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Mos Def
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Dante Terrell Smith (born December 11, 1973), is an American MC and actor known by the stage name Mos Def. Mos Def started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, who released the well-received album Black Star in 1998. He was a major force in the late 1990s underground hip hop explosion spearheaded by Rawkus Records.
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Dante Terrell Smith (born December 11, 1973), is an American MC and actor known by the stage name Mos Def. Mos Def started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, who released the well-received album Black Star in 1998. He was a major force in the late 1990s underground hip hop explosion spearheaded by Rawkus Records. As a solo artist he has released the albums Black on Both Sides in 1999, The New Danger in 2004, and True Magic, 2006.
Initially recognized for his musical output, Mos 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. Mos Def has also been active on several social and political issues, and was particularly vocal in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Early life
Mos Def was born Dante Terrell Smith in the Roosevelt Houses of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City, the son of Darrell Toler. He has two younger brothers, Abdul Rahman (a.k.a. "Gold Medal Man", who is Mos' full-time DJ) and Anwar Superstar. He also has a younger sister, Ces (Casey) Smith. Mos Def and his brothers are all converts to Islam. 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. Mos Def grew up during the golden age of hip-hop and has been rapping and acting since he was 9 years old. For high school, Mos Def attended Talent Unlimited performing arts school in Manhattan.
Rapping career
Urban Thermo Dynamics
Mos Def began his music career in 1994 in the short-lived group Urban Thermo Dynamics with his younger brother D.c.Q and 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
Black Star
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.The album featured the hit singles, "Definition" and "Respiration (song)". Definition was ranked number 85 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop .
It has been rumoured that Mos Def and Talib Kweli are in talks to re-form 'Black Star' and to release a second album.
Black on Both Sides
Mos Def released his solo debut album Black on Both Sides in 1999 through Rawkus Records . Black On Both Sides received 4 mics from The Source. Its hit singles of the album were, "Mathematics", "Umi Says", and "Ms. Fat Booty". A short time after the release of his first solo album, Mos Def appeared on the Scritti Politti album Anomie & Bonhomie. Mos Def was also featured on Rawkus' influential Lyricist Lounge and Soundbombing series of compilations.
The New Danger
After the collapse of Rawkus, he signed to Interscope/Geffen Records, which released his second solo album The New Danger in 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 singles of the Mos' second solo album were "Sex, Love & Money" and a B-Side "Ghetto Rock". "Ghetto Rock" went on to receive several Grammy Award nominations in 2004.
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 .
True Magic
Mos Def's final solo album for Geffen Records,True Magic, was quietly released on December 29, 2006.
True Magic features production from The Neptunes, Rich Harrison and Minnesota, among others. The album was released in a clear-case with no cover art.
The song "Crime & Medicine" is essentially a cover of GZA's 1995 single "Liquid Swords", though it contains different verses. Also, the track "Undeniable" samples a version of the Barrett Strong/Norman Whitfield composition "Message from a Black Man". The song "Dollar Day" uses the same beat as Juvenile's "Nolia Clap".
MTV reported that this album isn't a full version, but a teaser/promotional debut. A new version of the album would be released spring 2007, with updated songs and cover art. However, on October 17, 2007, Okayplayer reported, through discussions with Mos Def's management, that these rumors were unsubstantiated. The CD was intended to be released without promotion or cover art, as per Mos Def's request. There would be no future re-release.
2007 saw the release of another solo album: Mos Definite. This album was released under the Frequent M (Groove Attack) label.
The Ecstatic
On November 7, 2007, 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 Mos Def announced that he would be releasing a new album to be called "The Ecstatic", he sang quite a few new tracks which may be appearing on an upcoming album. In recent shows Mos Def has shown crowds tracks produced by Madlib and has rumored to be going to Kanye West for new material. The album was said to be released in April 2008, but this was quickly denied by Mos Def. 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.. It has been announced that the album will be released June, 2009.
Simpatico
He is also set to do duo album with Jay Electronica Called Simpatico.It is to be nine songs.
Other Work
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. 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. Mos Def appeared on Stephen Marley's album "Mind Control" on the song "Hey Baby."
In April Mos appeared on the title track for a new album by The Roots entitled Rising Down. The new single 'Life in Marvelous Times' will be officially available through itunes on the 4th of November, and is currently available for stream on The Roots website Okayplayer.
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.
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 .
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 .
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 old school friend of Michael Kyle's (Damon Wayans).
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 .
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. He made a cameo appearance playing himself in the movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby .
He also co-stars with Jack Black in the 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. The two protagonists then decide to refilm the deleted movies, becoming local celebrities in the process .
Mos Def portrays Chuck Berry in the 2008 film Cadillac Records for which he was nominated for a Black Reel Award and an Image Award .
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.
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". 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.
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"). The song is 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. Video of Mos Def outside of the MTV awards can be viewed .
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. Mos Def also parodied his cynicism, joking that Al-Qaeda was not responsible for 9/11, that the Apollo Moon landings were a hoax, and that Al-Qaeda is not responsible for as much terrorism as they are portrayed to be.
Personal life
In 1996, he married Maria Yepes. After having two girls, Chandani and Jauhara Smith, he filed for divorce in 2005. The divorce became final in 2006. In connection with his divorce from Yepes, law firm Blank Rome filed suit seeking more than $60,000 in unpaid legal bills from Def.
Mos Def also has 3 other children with other women.
Mos Def 's second marriage was to Alana Wyatt of Toronto, Canada. The two married after knowing one another for only four days. As of April 2008 she has started to publicly reveal aspects of her courtship, marriage, and subsequent separation from Mos Def. A book entitled Breaking Through the Silence has been released exposing such details.
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.
In October, 2006 Mos Def appeared on 4Real, a documentary television series. Appearing in the episode "City of God", he and the 4Real crew traveled 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.
Nominations
- Black Movie Awards
- 2006, Best Supporting Actor: 16 Blocks (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)
Discography
Filmography
External links
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