Mos Def
Mos Def ( born December 11, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York; actually Dante Terrell Smith), also known as Mighty Mos Def, The Freaky Night Watchman, Boogie Man, Black Dante, Dante Beze, Pretty Flaco, Flaco Bey and since 2012 as Yasiin Bey, is an American hip hop musician and actor.
- 4.1 Movies
- 4.2 TV series
Career
His first solo single The Universal Magnetic was released in 1997 on Rawkus Records. The following year he published along with Talib Kweli as Black Star group the eponymous album. Due to the great talent of the two they were traded by some critics as the successor of A Tribe Called Quest. Published in 1999, Mos Def then after a few contributions on the Soundbombing 2 Compilation his debut album Black on Both Sides. He collaborated with the likes of DJ Premier, Diamond D and Busta Rhymes.
As of 2001, Mos Def began to devote himself mainly to his acting career. He has appeared in Monster's Ball with Halle Berry, Billy Bob Thornton and Heath Ledger, as well as in winking biographical manner in Brown Sugar. In 2005, he was seen as " Ford Prefect " in the film adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. In 2006, he appeared in 16 Blocks alongside Bruce Willis. Mos Def is 2008 next to Jack Black in the comedy Be Kind Rewind to see and in the film Cadillac Records, he plays Chuck Berry. His role of Vivien Thomas in the film A work of God earned him an Emmy nomination.
In 2004 he released his second album, The New Danger. On this album, Mos Def processed various influences such as rock and soul and took off some of his hip-hop roots.
Mos Def was also on its bus - critical texts. He was arrested on the VMA in New York because he had appeared without permission on the street in front of Radio City Music Hall with the song " Katrina Clap ," in which he criticized President Bush's slow action during the Katrina disaster. Mos Defs publicist Carleen Donovan describes: " Mos Def did not break any laws. His sole aim was to remind the people that the victims of Katrina are still dependent on the help of the American people. Although the whole thing several years ago, already. "
Kanye West is partly produce the next album of Mos Def. In October 2007, Mos Def joined the Label Downtown Recordings.
Others
Mos Def converted at the age of 19 years to Islam. His father was a member of the Nation of Islam, but because he grew up with his mother, he came at the age of 13 years with this religion come into contact. Mos Def is friends with the Muslim rappers Ali Shaheed Muhammad also and Q-Tip. In 1996 he married Maria Yepes. After the birth of two daughters, Chandani and Jauhara Smith, the couple separated in 2005. In January 2008, the marriage was finally divorced.
In September 2011, Mos Def announced that he will be starting in 2012 change its name to Yasiin Bey.
Discography
Albums
Singles
Soundtracks
- 2002: Brown Sugar Soundtrack
- 2002: Blade 2 along with Massive Attack
- 2003: Biker Boyz Soundtrack
- 2006: The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift along with DJ Shadow