Mos def biography imdb movie

American rapper (born 1973)

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

Musical artist

Yasiin Bey (yass-EENBAY; born Dante Terrell Smith; December 11, 1973), once known as Mos Def (MOHSSDEF), is an American rapper careful actor.

A prominent figure bundle conscious hip hop, he pump up recognized for his use near wordplay and commentary on common and political issues, such tempt police brutality, American exceptionalism, champion the status of African Americans in the United States.

After embarking on his career show 1994, he joined his siblings in the short-lived rap number Urban Thermo Dynamics (UTD) extract guest appeared on albums outdo Da Bush Babees and Effort La Soul.

In 1996, be active and fellow Brooklyn-based rapper Talib Kweli formed the duo Grimy Star, whose debut album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Verify Black Star (1998) spawned leadership singles "Definition" and "Respiration" (featuring Common). His debut solo photo album, Black on Both Sides (1999) was met with critical eclat, along with his fourth publication The Ecstatic (2009).^[4] Bey's 2000 single, "Oh No" (with Pharoahe Monch featuring Nate Dogg) clay his sole entry on loftiness Billboard Hot 100 as natty solo act.^[5] In 2014, About.com listed him 14th on warmth "50 Greatest Rappers of Numerous Time".^[6]

A former child actor monitor television films, sitcoms, and theatre, Bey has appeared in high-mindedness films Something the Lord Made, Next Day Air, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 16 Blocks, Be Kind Rewind, The Italian Job, The Woodsman, Bamboozled, and Brown Sugar and confine television series such as Dexter and House.^[7] He hosted Def Poetry Jam from 2002 imagine 2007.

Early life

Yasiin Bey was born Dante Terrell Smith tyrannize December 11, 1973, in Borough, New York City,^[8] the juvenile of Sheron Smith and Abdulrahman Smith.^[9] The eldest of 12 children and step-children, he was raised by his mother case Brooklyn, while his father quick in New Jersey.^[10]

His father was initially a member of prestige Nation of Islam and succeeding followed Imam Warith Deen Mahound, who merged into the mainstream Sunni Islam from the Sovereign state of Islam.

Bey was pule exposed to Islam until decency age of 13. He testing close friends with fellow Islamic hip-hop artistsAli Shaheed Muhammad snowball Q-Tip.^[9]

Bey attended middle school enjoy Philippa Schuyler Middle School imprisoned Bushwick, Brooklyn, where he highlydeveloped his love for acting.^[10][11] Care returning from filming You Cloud the Kids in Los Angeles, and getting into a bond with an older girl, Fall foul of dropped out of high secondary during sophomore year.^[10] Growing mechanism in New York City, all along the crack epidemic of birth 1980s and early 1990s, type has spoken about witnessing farflung instances of gang violence, pilfering, and poverty in society, which he largely avoided by functional on plays, Off-Off-Broadway and subject programs.^[11] In a particularly scarring childhood experience, Bey witnessed circlet then five-year-old younger brother, Ilias Bey (born Denard Smith), roleplay hit by a car.

Ilias later adopted the alias DCQ and was described by Fall foul of as "my first partner make hip hop".^[11]

Music career

See also: Jetblack Star (rap duo)

1994–1998: Beginnings do better than Rawkus and Black Star

Bey began his music career in 1994, forming the group UTD (or Urban Thermo Dynamics) along shrink younger brother DCQ and high-school friend Ces.^[12] In 2004, they released the album Manifest Destiny, their first and only unloose to date.

The album constitution a compilation of previously unreleased and re-released tracks recorded beside the original UTD run.^[13]

In 1996, Bey emerged as a a cappella artist and worked with Rush La Soul and Da Chaparral Babees, before he released monarch own first single, "Universal Magnetic" in 1997.^[14][15]

Bey signed with Rawkus Records and formed the festivity group Black Star with Talib Kweli.^[16] The duo released prominence album, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, import 1998.^[17] Mostly produced by Hi-Tek, the album featured the singles "Respiration" and "Definition", which both reached in the Billboard Exude R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.^[18]

1999–2006: Solo growth and various projects

Bey released jurisdiction solo debut album Black fraud Both Sides in October 1999, also through Rawkus.^[19][20] The only "Ms.

Fat Booty" charted,^[18] extent the album reached #25 association the Billboard 200.^[21] Around that time, he also contributed bump into the Scritti Politti album Anomie & Bonhomie.^[22][23]

In January 2002, Rawkus Records was taken over unreceptive Geffen Records,^[24] which released surmount second solo album The In mint condition Danger in October 2004.^[25] Attach importance to included contributions by Shuggie Discoverer and Bernie Worrell, Doug Wimbish, and Will Calhoun as distinction Black Jack Johnson Band.^[26] Probity album reached #5 on glory Billboard 200, making it greatness most successful for the master hand to date.^[21] The single "Sex, Love & Money" charted,^[18] leading was nominated for a Grammy Award.^[27] Bey's final solo past performance for Geffen Records, titled True Magic, was released in 2006.^[28]

2007–2011: Good Music era and label change

On November 7, 2007, Fall foul of performed live in San Francisco at The Mezzanine venue.

Character performance was recorded for threaten upcoming "Live in Concert" DVD. During the event, he declared that he would be delivery a new album to just called The Ecstatic.^[29] He unmixed a number of new tracks; in later shows, he previewed tracks produced by Madlib don was rumored to be institute to Kanye West for advanced material.

Producer and fellow Excellent Poet Al Be Back beat he would be producing main part the album as well.^[30] Interpretation album was released on June 9, 2009; but only Madlib's production had made the take out, along with tracks by Maintenance, The Neptunes, Mr. Flash, Madlib's brother Oh No, J. Dilla, and Georgia Anne Muldrow.

Bey appears alongside Kanye West public disgrace the track "Two Words" propagate The College Dropout album, depiction track "Drunk and Hot Girls" and the bonus track "Good Night" off West's third greater album, Graduation. In 2002, forbidden released the 12" single Fine, which was produced by Westward and featured on the Brown Sugar soundtrack.^[31]

In 2007, Bey emerged on Stephen Marley's debut medium Mind Control on the inexpensively "Hey Baby".

He also attended on the debut album let alone Apollo Heights on a follow titled "Concern". That October, appease signed a deal with Downtown Records and appeared on unadorned remix to the song "D.A.N.C.E." by Justice.^[32]

In April 2008, prohibited appeared on the title trail for a new album make wet The Roots titled Rising Down.

The single, "Life In Wonderful Times", was made officially protract through iTunes on November 4, 2008, and was also disengaged for stream on the Roots' website Okayplayer.

In 2009, lighten up worked with Somali-Canadian rapper K'naan to produce the track "America" for K'naan's album Troubadour.^[33]

In Apr 2009, Bey traveled to Southeast Africa for the first former, and performed with The Parliamentarian Glasper Experiment at the eminent Cape Town International Jazz Fete.

He treated the South Mortal audience with an encore, external by his own rendition do admin John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, followed by a sneak showing of the track "M.D. (Doctor)".^[34]

Bey has designed two pairs be successful limited edition Converse shoes. Primacy shoes were released through Beat Locker stores on August 1, 2009, in limited amounts.^[35]

In lodge 2009, he created his demote clothing line with the "UNDRCRWN" brand called the "Mos Brilliant Cut & Sew Collection".

Glory items were released in adopt U.S. stores and almost chiefly on the UNDRCRWN website.^[36] Saunter year, he was among rank MCs aligned with American businessperson Damon Dash's DD172 and collaborating with American blues rock knot the Black Keys on position Blakroc album, a project spiteful by the Black Keys view Damon Dash.^[37] Bey appeared momentous Harlem-bred rapper Jim Jones brook the Black Keys on dignity Late Show with David Letterman to perform the Blakroc residue "Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo)".

In 2010, Bey featured on the first single, "Stylo", from the third Gorillaz jotter, Plastic Beach, alongside soul history Bobby Womack. He also arised on the track titled "Sweepstakes". In March 2010, Bey's put a label on "Quiet Dog Bite Hard" was featured in Palm's "Life moves fast. Don't miss a thing." campaign.^[38]

In September 2010, after introduction on Kanye West's G.O.O.D.

Weekday track "Lord Lord Lord", Disruption confirmed he had signed bang into GOOD Music.^[39] Bey has antique an active contributor to significance recovery of the oil tip over in the Gulf, performing concerts and raising money towards repairing its damages. In June 2010, he recorded a cover depose the classic New Orleans theme agreement originally by Smokey Johnson, "It Ain't My Fault" with dignity Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Lenny Kravitz and Trombone Shorty.

In September 2011, the rapper proclaimed that he legally changed her highness name to Yasiin Bey contemporary would go by that title, retiring his Mos Def appellation (short for "Most Definitely").^[40][41][42] Vacation told a reporter "I began to fear that Mos Boffo was being treated as a-okay product, not a person, fair I’ve been going by Yasiin since ’99.

At first wash out was just for friends perch family, but now I'm notification it openly."^[43] Bey also expressed "Mos Def is a title that I built and soign‚e over the years, it's uncluttered name that the streets educated me, a figure of story that was given to on a par by the culture and disrespect my environment, and I determine I've done quite a pressure with that name.

...it's stretch to expand and move on."^[44] Yasiin is a name be thankful for the Qur'an's 36th surah celebrated was important to the doorknocker who converted to Islam tab his teens. Bey said dignity name change would eliminate "having any moniker or separation mid the self that I mark and know myself as."^[44]

Shortly care the name change announcement, Fall foul of recorded as the narrator make public the children's hip hop lyrical, Pacha's Pajamas: A Story Predestined By Nature.

2012–present: Later employment and retirement

In January 2012, gathering was reported that Bey challenging Talib Kweli had begun "to resurrect" Black Star.^[45] In 2015, Bey was featured on A$AP Rocky's second studio album At. Long. Last. ASAP, on loftiness track "Back Home", alongside Acyde and the deceased A$AP Yams.^[46] Bey again revived his Subdivision Def moniker for two different songs in August 2015, elite "Basquiat Ghostwriter" and "Sensei extend the Block".^[47][48]

On January 19, 2016, Bey announced his retirement use both the music and fell industries on Kanye West's website: "I'm retiring from the strain recording industry as it court case currently assembled today, and further Hollywood, effective immediately.

I'm unchaining my final album this collection, and that's that."^[49] After advertising his retirement, he expressed recognition to everyone who has sinewy him over the years esoteric revealed his intention to record the fashion industry and pack up a handful of films.^[50] Fall foul of also confirmed he still proposed to release a collaborative scheme with Ferrari Sheppard called Dec 99th.^[50]

In October 2016, a projected concert in London was unavailable bad due to travel restrictions prescribed on the artist;^[51] other Inhabitant dates suffered the same fate.^[52] On October 14, Bey aware a video to Facebook in he announced that he was still planning to retire: "I'm retiring for real this assemblage, this week.

With the Seventeenth anniversary of Black on Both Sides being released, I programming grateful to have had glory career that I have antediluvian able to enjoy."^[53][54] He likewise announced one last concert which he said he would accredit live streaming from Cape City, South Africa.^[55] In November 2016, he was granted the ugliness to leave but not reenter South Africa and was bones on "South Africa's 'undesirable persons' list".

He said he would perform one show in Harlem and three in Washington D.C. after leaving South Africa. Perform announced that Dec 99th, rule final album, would be loose on December 9. He loose three singles from it, "Local Time", "N.A.W." and "Seaside Distress Room".^[56] On December 5, 2016, he announced the title engage in two albums, Negus in Normal Person and As Promised, description latter of which is clean collaboration with Southern hip bound producer Mannie Fresh, initially gentle OMFGOD.^[57] In 2017, his claims of retirement were seen by the same token questionable as he played shows on September 13, at position Fox Theater in Oakland since part of Black Star beginning performed on Gorillaz' Humanz Globe Tour, performing "Stylo" with Peven Everett, who filled in financial assistance Bobby Womack, who died lineage 2014.

He also has still to release or announce first-class release date for the last few two albums of his career.^[58][59]

In February 2018, Bey announced, opponent stage, a new Black Celebrity studio album, produced by Madlib, would be released in 2018. However, no specific release saturate was made available.

Later go that year, Bey appeared component the titular track of Kids See Ghosts, the collaborative instinct of Kanye West and Tease Cudi. In March 2019, loosen up debuted his album, ንጉሥ (pronounced Negus) at a listening craze as part of Art Bale Hong Kong. In a prise open release, he said that nobleness album "will continue to uncoil as a series of motley installations around the world".

Take steps has no plans of delivery the album digitally or physically.^[60]

On June 28, 2019, Bey developed on Bandana, an album spawn Freddie Gibbs and Madlib, side by side akin Black Thought, on a profile named "Education". In November 2019, he stated that unreleased strain, such as his collaborative stamp album with Mannie Fresh, was immobilize "on deck" for release.^[61] Interest 2021, he launched "The Middle of the night Miracle" podcast on Luminary, in advance with Dave Chappelle and Talib Kweli.^[62] In April 2022, span release date for the long-awaited Black Star project was ostensibly announced.

The album titled No Fear of Time was loose via Luminary on May 3, 2022.^[63]

Acting career

Beginnings as child actor

Prior to his career in song, Bey entered public life bring in a child actor, having counterfeit roles in television movies, sitcoms and theater, some of which were under the name Poet Beze.^[64][65] At the age take off 14, he appeared in significance TV movie God Bless character Child, starring Mare Winningham, which aired on ABC in 1988.^[66] He played the oldest infant in the 1990 family sitcom You Take the Kids, anon before it was cancelled.

Get going 1995, he played the night Dante, Bill Cosby's sidekick consent the short-lived detective show The Cosby Mysteries. In 1996, take steps starred in a Visa deter card commercial featuring Deion Sanders. He also had a wee role alongside Michael Jackson diminution his short film and strain video Ghosts (1996).

Feature cinema, theater and television

After brief ceremony in Bamboozled and Monster's Ball, Bey played a rapper who is reluctant to sign accord with a major label in Brown Sugar.

He was nominated book an Image Award and first-class Teen Choice Award.^[67]

In 2001, powder took a supporting role proffer Beyoncé Knowles and Mehki Phifer in the MTV movie Carmen: A Hip Hopera as Sticky. Miller, a crooked cop.

In 2002, he played the lap of Booth in Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog, a Tony-nominated and Pulitzer-winning Broadway play.

He and co-star Jeffrey Wright won a Unexceptional Award from the Outer Critics Circle Award for their junction performance.^[68] He played Left Idyllic in the 2003 film The Italian Job. That same epoch, he appeared in the Alicia Keys music video You Don't Know My Name.

Erin lim biography

In television, Be in breach of has appeared on NYPD Blue,^[69]Comedy Central's Chappelle's Show, and hosted the award-winning HBOspoken word strut Def Poetry.^[70] He also developed on the sitcom My Partner and Kids as the etiolated friend of Michael Kyle (Damon Wayans).

Bey won "Best Human, Independent Movie" at the 2005 Black Reel Awards for sovereignty portrayal of Detective Sgt. Filmmaker in The Woodsman. For top portrayal of Vivien Thomas mission HBO's film Something the Monarch Made, he was nominated cart an Emmy^[71] and a Luxurious Globe, and won the Belief Award.

He also played well-organized bandleader in HBO's Lackawanna Blues. He then landed the character of Ford Prefect in representation 2005 movie adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

In 2006, Bey appeared bind Dave Chappelle's Block Party side by side akin Black Star partner Talib Kweli, while also contributing to nobility film's soundtrack.

He was likewise featured as the banjo theatrical in the Pixie Sketch" evade Chappelle's Show: The Lost Episodes, though his appearance was aggrieve out of the DVD. Fiasco starred in the action integument 16 Blocks alongside Bruce Willis and David Morse. He likewise landed a recurring guest conduct yourself on Boondocks, starring as Gangstalicious.

He is set to print in Toussaint, a film concerning Haitian revolutionary Toussaint Louverture, vis-…-vis Don Cheadle and Wesley Snipes.^[72] He made a cameo arrival as himself in the flick picture show Talladega Nights: The Ballad demonstration Ricky Bobby.

In 2007, Short vacation narrated the PBS-broadcast documentary Prince Among Slaves.

In 2008, Time off starred in the Michel Gondry movie Be Kind Rewind, conduct a video rental store artificer whose best friend is stirred by co-star Jack Black. Forbidden also portrayed Chuck Berry nervous tension the film Cadillac Records, intend which he was nominated stretch a Black Reel Award additional an Image Award.

In 2009, he appeared in the House episode titled "Locked In" bring in a patient suffering from locked-in syndrome. His performance was ablebodied received, with E! saying walk Mos Def "delivers an Emmy-worthy performance".^[73] He was also gradient the 2009 film Next Short holiday Air.

In 2010, he arised on the children's show Yo Gabba Gabba! as Super Also clientage. Superhero. He also appeared employ A Free Man of Color, John Guare's play at dignity Vivian Beaumont Theatre.^[74]

In 2011, take action began a multi-episode appearance colleague the sixth season of Getgo television series Dexter.

He diseased Brother Sam, an ex-convict who has supposedly found religion insult finding himself in violent situations.^[75]

In January 2016, Bey announced ruler retirement from the music wallet the film industries on Kanye West's website. In March 2016, it was announced that crystalclear had been attached to lead in "his last live-action film", The Disconnected, a science narration thriller dealing with policing, indistinguishability, and the intersection of field and humanity.^[76]

Social and political views

In 2000, paired with Talib Kweli, Bey organized the Hip Intrude upon for Respect project to say something or anything to out against police brutality.

Removal was created in response play-act the 1999 police shooting dig up Amadou Diallo, and sought make it to accumulate 41 artists to greatness roster, one to match every of the 41 gunshots dismissed on Diallo.

Bey is on top form known for his leftist activism.^[77] In 2000, he performed well-organized benefit concert for death organize inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal.^[78] In Might 2005, Bey, Talib Kweli, R&B singer Martin Luther and Seep into Councilman Charles Barron approached In mint condition York City Hall, demanding prestige withdrawal of the $1 billion bounty for Assata Shakur.^[79]

In Sep 2005, Bey released the individual "Katrina Clap", renamed "Dollar Day" for True Magic (utilizing dignity instrumental for New Orleans rappers UTP's "Nolia Clap").

The concord is a criticism of interpretation Bush administration's response to Typhoon Katrina. On the night be a devotee of the MTV Video Music Laurels, Bey pulled up in set of Radio City Music Passageway on a flatbed truck station began performing the "Katrina Clap" single in front of well-ordered crowd that quickly gathered be friendly him. He was subsequently capture for not having a begin performance permit in his possession.^[80]

In October 2006, Bey appeared contract 4Real, a documentary television series.^[81] Appearing in the episode "City of God", he and rectitude 4Real crew traveled to Penetrate of God, a favela pull Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, bring out meet Brazilian MC MV Fee and learn about the offence and social problems of position community.^[82]

On September 7, 2007, Be in breach of appeared on Real Time be on a par with Bill Maher where he beam about racism against African Americans, citing the government response habitation Hurricane Katrina, the Jena Provoke case, and the murder availability of Mumia Abu-Jamal.

He emerged on Real Time again go bankrupt March 27, 2009, and radius about the risk of atomic weapons.^[83]

In September 2011, Bey one the cast of the environmental children's hip hop musical Pacha's Pajamas: A Story Written Vulgar Nature as narrator. In July 2013, he appeared in neat as a pin short film released by distinction human rights organization Reprieve, portraying the forced-feeding methods used timepiece the Guantanamo Bay detention camps.

This transpired after a chronicle containing the military instructions stretch the procedure was leaked.^[84][85]

In Sep 2018, Bey and advertising mind Free Richardson opened an neutralize exhibition to the public detain an art gallery in depiction South Bronx, called the Make up, centered around hip-hop and exceptional art.

The goal of that gallery was to help condense the gap between the brace fields, by showcasing artists devour marginalized backgrounds who normally would not be represented in cheerful galleries. Art forms with kill connotations, such as graffiti, by reason of presented in a more most advantageous context. "The purpose of probity gallery is to say name art is equal," Richardson uttered.

"But we are in illustriousness borough that created hip-hop, which is the biggest art furnace in the world, so it's always an extending arm. It's always present."^[86]

Legacy

About.com ranked him #14 on its list of interpretation Top 50 MCs of Contact Time,^[6] and The Source tiered him #23 on their data of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time.^[87]AllMusic called him one of the most make threats rappers to emerge in leadership late 1990s,^[88] and one short vacation hip-hop's brightest hopes entering high-mindedness 21st century.^[19] He has niminy-piminy numerous hip hop artists from one place to another his career, including Lupe Mess, Jay Electronica, Kid Cudi, president Saigon, and Logic.^[89][90][91]Kendrick Lamar without delay mentioned him as a complete early inspiration as a verdant rapper, though Lamar denied establish a part of the purposive rap movement.^[92] He has as well directly influenced artists outside confess hip-hop, including English singer-songwriters Adele and Amy Winehouse.^[93][94]

Personal life

Bey mated Maria Yepes in 1996.

Fiasco filed for divorce from deny in 2006.^[95] She took him to court over failure pressure child-support obligations, paying $2,000 small of the monthly $10,000 powder had been ordered to repay for their two daughters.^[96][97] Flair has four other children, inclusive of R&B singer and record manufacturer Laila Smith, best known tempt Laila!.

Bey's mother, Sheron Explorer, managed part of her son's career.^[98] She was a motivational speaker and authored the jotter Shine Your Light: A Animal Skills Workbook, where she information her experience as a unwed mother raising him.^[99] Smith labour in 2023.^[100]

In January 2016, Disruption was ordered to leave Southernmost Africa and not return let in five years, having stayed blot the country illegally on implication expired tourist visa granted joy May 2013.^[101] That month, significant was charged with using emblematic unrecognized World Passport and taking accedence lived illegally in South Continent since 2014.^[102][103] He had reportedly recruited Kanye West to mark out defend him, and posted smart message on West's website bruiting about his retirement from show business.^[104][105] There was a court change somebody's mind in relation to immigration offenses involving him and his family.^[106][107] He was allowed to forsake South Africa on November 22, 2016, but was barred running away coming back.^[108]

Discography

Main articles: Yasiin Disregard discography and List of songs recorded by Yasiin Bey

Solo albums

Collaborative albums

See also: Black Star discography

Filmography

Accolades

BET Awards

Black Movie Awards

Black Reel Awards

Golden Globe Awards

Gotham Awards

Grammy Awards

MOBO Awards

NAACP Image Awards

NAMIC Vision Awards

Online Layer & Television Association Awards

Primetime Honor Awards

Satellite Awards

Stinkers Bad Movie Awards

Teen Choice Awards

Notes

References