During the event, he announced that he would be releasing a new album to be called The Ecstatic. In my opinion, its a nearly flawless album showcasing two generational talents at their hungriest. Most of his money comes from music and film royalties. They found a way to borrow from traditional hip hop, yet still sound fresh and modern. The rapper has paid roughly $8000 a month since the order was issued, but said obligations to his three []. Mind over matter and soul before flesh. Mos Def, They say that when a man faces his destiny, the destiny ends and he becomes the man that he really is. Mos Def, I give a damn if any fan recalls my legacy, Im trying to live life in the sight of GODs memory.- Mos Def, 1998 Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star (with Talib Kweli), 2004 Manifest Destiny (with Ces and DCQ), 2016 December 99th (with Ferrari Sheppard), 2022 No Fear of Time (with Talib Kweli). Entertaining would-be bullies with his witty rhymes offered some form of protection. Maria Yepes-Smith is currently available. Yasiin Bey is a 49 year old American Rapper. CRITICAL ACCLAIM:About.com ranked him #24 on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time, while The Source ranked him #23 on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time. Listeners could only hear the album if they attended the exhibit. The new single, Life In Marvelous Times, was made officially available through iTunes on November 4, 2008, and was also available for stream on the Roots' website Okayplayer. This performance was recorded for an upcoming "Live in Concert" DVD. It also showed that they deeply appreciated the culture and the greats that came before them. Yasiin Bey (/jsin be/; born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973), more commonly known by his former stage name Mos Def (/mos df/), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. [12] In 2004, they released the album Manifest Destiny, their first and only release to date. After that, Mos would continue his acting career and make frequent appearances on tracks by popular artists. Mos attended Phillipa Schuyler Middle School in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The project had a diverse sound that borrowed from many genres, including hip hop, rock, soul, jazz, and R&B. April 2009 saw him traveling to South Africa for the first time where he performed accompanied by The Robert Glasper Experiment at the renowned Cape Town International Jazz Festival. [22][23], In January 2002, Rawkus Records was taken over by Geffen Records,[24] which released his second solo album The New Danger in October 2004. He was proud to inspire fellow African Americans to attend the play. l es padre de cuatro hijos adicionales de una mujer diferente. Mos Def was married to Maria Yepes. That same year, he appeared in the Alicia Keys music video You Don't Know My Name. He has a net worth of well over 5 million dollars. The group released their long-anticipated sophomore album in 2022, 24 years after the release of their first album. In 2009, he appeared in the House episode titled "Locked In" as a patient suffering from locked-in syndrome. Just a year later, Mos Def released a solo album, Black on Both Sides, which had a jazzy, R&B flavor. "If you hit on me 100 times, I'd be like, 'Okay, now I'm gonna break you.' We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. When Mos Def was a freshman, he landed his first real acting gig, starring in an ABC movie of the week called God Bless the Child in the late 1980s. The albums established Mos Def as a master of the art of conscious rap. He also landed a recurring guest role on Boondocks, starring as Gangstalicious. and "Seaside Panic Room from Dec. 99", "Black Star featuring Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli Another Planet Entertainment", "Gorillaz joined by Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), Savages' Jehnny Beth and more on stage at The Meadows", "Yasiin Bey Launches New Project Negus, But Only at Galleries", "Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) says new music with Black Star, MF Doom, and more "is on deck", "Talib Kweli, yasiin bey, and Dave Chappelle Launch The Midnight Miracle Podcast On Luminary", "Listen to Black Star's First New Album in 24 Years 'No Fear of Time' Produced by Madlib", "Is Mos Def the Most Talented Rapper Turned Actor? The turning point under the affiliation, known for their positive-minded, good-naturedly Afrocentric lyrics and jazzy beats, ultimately took shape when the teen wonderfully landed chances to have cameo appearances on Soul's "Big Brother Beat" and Bush Babee's "Love Song" in 1996. Mos Def is an actor and rapper from Brooklyn, New York. Black on Both Sides was released in October 1999 and quickly named an instant classic in underground hip hop. The new single, Life In Marvelous Times, was made officially available through iTunes on November 4, 2008, and is available for stream on the Roots' website Okayplayer. Killer Mike Bio: The Rise of a Rapper Turned Activist, Redman Bio: The Life and Career of a Hip Hop Icon, https://www.notablebiographies.com/newsmakers2/2005-La-Pr/Mos-Def.html, https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/richest-rappers/mos-def-net-worth/, https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mos-def-mn0000927416/biography, https://www.essence.com/news/yasiin-bey-mos-def-announces-retirement-pleads-leave-south-africa/#:~:text=Yasiin%20Bey%E2%80%94the%20artist%20formerly,on%20Kanye%20Wests%20officially%20website, https://www.thestar.com/news/2008/06/29/scenes_from_a_hiphop_marriage.html, https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-38065758, Pusha T Bio: The Making of a Hip Hop Legend, Mos Def, Dante Beez, Flaco, El-Bey the Moor, Fear not of men because men must die. [51] On October 14, Bey posted a video to Facebook where he announced that he was still planning to retire: "I'm retiring for real this year, this week. But his first passion, even before music, was acting. Bey married Maria Yepes in 1996. He is close friends with fellow Muslim hip-hop artists Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Q-Tip. Producer and fellow Def Poet Al Be Back revealed he would be producing on the album as well. He then married model Alana Wyatt in 2005, but the couple separated shortly after. [11], Bey began his music career in 1994, forming the group UTD (or Urban Thermo Dynamics) along with younger brother DCQ and high-school friend Ces. He has four other children. . Around this time Mos Def launched his first group, called Urban Thermal Dynamics, along with his siblings. He was featured on the Kanye West song Two Words from his debut album The College Dropout, which is one of the best performances of his entire career, in my opinion. Mos Def appears alongside Kanye West on the track "Two Words" from The College Dropout album, the track "Drunk And Hot Girls" and the bonus track "Good Night" off West's third major album, Graduation. [46][47], On January 19, 2016, Bey announced his retirement from both the music and film industries on Kanye West's website: "I'm retiring from the music recording industry as it is currently assembled today, and also Hollywood, effective immediately. It debuted at number 5 on Billboard and the track Sex Love and Money was nominated for Best Urban/Alternative Performance at the Grammys. Hes released four studio albums and two albums with Talib Kweli as Black Star. Mos Def married Maria Yepes in 1996. But their marriage failed . All clothing items will be sold in select stores located around the U.S. and almost exclusively on the UNDRCRWN website. Spouse: Mos Def 1996. Hes also appeared in classic films like the Italian Job, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, and Be Kind Rewind. In 2002, he was known to have an encounter with Karrine Steffans. Mos Def married Maria Yepes in 1996. Mos Def Is Retiring After One Last Show", "Yasiin Bey releases Local Time," "N.A.W." At the time, Mos Def was working at a Brooklyn bookstore called N'kiru Books, alongside another aspiring rapper named Talib Kweli. No one perceives Alana as being active on any social media network. Desde 2006, Mos Def ha sido parte en una disputa judicial de migracin. In October, he signed a deal with Downtown Records and appeared on a remix to the song "D.A.N.C.E." He said he would perform one show in Harlem and three in Washington D.C. after leaving South Africa. Mos Def also argued that his payments should be reduced because Yepes-Smith reneged on an agreement to home school the children. [81], On September 7, 2007, Bey 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 case, and the murder conviction of Mumia Abu-Jamal. By being part of the display, Mos Def's image helps remind others that they, too, can rise above their circumstances. He still occasionally performs and has worked with younger talent such as JID and ASAP Rocky. He then married model Alana Wyatt in 2005, but the couple separated shortly after. Rapper Birthday December 11, 1973. . At the age of six, he already started rapping and acting. He is set to be in Toussaint, a film about Haitian revolutionary Toussaint Louverture, opposite Don Cheadle and Wesley Snipes. All of the roles, though small, worked together to broaden and mature his acting skills. Dante Terrell "Beze" Smith # of Kids = 5 # of Stepkids = 1 # of Baby Mamas = 2-4 # of Wives = 2 Wife #1 (U.S.) = Maria Yepes-Smith (divorce pending, two daughters) Wife #2 (Canada) = Alana Wyatt (m. Aug. 17, 2005 at Toronto City Hall, no children together, Alana has one son, . But at the same time, Mos was also beginning to gravitate toward music and formed a rap group with his brother DCQ and friend CES called UTD (Urban Thermo Dynamics) in 1994. He appeared on Real Time again on March 27, 2009, and spoke about the risk of nuclear weapons. . Mos Def landed a few other roles as well and during this time used the name Dante Beze. In a discussion with Jet 's Marti Yarbrough, Mos Def said that he was excited about his clever, imaginative, and playful character. "This is a major, major, major turning point, not just for me, but for the culture [T]his is one of those rare instances where something of a high artistic order is like at ground level, at street level, where Jay-Z and Puffy have come to the theater, where kids are coming to Broadway to watch this play." The performance was recorded for an upcoming "Live in Concert" DVD. When he was ten years old, Mos Def was enthralled by rap group Run-DMC's song "It's Like That." He also portrayed Chuck Berry in the film Cadillac Records, for which he was nominated for a Black Reel Award and an Image Award. [40][41] Bey told a reporter "I began to fear that Mos Def was being treated as a product, not a person, so Ive been going by Yasiin since 99. Ilias later adopted the alias DCQ and was described by Bey as "my first partner in hip hop". Mos Def was married to Maria Yepes from 1996 to 2005. However, the critical reception was not as enthusiastic as his first album. So I had to do somethin' to be able to just survive around my neighbors, you know?" [39] Bey has been an active contributor to the recovery of the oil spill in the Gulf, performing concerts and raising money towards repairing its damages. Mos Def starred opposite Jeffrey Wright in the two-man show with the duo playing con-artist brothers. He sang a number of new tracks; in later shows, Def previewed tracks produced by Madlib and was rumored to be going to Kanye West for new material. But they broke up just a few months after tying the knot. He is the father of four additional kids by a different woman. He filed for divorce from Yepes in 2006. He also portrayed Chuck Berry in the film Cadillac Records, for which he was nominated for a Black Reel Award and an Image Award. Bey won "Best Actor, Independent Movie" at the 2005 Black Reel Awards for his portrayal of Detective Sgt. 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. Def married Maria Yepes in 1996, and although they split, they had two daughters Jauhara . That year, he began filming the real-time action thriller, 16 Blocks, which co-starred Bruce Willis. campaign.[38]. He was caught after trying to use a World Passport, a document issued by a non-profit organization called the World Service Authority that is not recognized by many countries. He studied at Philippa Schuyler Middle School and later took up Musical Theater at Talent Unlimited High School of the Performing Arts. Mos Def Esposa, Matrimonio. For the American football player, see. His talent was immediately apparent, and he signed a deal with Rawkus Records shortly after. Together, they have two children, namely, Jauraha Smith and . The two decided to join forced and form a group called Black Star. Yepes-Smiths lawyer Karen Blaustein cited a commercial for Mos Defs new movie 16 Blocks, which hits theaters next month and received major exposure thanks to an ad during Super Bowl XL. Mos Def y Mara Yepes se casaron en 1996. . He then landed the role of Ford Prefect in the 2005 movie adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He also appeared in shows like The Cosby Mysteries, Spin City, and NYPD Blue throughout the early 90s. Flash, Madlib's brother Oh No, a song by J. Dilla, and Georgia Anne Muldrow. The couple were married for ten years and had two kids together. [63][64] At the age of 14, he appeared in the TV movie God Bless the Child, starring Mare Winningham, which aired on ABC in 1988. He was a child actor in television films, sitcoms, and theater. However, Mos was mainly raised by his mother in the Roosevelt Housing Projects while his father lived in New Jersey. Bey was not exposed to Islam until the age of 13. The Ecstatic was met by widespread critical acclaim and received much more positively than his past two records. He has no plans of releasing the album digitally or physically. He earned roles in 2000's Bamboozled, which was directed by Spike Lee, 2001's Monster's Ball, starring Halle Berry, 2002's Brown Sugar, and 2004's The Woodsman. Yasiin Bey was born Dante Terrell Smith on December 11, 1973, in Brooklyn, New York City,[8] the son of Sheron Smith and Abdulrahman Smith. Mos Def is the son of Sharon Smith and Abdulrahman Smith. He has four other children from a different woman. Birth Sign Sagittarius. FOX , Omar Epps, Hill Harper, Essence Atkins and Ananda Lewis Join Naacp Executives to Announce the '36th Naacp Image Awards' Nominations", "Nominees & Winners Satellite Awards 2005 (9th Annual Satellite Awards)", "Stinkers Bad Movie Awards - 2006 Ballot", "Breaking News - FOX Announces Nominees for "The 2005 Teen Choice Awards" | TheFutonCritic.com", Kanye West Presents GOOD Music: Cruel Summer, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mos_Def&oldid=1152356783, 20th-century African-American male singers, 21st-century African-American male singers, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with sections that need to be turned into prose from July 2019, Wikipedia articles in need of updating from December 2021, All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Voice over for the animated series (2005-2008), Season 6, recurring, (credited as "Mos" in 2 episodes, as "Yasiin Bey" in 3 episodes), Episode: "Yasiin Bey In Morocco"; as Yasiin Bey, Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries, This page was last edited on 29 April 2023, at 19:03. In July 2013, he appeared in a short film released by the human rights organization Reprieve, depicting the forced-feeding methods used at the Guantanamo Bay detention camps. Mos Def and Maria Yepes were married in 1996. "[85], About.com ranked him #14 on its list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time,[5] and The Source ranked him #23 on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time. On December 11, 1973, Mos Def was born in Brooklyn, New York City. Regarded as one of hip-hop's most introspective and insightful artists, Mos Def has shaped a career that transcends music genres and artistic medium. Mos Def, born Dante Smith, was ordered to pay $10,000 a month to support their 7- and 8-year-old daughters. [83][84], In September 2018, Bey and advertising executive Free Richardson opened an art exhibition to the public in an art gallery in the South Bronx, called the Compound, centered around hip-hop and fine art. He claims that hes been known to friends and family as Yasiin since 1999 but decided to change it in the public sphere because he felt Mos Def was becoming a brand name, not a person. Famous Hookups; Nav; . Beyonc (2001) - It was rumored that Mos Def and the popular singer, songwriter, and actress, Beyonc, were an item in 2001. . It was a lackluster effort that was turned in to fulfill Moss contractual obligation to Geffen Records. In Black on Both Sides, which was certified gold, Mos Def makes references to the insults and injuries black men often feel at the hands of police officers. The album features a compilation of previously unreleased and re-released tracks recorded during the original UTD run. Also, Mos Def was featured as the black banjo player in the infamous "Pixie Sketch" from Chappelle's Show: The Lost Episodes. "[52][53] He also announced one last concert which he said he would be live streaming from Cape Town, South Africa. [86] AllMusic called him one of the most promising rappers to emerge in the late 1990s,[87] and one of hip-hop's brightest hopes entering the 21st century. He also appeared in A Free Man of Color, John Guare's play at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. 12/11/1973) Mos Def Photos (4) They spent their time browsing the literature and later became co-owners of the bookstore. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Hes always had a rare talent for making insightful and socially conscious music that is also fun and entertaining to listen to, which is why his messages are so powerful. However, they eventually divorced in 2006. He formed the duo Black Star, alongside fellow Brooklyn-based rapper Talib Kweli, and in 1998 they released their debut album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, featuring the singles "Definition" and "Respiration". Def has endorsement deals with Louis Vuitton, Visa, and GMC. With the 17th anniversary of Black on Both Sides being released, I am grateful to have had the career that I have been able to enjoy. Age: 49 (b. [10] Growing up in New York City, during the crack epidemic of the 1980s and early 1990s, he has spoken about witnessing widespread instances of gang violence, theft, and poverty in society, which he largely avoided by working on plays, Off-Off-Broadway and arts programs. [80] Appearing in the episode "City of God", he and the 4Real crew traveled to City of God, a favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to meet Brazilian MC MV Bill and learn about the crime and social problems of the community. The play itself was filled with gritty lyricism, and Mos Def, with his background in smooth rap-delivery, nailed the lines. "I wanted to be informed. The rapper has paid roughly $8000 a month since the order was issued, but said Mos Def appeared in court yesterday (Feb. 14) after filing for divorce from his wife, Maria Yepes-Smith. Fat Booty" charted,[18] while the album reached #25 on the Billboard 200. Mos Def is currently separated from Alana Wyatt-Smith. "I wanted to get involved, I didn't want to just sit around and accept my surroundings.". [91] He has also directly influenced artists outside of hip-hop, including English singer-songwriters Adele and Amy Winehouse. At 16, he was cast in a role on the sitcom You Take the Kids, which ran until 1991. Mos Def also designed two pairs of limited edition Converse shoes. A massive underground hit, the composition joyously led Def to a more high-profile collaboration with Talib Kweli under the moniker of Black Star, whose self-titled album became one of the most discussed works in 1998 following its launch on August 26 that year via Rawkus Records. Mos Def earned critical acclaim for the role, along with Golden Globe and Emmy nominations. Bey said the name change would eliminate "having any moniker or separation between the self that I see and know myself as."[43]. He and co-star Jeffrey Wright won a Special Award from the Outer Critics Circle Award for their joint performance. [21] Around this time, he also contributed to the Scritti Politti album Anomie & Bonhomie. However, he has continued to work on music sporadically. Later they made headlines when Yepes took Mos Def to court over failure in child-support obligations, paying $2,000 short of the monthly $10,000 he is ordered to pay. [16] The duo released an album, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, in 1998. [29] He performed a number of new tracks; in later shows, he previewed tracks produced by Madlib and was rumored to be going to Kanye West for new material. [21] The single "Sex, Love & Money" charted,[18] and was nominated for a Grammy Award. Mos Def appeared on Stephen Marley's debut album Mind Control on the song "Hey Baby." as Super Mr. Superhero. Flash, Madlib's brother Oh No, J. Dilla, and Georgia Anne Muldrow. [49] Bey also confirmed he still planned to release a collaborative project with Ferrari Sheppard called Dec 99th. I'm just grateful that I got a chance to do it, and I'm really excited and interested to see how people are going to receive it. Mos also continued his acting career and starred in films like Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and Journey to the End of the Night. Answer: Yes, Mos Def is still a part of Black Star. [77] In May 2005, Bey, Talib Kweli, R&B singer Martin Luther and City Councilman Charles Barron approached New York City Hall, demanding the withdrawal of the $1 million bounty for Assata Shakur. He starred in the action film 16 Blocks alongside Bruce Willis and David Morse. He made a cameo appearance playing himself in the movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. He filed for divorce from Yepes in 2006. 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 learn about the crime and social problems of the community. Born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973, in Brooklyn, NY; son of Abdul (Abi) Rahman and Sheron (Umi) Smith. [32] He appeared on Stephen Marley's debut album Mind Control on the song "Hey Baby". [18], Bey released his solo debut album Black on Both Sides in October 1999, also through Rawkus. After high school, his mom worked as his manager. Mos Def announced his retirement from music and acting in 2016, through a post on Kanye Wests official website. Let . Maria Yepes-Smith, $10,000 a month to support the couple . In March 2016, it was announced that he had been attached to star in "his last live-action film", The Disconnected, a science fiction thriller dealing with policing, identity, and the intersection of technology and humanity.[75]. Also in 2005, a 20-foot-tall image of Mos Def was unveiled in Brooklyn outside the Restoration Plaza shopping center as part of a cultural heritage exhibit to honor noteworthy natives who have found success. "He shows that if you use your talent properly, you'll be all right. He also had a small role alongside Michael Jackson in his short film and music video Ghosts (1997). In 2009, he worked with Somali-Canadian rapper K'naan to produce the track "America" for K'naan's album Troubadour.[33]. Description. He was the eldest of 12 children and stepchildren and grew up with his mother while his father lived in New Jersey. In 1995, he played the character Dante, Bill Cosby's sidekick on the short-lived detective show The Cosby Mysteries. They began their relationship after he dropped out of school. Zach Shallcross and Kaity Biggar share relationship update after 'The Bachelor' whirlwind. The message read, Im retiring from the music recording industry as it is currently assembled today, and also from Hollywood, effective immediately. Mos Def started his career as a rapper in the band named UTD (Urban Thermo Dynamics) with two of his . Mos has stated that he has no plans to release the project on streaming services or anywhere else and solely exists in the confines of the exhibit. I know this record has not been out that long.'". Even Mos Def realized this was a turning point in his career. He grew up in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood, along with other hip-hop legends like Jay-Z and Biggie Smalls.

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