acting career with his performance as a talented rapper who is reluctant to sign to a major label in Brown Sugar. He was nominated for an Image Award and a Teen Choice Award. For the teletext, see Bamboozle. ... Monsters Ball is a 2001 American drama/romance film. ... Brown Sugar is a 2002 romantic drama film, written by Michael Elliott and Rick Famuyiwa, and directed by Rick Famuyiwa. ... The NAACP Image Award is an award presented annually by the NAACP to honor the top African-Americans in film, television, music and literature. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

In 2002, he played the role of Booth in Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog, a Tony-nominated and Pulitzer-winning Broadway play. He also received positive notices as the quirky Left Ear in the blockbuster hit, The Italian Job in 2003. Suzan-Lori Parks (1964 - ) is an African-American playwright and novelist. ... Topdog/Underdog chronicles the adult lives of two black brothers, Lincoln and Booth, as they deal with women, work, poverty, gambling, racism, and their troubled upbringings. ... The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American theatre and are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League [1] at an annual ceremony in New York City. ... The Pulitzer Prize is an American award regarded as the highest national honor in print journalism, literary achievements, and musical composition. ... For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... The Italian Job is a 2003 action-adventure film, directed by F. Gary Gray. ...

In television, Mos Def has appeared on Comedy Central's Chappelle's Show, and has hosted the award-winning HBO spoken word show, Def Poetry since its inception. The show's sixth season aired in 2007. He also appeared on the sitcom My Wife And Kids as the Uncle of Michael Kyle's (Damon Wayans) children. Chappelles Show is an American comedy television series starring comedian Dave Chappelle. ... For other uses, see HBO (disambiguation). ... Spoken word is a form of music or artistic performance in which lyrics, poetry, or stories are spoken rather than sung. ... Def Poetry, also known as Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry or Def Poetry Jam, is an HBO television series produced by hip-hop music entrepreneur Russell Simmons. ... My Wife and Kids is an American sitcom which ran on ABC from March 28, 2001 until May 29, 2005, starring Damon Wayans and Tisha Campbell. ... Damon Kyle Wayans (pronounced WAYNES) (born September 4, 1960) is an American stand-up comedian, writer, and actor who began his career as a stand-up comic in 1982. ...

Mos won Best Actor, Independent Movie at the 2005 Black Reel Awards for his portrayal of the skeptical Detective Sgt. Lucas in The Woodsman. For his portrayal of Vivien Thomas in HBO's film Something the Lord Made, he was nominated for an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe, and won the Image Award. He then landed the role of Ford Prefect in the 2005 movie adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The Black Reel Awards began in 2000 and were designed to annually recognize and celebrate the achievements of African-Americans in feature, independent and television films. ... The Woodsman is a 2004 film directed by Nicole Kassell. ... Vivien Theodore Thomas Vivien Thomas autobiography, Partners of the Heart: Vivien Thomas and His Work With Alfred Blalock Vivien Theodore Thomas (August 29, 1910 – November 26, 1985) was an African-American surgical technician who helped develop the procedures used to treat blue baby syndrome in the 1940s. ... For other uses, see HBO (disambiguation). ... SOMETHING THE LORD MADE is a moving story of men who defy the rules and start a medical revolution. ... An Emmy Award. ... The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ... The NAACP Image Award is an award presented annually by the NAACP to honor the top African-Americans in film, television, music and literature. ... Mos Def as Ford Prefect (left), along with Martin Freeman as Arthur Dent (right), from the 2005 film adaptation. ... The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy is a science fiction comedy film based on the book of the same name by Douglas Adams. ...

In 2006, Mos Def appeared in Dave Chappelle's Block Party alongside fellow Black Star companion Talib Kweli, while also contributing to the film's soundtrack. Also, Mos Def was featured as the black banjo player in the infamous "Pixie Sketch" from Chappelle's Show: The Lost Episodes. He was later edited out of it on the DVD. Additionally, Mos Def is in the motion picture 16 Blocks along with co-stars Bruce Willis and David Morse. Mos has a recurring guest role on Boondocks, starring as "Gangstalicious." He is also set to be in Toussaint, a film about Haitian revolutionary Toussaint L'Ouverture, opposite Don Cheadle and Wesley Snipes.^[5] He made a cameo appearance playing himself in the movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Dave Chappelles Block Party (aka Block Party) is a documentary film hosted and written by comedian Dave Chappelle, and directed by Michel Gondry. ... Black star can refer to any of the following; Black Star, refers to the planet Saturn in ancient Judeism beliefs Dark star, a theoretical star that has a surface escape velocity that equals or exceeds the speed of light Black hole, any region of space time where escape to the... Talib Kweli Greene (born October 3, 1975), better known as Talib Kweli, is an American MC from Brooklyn, New York. ... 16 Blocks is a 2006 film directed by Richard Donner and released by Warner Bros. ... Walter Bruce Willis (born March 19, 1955) is a Golden Globe- and double Emmy-winning German-born American actor and singer. ... For other persons named David Morse, see David Morse (disambiguation). ... This article is about an animated television series. ... François-Dominique Toussaint LOuverture François-Dominique Toussaint LOuverture, also Toussaint Bréda, Toussaint-Louverture (c. ... Don Cheadle (born November 29, 1964) is an Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning American actor. ... Wesley Trent Snipes (born July 31, 1962) is an American actor, film producer, martial artist. ...

He also co-stars with Jack Black in the new Michel Gondry movie Be Kind Rewind, playing a video rental store employee whose best friend Jerry (played by Jack Black) accidentally erases the store's tapes and the two of them have to refilm them, becoming local celebrities in the process. For other persons named Jack Black, see Jack Black (disambiguation). ... Michel Gondry, 2005 Michel Gondry, born May 8, 1963 (1964 according to some sources), is a French Academy Award winning screenwriter, film, commercial, and music video director noted for his inventive visual style and manipulation of mise en scène. ... Be Kind Rewind is an upcoming 2008 comedy film directed by Michel Gondry and starring Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover, and Mia Farrow. ... For other persons named Jack Black, see Jack Black (disambiguation). ...

Personal life

Mos Def was born Dante Terrell Smith in Brooklyn, New York City, the son of Darrell Toler .^[1] He has younger brothers -- Abdul Rahman, a.k.a. "Gold Medal Man," who is Mos' full-time DJ, and Anwar Superstar, famous for his collaboration with electronica DJ's The Chemical Brothers on their 2006 Grammy-winning album Push The Button, on the song "Left Right" (Astralwerks), and for his most recent collaboration with Mos Def on the song titled "Here Comes The Champ," featured on the video game soundtrack for NBA 2K7 produced by Dan The Automator, (Dan The Automator Presents: NBA 2K7); DCQ (Medina Green, Cross Town Beef). He has a younger sister, Ces. He also has a younger brother, Jermone, who was the first in his family to graduate from high school and enter college. He currently resides in Portland, Oregon for school.^[6] Mos Def grew up during the golden age of hip-hop and has been rapping and acting since he was 9 years old.^[7] This article is about the New York City borough, or Kings County, New York. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... The Chemical Brothers are the UK-based Grammy Award winning electronic music duo of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons (occasionally referred to as Chemical Tom and Chemical Ed). ... Cover of NBA 2K. NBA 2K is a basketball video game series that was initially exclusive for the Sega Dreamcast starting in 1999. ... The golden age of hip hop, derivative of old school hip hop, was probably introduced with the popularity of Run-DMCs 1986 album Raising Hell. ...

Mos Def was first exposed to Islam at age 13 by his father. He became a Muslim at age 19 after getting to know Muslim rappers including Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Q-Tip of the group A Tribe Called Quest.^[1] For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... Ali Shaheed Muhammad (born August 11, 1970, Brooklyn, New York) is an American hip-hop DJ who enjoyed moderate fame as a member of A Tribe Called Quest. ... Q-Tip (born Jonathan Davis in Brooklyn, New York), USA, is a North American hip-hop emcee, actor, and hip hop producer who was the leader of the critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest. ... A Tribe Called Quest is a critically acclaimed and highly-influential American hip-hop group, formed in 1988. ...

Mos Def was married to Maria Yepes-Smith for 10 years before filing for divorce in 2005. He reportedly has several children.^[8]

He has recently taken up skateboarding which he learned from his son Elijah Cole and said he's looking to host a skateboarding event in the United Arab Emirates.^[3]

2006

In October Mos Def is a guest on 4Real, a documentary television series.^[9] Appearing in the episode "City of God", he and the 4Real crew travel to City of God, a slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to meet Brazilian MC MV Bill and discover the crime and social problems of the community.^[10] Cidade de Deus (City of God), is the name of a slum located in the district of Jacarepaguá, west zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ... MV Bill is a Brazilian rap singer. ...

2007

Mos Def appears alongside Kanye West on the track "Drunk and Hot Girls" and the bonus track "Good Night" off Kanye's album, Graduation. He is also releasing a pair of Converse shoes.^[11] Mos Def also appears on the debut album from fellow New Yorkers, Apollo Heights on a track titled, "Concern." In October, Mos signed a deal with Downtown Records and appeared on a remix to the song "D.A.N.C.E." by Justice.^[12] Mos Def appeared on Stephen Marley's album "Mind Control" on the song "Hey Baby." Kanye Omari West (pronounced /kɑnjɛj/) (born June 8, 1977) is an American record producer and rapper who rose to fame in the mid 2000s. ... Graduation is the third studio album by hip hop artist Kanye West, released on September 11, 2007. ... Downtown Records LLC is an independently owned record label and publishing company based in the United States. ... Stephen Ragga Marley was born April 20, 1972 and is the second son of Rita and Bob Marley. ...

On November 7th, Mos Def performed live in San Francisco at a venue called The Mezzanine. This performance was recorded for an upcoming "Live in Concert" DVD. During this performance, he sang quite a few new tracks which may be appearing on an upcoming album. He is to be appearing on GZA's compilation album, Pro Tools, due out in 2008 as well as Beanie Sigel's album The Solution. GZA (IPA pronunciation: ), aka The Genius, (born Gary Grice August 22, 1966 in Brooklyn, New York City) is an American hip hop artist. ... Pro Tools is the upcoming fifth solo album by GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan, scheduled for release on January 8, 2008 through Babygrande Records and Think Differently Music. ... This article refers to the rapper Beanie Sigel. For the gangster, see Bugsy Siegel. ... The Solution is the second album by Mannafest, before they changed their name to Edison and later to Edison Glass. ...

2008

In recent shows Mos Def has played new songs from his album said to be named "The Ecstatic." He has shown crowds tracks written and produced by Madlib and has rumored to be going to Kanye West for new material. The album is said to be released in April 2008; producer and fellow Def Poet Al Be Back has revealed that he would be producing as well, and that Mos is "four or five records in" to the album.^[13] In April Mos appeared on the title track for a new album by The Roots entitled Rising Down. For the word game, see Mad Libs. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The Roots, a. ... Rising Down will be the tenth album from Philadelphia-based hip-hop collective The Roots. ...

Social and political views

By the early 1990s, a brand of socially conscious hip hop that had been popularized by A Tribe Called Quest, KRS-One, and many others had been eclipsed in popularity by gangsta rap. Mos Def, as well as Talib Kweli, Common, Little Brother, Quannum Projects and others helped socially aware rap music experience something of a comeback in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Mos Def's collaboration with Talib Kweli, Black Star, was released during the aftermath of the deaths of 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. and focused on violence and deceit in hip-hop, in collaboration with other acts that did the same. Def's music also has references to his Islamic faith, and his contention that black artists receive little credit for their role in the birth of rock and roll music. A Tribe Called Quest is a critically acclaimed and highly-influential American hip-hop group, formed in 1988. ... KRS-One (born Lawrence Krisna Parker on August 20, 1965 in Brooklyn, New York. ... For the Ice T album, see Gangsta Rap (album). ... Talib Kweli Greene (born October 3, 1975), better known as Talib Kweli, is an American MC from Brooklyn, New York. ... Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. ... For other uses, see Little Brother (disambiguation). ... Quannum Projects is an alternative hip hop collective based in the San Francisco Bay Area. ... Conscious hip hop is a subgenre of alternative hip hop which focuses on social issues. ... Black star can refer to any of the following; Black Star, refers to the planet Saturn in ancient Judeism beliefs Dark star, a theoretical star that has a surface escape velocity that equals or exceeds the speed of light Black hole, any region of space time where escape to the... Years after his death, Tupac Shakur is still considered one of the most influential hip hop artists of all time. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ...

On Mos Def's 2004 album The New Danger, the rapper took his penchant for experimentation to a new level. Most of the songs were more hip-hop flavored stylings of blues and rock, with fewer raps thrown in. This threw off fans who were expecting another full-blown rap album. The New Danger also featured the controversial song, "The Rape Over," a parody of Jay-Z's The Blueprint hit "Takeover": The New Danger is the long-awaited second album by Mos Def, released on October 19, 2004. ... Blues music redirects here. ... This article is about the genre. ... A controversy is a contentious dispute, a disagreement over which parties are actively arguing. ... A parody (pronounced ), in contemporary usage, is a work created to mock, comment on, or poke fun at an original work, its subject, or author, by means of humorous or satiric imitation. ... Jay-Z (aka the Jigga, HOV and Hova, born Shawn Carter on December 4, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York) is an African American rapper/hip hop artist and record label executive; one of the most popular and successful rappers of the late 1990s and early 2000s. ... For other uses, see Blueprint (disambiguation). ... Takeover is an album track recorded by Jay-Z for his 2001 hip hop album The Blueprint. ...

Old white men is runnin' this rap shit,

Corporate forces runnin' this rap shit,

Some tall Israeli is runnin' this rap shit,

We poke out our asses for a chance to cash in.

Cocaine, is runnin' this rap shit,

'Dro, 'yac and e-pills is runnin this rap shit,

MTV is runnin' this rap shit,

Viacom is runnin' this rap shit,

AOL and Time Warner runnin' this rap shit,

Quasi-homosexuals is runnin' this rap shit.

Mos Def is runnin' this rap shit.

High-placed executives temporarily made him take the song off releases of the album, citing clearance issues with Jay-Z and The Doors, a band which the song samples. The song has garnered controversy over its veiled reference to Israeli American record executive Lyor Cohen (the "tall Israeli" who then was head of the The Island Def Jam Music Group). Mos and Immortal Technique released a similarly controversial song, "Bin Laden" in 2004, which blamed the Reagan Doctrine and President George W. Bush for the September 11, 2001 attacks. A club remix song, featuring Eminem, was released the following year, in 2005. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... For other uses, see Cocaine (disambiguation). ... Cannabis, also known as marijuana[1] or ganja (Hindi: गांजा),[2] is a psychoactive product of the plant Cannabis sativa. ... Cognac in a tulip glass Cognac (pronounced ), named after the town of Cognac in France, is a brandy produced in the region surrounding the town. ... MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), most commonly known by the street names ecstasy or XTC (for more names see the full list), is a synthetic entactogen of the phenethylamine family, whose primary effect is believed to be the stimulation of secretion as well as inhibition of re-uptake of large amounts... This article is about the original U.S. music television channel. ... Viacom (NYSE: VIA) (NYSE: VIAb) is an American media conglomerate with various worldwide interests in cable and satellite television networks (MTV Networks and BET), and movie production and distribution (the Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks movie studios). ... For other uses, see AOL (disambiguation). ... Time Warner Inc. ... Since its coinage, the word homosexuality has acquired multiple meanings. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Corporate title. ... The Doors were an influential American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles by vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger. ... This article is about reusing existing sound recordings in creating new works. ... The State of Israel (Hebrew: מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, transliteration: ; Arabic: دَوْلَةْ اِسْرَائِيل, transliteration: ) is a country in the Middle East on the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea. ... Lyor Cohen. ... For other record labels with the Island name, see Island Records (disambiguation) The Island Def Jam Music Group is a record label group formed in 1999, when Universal Music Group merged together its two companies, Island Records and Def Jam Recordings, to create a super label. ... Felipe Coronel, better known as Immortal Technique, is a Hip hop MC and political activist. ... Bin Laden is a hiphop song by MC Immortal Technique and DJ Green Lantern. ... The Reagan Doctrine was a strategy orchestrated and implemented by the United States to oppose the global influence of the Soviet Union during the final years of the Cold War. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the forty-third and current President of the United States of America, originally inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... A sequential look at United Flight 175 crashing into the south tower of the World Trade Center The September 11, 2001 attacks (often referred to as 9/11—pronounced nine eleven or nine one one) consisted of a series of coordinated terrorist[1] suicide attacks upon the United States, predominantly... A remix is an alternative version of a song, different from the original version. ... Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), better known as Eminem or Slim Shady, is a Grammy and Academy Award-winning American rapper, record producer and actor from the Detroit, Michigan area. ...

In September 2005, Mos Def released the single "Katrina Clap," renamed "Dollar Day" for True Magic, (utilizing the instrumental for New Orleans rappers UTP's "Nolia Clap"), a criticism of the Bush administration's response to Hurricane Katrina. On the night of the MTV Video Music Awards, Mos Def pulled up in front of Radio City Music Hall on a flatbed truck and began performing the "Katrina Clap" single in front of a crowd that quickly gathered around him. He was subsequently arrested despite having a public performance permit in his possession.^[14] Video of this can be viewed here [1]. New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ... Nolia Clap was the only mainstream single from the group UTP (group). ... The criticism of the government response to Hurricane Katrina primarily consisted of condemnations of mismanagement and lack of preparation in the relief effort in response to Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. ... George W. Bush administration is the administration of the 43rd president of the United States of America, 2001-present George H. W. Bush administration is the administration of the 41st president of the United States of America, 1989-1993 This is a disambiguation page, a list of pages that otherwise... This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 2005. ... The MTV Video Music Awards were established in 1984 by MTV to celebrate the top music videos of the year. ... Radio City Music Hall at Christmas 2005 Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ...

On September 7, 2007, Mos Def appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher where he spoke about racism against African Americans citing the government response to Hurricane Katrina, the Jena Six and the murder conviction of Mumia Abu-Jamal. Also, Mos Def also stated his belief that Al-Qaeda was not responsible for 9/11, that the Apollo Moon landings were a hoax, although that was a joke, and that Al-Qaeda is not responsible for as much terrorism as they are portrayed to be. ^[15] is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... Real Time with Bill Maher is a talk show that airs weekly on HBO, hosted by comedian and political satirist Bill Maher. ... Manifestations Slavery Racial profiling Lynching Hate speech Hate crime Genocide (examples) Ethnocide Ethnic cleansing Pogrom Race war Religious persecution Blood libel Paternalism Police brutality Movements Policies Discriminatory Race / Religion / Sex segregation Apartheid Redlining Internment Ethnocracy Anti-discriminatory Emancipation Civil rights Desegregation Integration Equal opportunity Counter-discriminatory Affirmative action Racial quota... African Americans, also known as Afro-Americans or black Americans, are an ethnic group in the United States of America whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Sub-Saharan and West Africa. ... The criticism of the government response to Hurricane Katrina primarily consisted of condemnations of mismanagement and lack of preparation in the relief effort in response to Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. ... For other uses, see Jena (disambiguation). ... Mumia Abu-Jamal (IPA: ); (born Wesley Cook on April 24, 1954) is a former Black Panther Party activist, cab driver, author, and journalist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, convicted for the murder of police officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981. ... A variety of conspiracy theories question the mainstream account of the September 11, 2001 attacks against the United States. ... Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong in NASAs training mockup of the Moon and lander module. ... Al-Qaeda (Arabic: القاعدة, the foundation or the base) is the name given to a worldwide network of militant Islamist organizations under the leadership of Osama bin Laden. ... Terrorist redirects here. ...

Awards

• Black Movie Awards
  • 2006, Best Supporting Actor: 16 Blocks (nominated)

• Black Reel Awards
  • 2003, Best Actor- Independent: Civil Brand (nominated)
  • 2004, Best Supporting Actor: The Italian Job (nominated)
  • 2005, Best Actor TV Movie/Mini-Series: Something the Lord Made (nominated)
  • 2005, Best Actor Independent: The Woodsman

• Emmy Award
  • 2004, Best Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series: Something the Lord Made (nominated)

• Golden Globes
  • 2005, Best Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series: Something the Lord Made (nominated)

• Grammy Awards
  • 2007, Best Rap Solo Performance: "Undeniable" (nominated)
  • 2006, Best Urban/Alternative Performance: "Ghetto Rock" (nominated)
  • 2005, Best Urban/Alternative Performance: "Sex, Love & Money" (nominated)

• Image Awards
  • 2003, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Brown Sugar (nominated)
  • 2005, Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series: Something the Lord Made (nominated)

16 Blocks is a 2006 film directed by Richard Donner and released by Warner Bros. ... The Black Reel Awards began in 2000 and were designed to annually recognize and celebrate the achievements of African-Americans in feature, independent and television films. ... Civil Brand is a movie with women going to prison for murders and has plot against Captain Dease for different and mysterious reasons. ... The Italian Job is a British caper film, written by Troy Kennedy Martin, produced by Michael Deeley and directed by Peter Collinson. ... SOMETHING THE LORD MADE is a moving story of men who defy the rules and start a medical revolution. ... The Woodsman is a 2004 film directed by Nicole Kassell. ... An Emmy Award. ... SOMETHING THE LORD MADE is a moving story of men who defy the rules and start a medical revolution. ... The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ... SOMETHING THE LORD MADE is a moving story of men who defy the rules and start a medical revolution. ... Grammy Award statuette The Grammy Awards, presented by the Recording Academy (an association of Americans professionally involved in the recorded music industry) for outstanding achievements in the recording industry, is one of four major music awards shows held annually in the United States (the Billboard Music Awards, the American Music... The NAACP Image Award is an award presented annually by the NAACP to honor the top African-Americans in film, television, music and literature. ... Brown sugar typical of that bought in Western supermarkets Brown sugar is a sucrose sugar product with a distinctive brown color due to the presence of molasses. ... SOMETHING THE LORD MADE is a moving story of men who defy the rules and start a medical revolution. ...

Discography

Main articles: Mos Def discography and List of Mos Def songs

• 1998: Black Star (with Talib Kweli)
• 1999: Black on Both Sides
• 2004: The New Danger
• 2006: True Magic
• 2008: The Ecstatic

This is the discography of rapper Mos Def. ... Talib Kweli chronology Black Star is the self-titled debut by the pairing of rappers Talib Kweli and Mos Def from the group of the same name Black Star. ... Talib Kweli Greene (born October 3, 1975), better known as Talib Kweli, is an American MC from Brooklyn, New York. ... Black on Both Sides is an alternative rap album by Mos Def, released on October 12, 1999 (see 1999 in music). ... The New Danger is the long-awaited second album by Mos Def, released on October 19, 2004. ... True Magic is the third solo album from New York rapper Mos Def. ...

Filmography

GHOSTS is a short feature film by Michael Jackson which could also be classified as a long-form music video. ... For the teletext, see Bamboozle. ... For the band formed by Rick Wilder, please see The Mau-Maus. ... Cover of DVD Carmen: A Hip Hopera is an MTV production from 2001 starring Beyoncé Knowles, Mos Def, Rah Digga, Wyclef Jean, Mekhi Phifer, Da Brat, Joy Bryant, Jermaine Dupri and Lil Bow Wow, directed by Robert Townsend. ... Monsters Ball is a 2001 American drama/romance film. ... Showtime is a 2002 comedy/action film starring Eddie Murphy and Robert De Niro and directed by Tom Dey. ... Civil Brand is a movie with women going to prison for murders and has plot against Captain Dease for different and mysterious reasons. ... Brown Sugar is a 2002 romantic drama film, written by Michael Elliott and Rick Famuyiwa, and directed by Rick Famuyiwa. ... The Italian Job is a 2003 action-adventure film, directed by F. Gary Gray. ... The Woodsman is a 2004 film directed by Nicole Kassell. ... SOMETHING THE LORD MADE is a moving story of men who defy the rules and start a medical revolution. ... An Emmy Award. ... The Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ... Lackawanna Blues is an American television movie that aired in 2005. ... This article is about an animated television series. ... The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy is a science fiction comedy film based on the book of the same name by Douglas Adams. ... Mos Def as Ford Prefect (left), along with Martin Freeman as Arthur Dent (right), from the 2005 film adaptation. ... Dave Chappelles Block Party (aka Block Party) is a documentary film hosted and written by comedian Dave Chappelle, and directed by Michel Gondry. ... 16 Blocks is a 2006 film directed by Richard Donner and released by Warner Bros. ... Be Kind Rewind is an upcoming 2008 comedy film directed by Michel Gondry and starring Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover, and Mia Farrow. ... Charles Edward Anderson Chuck Berry (born October 18, 1926 in St. ...

References

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 283rd day of the year (284th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 86th day of the year (87th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the in-memory database management system, see In-memory database. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 285th day of the year (286th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 238th day of the year (239th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... MP3. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Mos Def

• Official Website
• Official Myspace Page
• Mos Def at Geffen Records
• Mos Def at the Internet Movie Database
• Mos Def Fan Community & Forums
• The Underwire from Wired.com: Mos Def Is A Star, How Can He Not Shine?