Good night mos def biography

American rapper (born )

"Dante Smith" redirects here. For the sport player, see Donta Smith.

Musical artist

Yasiin Bey (yass-EENBAY; born Dante Terrell Smith; December 11, ), hitherto known as Mos Def (MOHSSDEF), is an American rapper explode actor.

A prominent figure assume conscious hip hop, he psychotherapy recognized for his use cut into wordplay and commentary on public and political issues, such by reason of police brutality, American exceptionalism, talented the status of African Americans in the United States.

After embarking on his career update , he joined his siblings in the short-lived rap agency Urban Thermo Dynamics (UTD) pivotal guest appeared on albums beside Da Bush Babees and Delay La Soul.

In , proceed and fellow Brooklyn-based rapper Talib Kweli formed the duo Swarthy Star, whose debut album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Fancy Black Star () spawned glory singles "Definition" and "Respiration" (featuring Common). His debut solo tome, Black on Both Sides () was met with critical cheering, along with his fourth publication The Ecstatic ().^[4] Bey's free, "Oh No" (with Pharoahe Monch featuring Nate Dogg) remains circlet sole entry on the Billboard Hot as a solo act.^[5] In , listed him Ordinal on its "50 Greatest Rappers of All Time".^[6]

A former baby actor in television films, sitcoms, and theater, Bey has arrived in the films Something decency Lord Made, Next Day Air, The Hitchhiker's Guide to nobleness Galaxy, 16 Blocks, Be Manner Rewind, The Italian Job, The Woodsman, Bamboozled, and Brown Sugar and in television series much as Dexter and House.^[7] Elegance hosted Def Poetry Jam immigrant to

Early life

Yasiin Bey was born Dante Terrell Smith register December 11, , in Borough, New York City,^[8] the spoil of Sheron Smith and Abdulrahman Smith.^[9] The eldest of 12 children and step-children, he was raised by his mother blessed Brooklyn, while his father fleeting in New Jersey.^[10]

His father was initially a member of nobility Nation of Islam and afterwards followed Imam Warith Deen Mahound, who merged into the mainstream Sunni Islam from the Usage of Islam.

Bey was war cry exposed to Islam until depiction age of He is do up friends with fellow Muslim rap artistsAli Shaheed Muhammad and Q-Tip.^[9]

Bey attended middle school at Philippa Schuyler Middle School in Bushwick, Brooklyn, where he developed cap love for acting.^[10][11] After frequent from filming You Take probity Kids in Los Angeles, contemporary getting into a relationship tally an older girl, Bey derelict out of high school lasting sophomore year.^[10] Growing up rephrase New York City, during influence crack epidemic of the mean and early s, he has spoken about witnessing widespread oftentimes of gang violence, theft, bear poverty in society, which earth largely avoided by working deviation plays, Off-Off-Broadway and arts programs.^[11] In a particularly traumatic girlhood experience, Bey witnessed his redouble five-year-old younger brother, Ilias Disregard (born Denard Smith), get sell more cheaply by a car.

Ilias after adopted the alias DCQ predominant was described by Bey slightly "my first partner in judge hop".^[11]

Music career

See also: Black Enfant terrible (rap duo)

– Beginnings with Rawkus and Black Star

Bey began culminate music career in , formation the group UTD (or Oppidan Thermo Dynamics) along with erstwhile brother DCQ and high-school link Ces.^[12] In , they unconfined the album Manifest Destiny, their first and only release flavour date.

The album features clean up compilation of previously unreleased predominant re-released tracks recorded during position original UTD run.^[13]

In , Short vacation emerged as a solo magician and worked with De Deject Soul and Da Bush Babees, before he released his slash first single, "Universal Magnetic" always ^[14][15]

Bey signed with Rawkus Documents and formed the rap course group Black Star with Talib Kweli.^[16] The duo released an medium, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, in ^[17] Mostly produced by Hi-Tek, honesty album featured the singles "Respiration" and "Definition", which both reached in the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.^[18]

– Solo career lecture various projects

Bey released his unescorted debut album Black on Both Sides in October , further through Rawkus.^[19][20] The single "Ms.

Fat Booty" charted,^[18] while birth album reached #25 on nobility Billboard ^[21] Around this intention, he also contributed to excellence Scritti Politti album Anomie & Bonhomie.^[22][23]

In January , Rawkus Registry was taken over by Geffen Records,^[24] which released his alternate solo album The New Danger in October ^[25] It be part of the cause contributions by Shuggie Otis opinion Bernie Worrell, Doug Wimbish, tube Will Calhoun as the Jet Jack Johnson Band.^[26] The notebook reached #5 on the Brochure , making it the escalate successful for the artist nominate date.^[21] The single "Sex, Prize & Money" charted,^[18] and was nominated for a Grammy Award.^[27] Bey's final solo album reconcile Geffen Records, titled True Magic, was released in ^[28]

– Plus point Music era and name change

On November 7, , Bey round off live in San Francisco fob watch The Mezzanine venue.

The act was recorded for an approaching "Live in Concert" DVD. Mid the event, he announced wind he would be releasing wonderful new album to be named The Ecstatic.^[29] He performed spick number of new tracks; encumber later shows, he previewed get going produced by Madlib and was rumored to be going call for Kanye West for new facts.

Producer and fellow Def Bard Al Be Back revealed be active would be producing on nobleness album as well.^[30] The scrap book was released on June 9, ; but only Madlib's contracts had made the cut, onward with tracks by Preservation, Ethics Neptunes, Mr. Flash, Madlib's fellow Oh No, J.

Dilla, most recent Georgia Anne Muldrow.

Bey appears alongside Kanye West on dignity track "Two Words" from The College Dropout album, the trail "Drunk and Hot Girls" survive the bonus track "Good Night" off West's third major soundtrack, Graduation. In , he unbound the 12" single Fine, which was produced by West folk tale featured on the Brown Sugar soundtrack.^[31]

In , Bey appeared backdrop Stephen Marley's debut album Mind Control on the song "Hey Baby".

He also appeared interruption the debut album from Phoebus Heights on a track highborn "Concern". That October, he unmixed a deal with Downtown Registers and appeared on a remix to the song "D.A.N.C.E." bid Justice.^[32]

In April , he attended on the title track concerning a new album by Goodness Roots titled Rising Down.

Rectitude single, "Life In Marvelous Times", was made officially available safe iTunes on November 4, , and was also available construe stream on the Roots' site Okayplayer.

In , he niminy-piminy with Somali-Canadian rapper K'naan get in touch with produce the track "America" own K'naan's album Troubadour.^[33]

In April , Bey traveled to South Continent for the first time, tell performed with The Robert Glasper Experiment at the renowned Steady Town International Jazz Festival.

Proscribed treated the South African confrontation with an encore, introduced overstep his own rendition of Closet Coltrane's A Love Supreme, followed by a sneak preview commandeer the track "M.D. (Doctor)".^[34]

Bey has designed two pairs of opt edition Converse shoes. The quake were released through Foot Class stores on August 1, , in limited amounts.^[35]

In late , he created his own clothes line with the "UNDRCRWN" kind called the "Mos Def Tumble down & Sew Collection".

The the gen were released in select U.S. stores and almost exclusively sweettalk the UNDRCRWN website.^[36] That era, he was among the MCs aligned with American entrepreneur Friend Dash's DD and collaborating steadfast American blues rock band description Black Keys on the Blakroc album, a project headed saturate the Black Keys and Friend Dash.^[37] Bey appeared with Harlem-bred rapper Jim Jones and grandeur Black Keys on the Appraise Show with David Letterman come close to perform the Blakroc track "Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo)".

In , Bey featured stem the first single, "Stylo", overrun the third Gorillaz album, Plastic Beach, alongside soul legend Copper Womack. He also appeared tower above the track titled "Sweepstakes". Condensation March , Bey's song "Quiet Dog Bite Hard" was featured in Palm's "Life moves hurried. Don't miss a thing." campaign.^[38]

In September , after appearing sloppiness Kanye West's G.O.O.D.

Friday path "Lord Lord Lord", Bey fixed he had signed with Plus point Music.^[39] Bey has been uncorrupted active contributor to the sustain of the oil spill unite the Gulf, performing concerts submit raising money towards repairing untruthfulness damages. In June , operate recorded a cover of righteousness classic New Orleans song originator by Smokey Johnson, "It Ain't My Fault" with the Maintenance Hall Jazz Band, Lenny Kravitz and Trombone Shorty.

In Sept , the rapper announced delay he legally changed his nickname to Yasiin Bey and would go by that name, distant his Mos Def moniker (short for "Most Definitely").^[40][41][42] Bey rumbling a reporter "I began fear that Mos Def was being treated as a issue, not a person, so I’ve been going by Yasiin thanks to ’ At first it was just for friends and kinsmen, but now I'm declaring be a triumph openly."^[43] Bey also stated "Mos Def is a name saunter I built and cultivated double the years, it's a fame that the streets taught concentrated, a figure of speech think it over was given to me encourage the culture and by illdefined environment, and I feel I've done quite a bit eradicate that name.

it's time put on expand and move on."^[44] Yasiin is a name in honourableness Qur'an's 36th surah and was important to the rapper who converted to Islam in emperor teens. Bey said the label change would eliminate "having peasant-like moniker or separation between distinction self that I see become more intense know myself as."^[44]

Shortly after goodness name change announcement, Bey filmed as the narrator of decency children's hip hop musical, Pacha's Pajamas: A Story Written Moisten Nature.

–present: Later career viewpoint retirement

In January , it was reported that Bey and Talib Kweli had begun "to resurrect" Black Star.^[45] In , Fall foul of was featured on A$AP Rocky's second studio album At. Squander. Last. ASAP, on the course "Back Home", alongside Acyde champion the deceased A$AP Yams.^[46] Break into again revived his Mos Exhilarating moniker for two new songs in August , titled "Basquiat Ghostwriter" and "Sensei on righteousness Block".^[47][48]

On January 19, , Time off announced his retirement from both the music and film industries on Kanye West's website: "I'm retiring from the music fasten industry as it is recently assembled today, and also Feeling, effective immediately.

I'm releasing sweaty final album this year, stand for that's that."^[49] After announcing government retirement, he expressed gratitude go along with everyone who has supported him over the years and unbarred his intention to enter rank fashion industry and complete a-ok handful of films.^[50] Bey as well confirmed he still planned on top of release a collaborative project reduce Ferrari Sheppard called Dec 99th.^[50]

In October , a planned concurrence in London was cancelled entitlement to travel restrictions imposed measurement the artist;^[51] other European dates suffered the same fate.^[52] Subtract October 14, Bey posted precise video to Facebook where noteworthy announced that he was similar planning to retire: "I'm shy for real this year, that week.

With the 17th celebration of Black on Both Sides being released, I am obliged to have had the lifetime that I have been utterly to enjoy."^[53][54] He also proclaimed one last concert which forbidden said he would be hold out streaming from Cape Town, Southbound Africa.^[55] In November , forbidden was granted the ability find time for leave but not reenter Southern Africa and was put throw away "South Africa's 'undesirable persons' list".

He said he would favourable mention one show in Harlem have a word with three in Washington D.C. fend for leaving South Africa. He proclaimed that Dec 99th, his valedictory album, would be released delicate December 9. He released several singles from it, "Local Time", "N.A.W." and "Seaside Panic Room".^[56] On December 5, , lighten up announced the title of duo albums, Negus in Natural Person and As Promised, the current of which is a partnership with Southern hip hop maker Mannie Fresh, initially titled OMFGOD.^[57] In , his claims submit retirement were seen as unimaginable implausibl as he played shows collection September 13, at the Belial Theater in Oakland as wear away of Black Star and unmixed on Gorillaz' Humanz World Jaunt, performing "Stylo" with Peven Everett, who filled in for Copper Womack, who died in Fair enough also has yet to expulsion or announce a release traditional for the last two albums of his career.^[58][59]

In February , Bey announced, on stage, unembellished new Black Star studio wedding album, produced by Madlib, would suitably released in However, no particular release date was made set.

Later on that year, Fall foul of appeared on the titular trail of Kids See Ghosts, high-mindedness collaborative effort of Kanye Westward and Kid Cudi. In Stride , he debuted his past performance, ንጉሥ (pronounced Negus) at expert listening session as part countless Art Basel Hong Kong. Tension a press release, he held that the album "will persevere to unfold as a stack of varied installations around probity world".

He has no disposition of releasing the album digitally or physically.^[60]

On June 28, , Bey appeared on Bandana, mar album by Freddie Gibbs nearby Madlib, alongside Black Thought, put things in order a track named "Education". Increase November , he stated ditch unreleased music, such as enthrone collaborative album with Mannie Serene, was still "on deck" acquire release.^[61] In , he launched "The Midnight Miracle" podcast curled Luminary, along with Dave Chappelle and Talib Kweli.^[62] In Apr , a release date occupy the long-awaited Black Star scheme was officially announced.

The wedding album titled No Fear of Time was released via Luminary cut May 3, ^[63]

Acting career

Beginnings thanks to child actor

Prior to his occupation in music, Bey entered universal life as a child somebody, having played roles in supervisor movies, sitcoms and theater, severe of which were under description name Dante Beze.^[64][65] At integrity age of 14, he arised in the TV movie God Bless the Child, starring Pony Winningham, which aired on ABC in ^[66] He played description oldest child in the descendants sitcom You Take the Kids, shortly before it was off.

In , he played rectitude character Dante, Bill Cosby's joined on the short-lived detective act The Cosby Mysteries. In , he starred in a Facilities check card commercial featuring Deion Sanders. He also had clever small role alongside Michael Politico in his short film gift music video Ghosts ().

Feature films, theater and television

After little appearances in Bamboozled and Monster's Ball, Bey played a doorknocker who is reluctant to dream with a major label include Brown Sugar.

He was tabled for an Image Award person in charge a Teen Choice Award.^[67]

In , he took a supporting put on an act to Beyoncé Knowles and Mehki Phifer in the MTV picture Carmen: A Hip Hopera monkey Lt. Miller, a crooked fuzz.

In , he played probity role of Booth in Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog, a Tony-nominated with Pulitzer-winning Broadway play.

He add-on co-star Jeffrey Wright won out Special Award from the Outward Critics Circle Award for their joint performance.^[68] He played Weigh Ear in the film The Italian Job. That same harvest, he appeared in the Alicia Keys music video You Don't Know My Name.

In bear on, Bey has appeared on NYPD Blue,^[69]Comedy Central's Chappelle's Show, attend to hosted the award-winning HBOspoken vocable show Def Poetry.^[70] He likewise appeared on the sitcom My Wife and Kids as dignity disabled friend of Michael Kyle (Damon Wayans).

Bey won "Best Actor, Independent Movie" at honesty Black Reel Awards for ruler portrayal of Detective Sgt. Filmmaker in The Woodsman. For surmount portrayal of Vivien Thomas make a fuss HBO's film Something the Ruler Made, he was nominated perform an Emmy^[71] and a Halcyon Globe, and won the Surfacing Award.

He also played splendid bandleader in HBO's Lackawanna Blues. He then landed the part of Ford Prefect in glory movie adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

In , Bey appeared in Dave Chappelle's Block Party alongside Begrimed Star partner Talib Kweli, exhaustively also contributing to the film's soundtrack.

He was also featured as the banjo player replace the Pixie Sketch" from Chappelle's Show: The Lost Episodes, scour through his appearance was edited punctilious of the DVD. He marked in the action film 16 Blocks alongside Bruce Willis tube David Morse. He also good a recurring guest role devotion Boondocks, starring as Gangstalicious.

Crystal-clear is set to be fit into place Toussaint, a film about Country revolutionary Toussaint Louverture, opposite Guard Cheadle and Wesley Snipes.^[72] Explicit made a cameo appearance reorganization himself in the movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Inflexible Bobby.

In , Bey narrated the PBS-broadcast documentary Prince Mid Slaves.

In , Bey marked in the Michel Gondry smokescreen Be Kind Rewind, playing dinky video rental store employee whose best friend is played because of co-star Jack Black. He too portrayed Chuck Berry in goodness film Cadillac Records, for which he was nominated for clean Black Reel Award and barney Image Award.

In , unquestionable appeared in the House sheet titled "Locked In" as trig patient suffering from locked-in emblematic of. His performance was well standard, with E! saying that Subdivision Def "delivers an Emmy-worthy performance".^[73] He was also in leadership film Next Day Air.

In , he appeared on leadership children's show Yo Gabba Gabba! as Super Mr.

Superhero. Sand also appeared in A Clear Man of Color, John Guare's play at the Vivian Surgeon Theatre.^[74]

In , he began excellent multi-episode appearance on the 6th season of Showtime television followers Dexter. He played Brother Sam, an ex-convict who has ostensibly found religion despite finding being in violent situations.^[75]

In January , Bey announced his retirement superior the music and the vinyl industries on Kanye West's site.

In March , it was announced that he had archaic attached to star in "his last live-action film", The Disconnected, a science fiction thriller treatment with policing, identity, and authority intersection of technology and humanity.^[76]

Social and political views

In , in pairs with Talib Kweli, Bey smooth-running the Hip Hop for Consideration project to speak out argue with police brutality.

It was composed in response to the law enforcement agency shooting of Amadou Diallo, with sought to accumulate 41 artists to the roster, one calculate match each of the 41 gunshots fired on Diallo.

Bey is well known for rule leftist activism.^[77] In , bankruptcy performed a benefit concert hold death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal.^[78] In May , Bey, Talib Kweli, R&B singer Martin Theologizer and City Councilman Charles Barron approached New York City Anteroom, demanding the withdrawal of depiction $1 million bounty for Assata Shakur.^[79]

In September , Bey unconfined the single "Katrina Clap", renamed "Dollar Day" for True Magic (utilizing the instrumental for Newfound Orleans rappers UTP's "Nolia Clap").

The song is a condemnation of the Bush administration's tolerate to Hurricane Katrina. On say publicly night of the MTV Record Music Awards, Bey pulled wall up in front of Radio License Music Hall on a flat truck and began performing primacy "Katrina Clap" single in gloss of a crowd that swiftly gathered around him. He was subsequently arrested for not securing a public performance permit shut in his possession.^[80]

In October , Disregard appeared on 4Real, a picture television series.^[81] Appearing in primacy episode "City of God", explicit and the 4Real crew take a trip to City of God, uncut favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to meet Brazilian Presenter MV Bill and learn concerning the crime and social demand of the community.^[82]

On September 7, , Bey appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher ring he spoke about racism be realistic African Americans, citing the control response to Hurricane Katrina, significance Jena Six case, and goodness murder conviction of Mumia Abu-Jamal.

He appeared on Real Time again on March 27, , and spoke about the hazard of nuclear weapons.^[83]

In September , Bey joined the cast go the environmental children's hip jump musical Pacha's Pajamas: A Narration Written By Nature as anecdotist. In July , he emerged in a short film out by the human rights succession Reprieve, depicting the forced-feeding arrangements used at the Guantanamo Bark detention camps.

This transpired funds a document containing the bellicose instructions for the procedure was leaked.^[84][85]

In September , Bey become calm advertising executive Free Richardson undo an art exhibition to rank public in an art heading in the South Bronx, entitled the Compound, centered around rap and fine art.

The map of this gallery was fifty pence piece help bridge the gap amidst the two fields, by showcasing artists from marginalized backgrounds who normally would not be signify in art galleries. Art forms with negative connotations, such on account of graffiti, as presented in smashing more optimal context. "The balanced of the gallery is nigh say all art is equal," Richardson said.

"But we percentage in the borough that composed hip-hop, which is the strongest art form in the universe, so it's always an warm arm. It's always present."^[86]

Legacy

stratified him #14 on its line of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time,^[6] and The Source ranked him #23 cheer on their list of the Especially 50 Lyricists of All Time.^[87]AllMusic called him one of high-mindedness most promising rappers to come in the late s,^[88] stomach one of hip-hop's brightest expectation entering the 21st century.^[19] Significant has influenced numerous hip catch in flagrante artists throughout his career, as well as Lupe Fiasco, Jay Electronica, Tease Cudi, and Saigon, and Logic.^[89][90][91]Kendrick Lamar once mentioned him similarly a very early inspiration because a young rapper, though Lamar denied being a part subtract the conscious rap movement.^[92] Grace has also directly influenced artists outside of hip-hop, including Unreservedly singer-songwriters Adele and Amy Winehouse.^[93][94]

Personal life

Bey married Maria Yepes answer He filed for divorce let alone her in ^[95] She took him to court over deficiency in child-support obligations, paying $2, short of the monthly $10, he had been ordered run into pay for their two daughters.^[96][97] He has four other race, including R&B singer and top secret producer Laila Smith, best notable as Laila!.

Bey's mother, Sheron Smith, managed part of accumulate son's career.^[98] She was capital motivational speaker and authored position book Shine Your Light: Out Life Skills Workbook, where she details her experience as unmixed single mother raising him.^[99] Metalworker died in ^[]

In January , Bey was ordered to branch off South Africa and not come for five years, having stayed in the country illegally activate an expired tourist visa acknowledged in May ^[] That period, he was charged with motivating an unrecognized World Passport dominant having lived illegally in Southbound Africa since ^[][] He esoteric reportedly recruited Kanye West compare with help defend him, and wise a message on West's site announcing his retirement from well-known business.^[][] There was a dull case in relation to inmigration offenses involving him and reward family.^[][] He was allowed be selected for leave South Africa on Nov 22, , but was fast from coming back.^[]

Discography

Main articles: Yasiin Bey discography and List be partial to songs recorded by Yasiin Bey

Solo albums

Collaborative albums

See also: Black Skill discography

Filmography

Accolades

BET Awards

Black Movie Awards

Black Coil Awards

Golden Globe Awards

Gotham Awards

Grammy Awards

MOBO Awards

NAACP Image Awards

NAMIC Vision Awards

Online Film & Television Association Awards

Primetime Emmy Awards

Satellite Awards

Stinkers Bad Pic Awards

Teen Choice Awards

Notes

References