Rap career:
Mos Def began his performing career on the television show The Cosby Mysteries in 1994. In 1994, Mos also began his music career, forming the short-lived group Urban Thermo Dynamics (UTD) with his younger brother DCQ and his younger sister Ces. Despite being signed to Payday Records, the group only released two singles and the group's debut album, Manifest Destiny, did not see the light of day until 2004 when released through Illson Media. In 1996 he emerged as a solo artist, working with De La Soul and Da Bush Babees before releasing his own first single, "Universal Magnetic" which was a huge underground hit. After signing with Rawkus Records, he and Talib Kweli released a full length album under the band name Black Star, entitled Black Star. It was released in 1998, with Hi-Tek producing most of the tracks. Mos Def released his solo debut, Black on Both Sides, in 1999. Filled with tracks raving about his hometown, Brooklyn and his love for Hip-Hop, Black on Both Sides also deals with racial profiling of Black men in America, with the track Mr Nigga. Mos Def was also featured on Rawkus' influential The Lyricist Lounge and Soundbombing series compilations. After the collapse of Rawkus, Def along with Kweli signed on to Interscope/Geffen Records, who released his second album The New Danger in 2004. In early 2005 Mos Def was rumored to join Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella record label, but this was later denied by the artist himself claiming "Jay-Z and Roc-A-Fella would never allow me to release songs I plan on putting out there. I ain't down with that commercial non-sense. I'm about to deal with the fake with my next album, from George Bush to 50 Cent." But, after making that comment, Mos Def was featured rapping on a SUV commercial, endorsing the GMC Denali. Mos Def is projected to release his last solo album on Geffen Records, The Undeniable Free Flaco in early 2006. His 4th studio album The Ecstatic was released June 9, 2009 on Downtown Records. It serves as Mos Def's second highest charting album to date. Upon its release, The Ecstatic received general acclaim from most music critics, and it earned Mos Def a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Album. Rolling Stone magazine named it the seventeenth best album of 2009.
Impact on hip-hop
The artistic boundaries of hip-hop and rap music had been redefined by artists such as Brand Nubian, De La Soul, and Public Enemy, whose music was more thematically sophisticated and socially conscious than that of their predecessors. By the early 1990s however, this brand of rap had been eclipsed in popularity by gangsta rap. Socially aware rap music (alternative hip hop) has experienced something of a renaissance in the late 1990s and now the 2000s, in part due to artists such as Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Common, The Roots and others. "Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are … Blackstar" Mos Def's collaboration with Talib Kweli was released during the aftermath of the deaths of 2pac and The Notorious B.I.G. sparking a rebirth of "aware" and "intelligent" hip-hop. Def's music often references 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 few actual 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 "The Takeover":
old white men is runnin this rap shit
corporate forces runnin this rap shit
some tall israeli is runnin this rap shit
we poke out our asses for a chance to cash in
cocaine, is runnin this rap shit
'dro, 'yac and e-pills is runnin this rap shit...
mtv is runnin this rap shit
viacom is runnin this rap shit
aol and time warner runnin this rap shit...
quasi-homosexuals is runnin this rap shit
The lyrics would seem to have chafed with higher-placed executives, who made Mos take the song off of later releases of the album, supposedly for "sample clearance issues".
In September 2005, Mos Def released the single "Katrina Clap" (utilizing the instrumental for Juvenile's "Nolia Clap"), a critical reaction to the lack of response by the Bush administration to the Hurricane Katrina disaster. He probably chose the "Nolia Clap" instrumental because the rapper Juvenile hails from New Orleans, and the song was a hit in the New Orleans area before the hurricane.
Mos Def also collaborated with Kanye West on West's track named "two words" and appeared in the music video.
Acting career
The first years of the 2000s have established Mos Def as a notable actor. His performances in Brown Sugar, Monster's Ball, and the HBO made-for-TV film Something The Lord Made have been particularly acclaimed by critics. Having been nominated for several awards, Mos finally broke through, winning Best Actor, Independent Movie at the 2005 Black Reel Awards for his portrayal of Sgt. Lucas in The Woodsman. He also landed the role of Ford Prefect in the long-awaited 2005 movie adaption of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Notably, in 2002 he played the role of Booth in Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog, a Tony-nominated and Pulitzer-winning Broadway play. He has also been a musical guest and participated in many skits on Comedy Central's Chappelle's Show.
In 2004, he hosted the MOBO awards in London, after the original presenter, Pharrell Williams pulled out at the last minute.
He has been the host of the award-winning spoken word show Def Poetry Jam since its inception. The show's sixth season aired in February 2007.
Discography
* 1998 Black Star (released with Talib Kweli under the name Black Star) Priority Records
* 1999 Black on Both Sides Rawkus Records
* 2004 The New Danger Geffen
o nominated for Best Urban/Alternative
Performance, 47th Annual Grammy Awards
* 2006 True Magic
* 2009 THE Ecstatic Downtown Records
* 2010 Mos Dub
Selected Filmography
* Cadillac Records (2009)
* Be Kind Rewind (2008)
* Talladega Nights (2006) (a quick cameo)
* Dreamgirls (2006)
* Bobby (2006)
* The Brazilian Job (2006) (pre-production)
* 16 Blocks (2006)
* The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005).
* Lackawanna Blues (2005)
* Something the Lord Made (2004)
o nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie, 56th Annual Emmy Awards
o nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television, 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards
* Chapelle Show (? year) - Black Delegation Rep for Racial Draft
* The Woodsman (2004)
* The Italian Job (2003)
* Brown Sugar (2002)
* Civil Brand (2002)
* Showtime (2002)
* Monster's Ball (2001)
* Carmen: A Hip Hopera (2001)
* Bamboozled (2000)
* Where's Marlowe? (1998)
In September 2011, Mos Def announced that he planned to use the name Yasiin Bey instead of Mos Def beginning in 2012.
http://www.myspace.com/mosdef
Crime
Mos Def Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's cold but it's true. It was so cold it got warm.
Kids out in the schoolyard and playing.
It was nice and calm. It was dangerous.
When the MC's came, live out the name
And to perform
Some had to snort cocaine to act insane
Now on to the mental pains, spark the brains
Building to be born
? is on the track
Check em check
Strange Times
Everybody got their get high (Oh my)
Their get right, their get nice, they get by (Oh my)
They get open, get ready, get primed
The national pastime is victimless crime
You want your thrill and I want mine
As long we can get it we ain't got to say why
I don't mean to pry, you ain't got to lie
We ain't got to speak when it's written in the eyes
Whenever she was high off the sparkle in her palm
She had a young girl's smile and a hustler's charm
Dying from the city where the hustler's are born
Made, traced, murdered, replaced
Life-long residents barely feel safe
And the street's offer plenty taste and little faith (Break it down)
Little face, soft lips, little waist (Break it more)
Tiny hands (Oh god) fat ass (Oh more)
Big eyes like birthday surprise
Super dupa fly, born in 85
Repeat it to yourself: This is a victimless crime
Psyche your mind there's a victim every time
Your tasty little pill, your freaky little thrill
Pray won't leave you still, you wonder how it feel
It's real, pussy like some money that you steal
When the MC came, fill out the name
And to perform
Some had to snort cocaine to act insane
Before they rocked the don
Now on to the mental pains, spark the brains
Building to be born
Give the people a new drug
Crime and medicine
Dead wrong and live in America
Off the block and right in your area
Fresh apples and peaches for the president
Crime and medicine
Dead wrong and live in your area
From the street corner, right in your residence
Fresh apples and peaches for the president
Crime
Fresh peaches and apples for the president
Crime
Fresh chocolates and apples for the president
Crime
Fresh linens and apples to the president
Crime
Fresh
The lyrics of Mos Def's "Crime" address the dynamics of inner city life in America, including the lure of drug use and the dangers of street violence. The singer reflects on the contradictions of his community, noting how the beauty and innocence of childhood activities in the schoolyard can be disrupted by the corrupt influence of drugs and violence. The lyrics also touch on the performance culture of hip hop and the destructive behaviors many MCs engage in to achieve success, such as drug use and behavior that glorifies violence.
Mos Def goes on to speak on the widespread use of drugs within the hip hop community, and how many artists feel they need to use substances like cocaine to overcome the immense pressure of the music industry. However, he also highlights the impact of these drugs on the general public, often leading to addiction and crime. The lyrics subtly critique the normalization of drug culture both within hip hop and society in general, emphasizing the harmful effects they bring.
Overall, Mos Def's "Crime" is a harrowing commentary on the state of American society, emphasizing the destructive impact of drugs, violence, and crime.
Line by Line Meaning
It was so beautiful. It was almost unfair.
It was a beautiful day, but there was something unfair about it.
It's cold but it's true. It was so cold it got warm.
The truth is harsh, but it can still bring warmth.
Kids out in the schoolyard and playing.
Children were outside in the school yard, playing.
It was nice and calm. It was dangerous.
Although it appeared peaceful, there was underlying danger.
When the MC's came, live out the name
When the MCs arrived, they lived up to their name.
And to perform
And they were ready to perform.
Some had to snort cocaine to act insane
Some used cocaine to get into character and act crazy.
Before they rocked the don
Before they began their performance.
Now on to the mental pains, spark the brains
Now moving onto the difficult mental challenges, sparking the creativity.
Building to be born
Creating something new and exciting.
? is on the track
An unknown person is on the track.
Check em check
Checking to make sure everything is okay.
Everybody got their get high (Oh my)
Everyone has their own way of getting high.
Their get right, their get nice, they get by (Oh my)
Everyone tries to find their own way of feeling good and making it through life.
They get open, get ready, get primed
People prepare themselves for whatever is coming.
The national pastime is victimless crime
A popular pastime in the country is committing crimes without victims.
You want your thrill and I want mine
Everyone has their own idea of what constitutes a thrilling experience.
As long we can get it we ain't got to say why
As long as we can find it, we don't need to explain why we want it.
I don't mean to pry, you ain't got to lie
I'm not trying to be nosy, and you don't need to lie.
We ain't got to speak when it's written in the eyes
We can communicate without speaking when we can see it in each other's eyes.
Whenever she was high off the sparkle in her palm
When she took drugs, she felt like she was holding sparkle in her hand.
She had a young girl's smile and a hustler's charm
She had a youthful smile but the charm of someone involved in illegal activities.
Dying from the city where the hustler's are born
She was from a city where people were born into a life of hustling.
Made, traced, murdered, replaced
People are created, tracked, killed, and then replaced.
Life-long residents barely feel safe
People who have lived there their whole lives don't feel safe.
And the street's offer plenty taste and little faith (Break it down)
The streets offer pleasures, but not much hope.
Little face, soft lips, little waist (Break it more)
She has a small face, soft lips, and a tiny waist.
Tiny hands (Oh god) fat ass (Oh more)
She has tiny hands and a large bottom.
Big eyes like birthday surprise
Her eyes are large, like a surprise on your birthday.
Super dupa fly, born in 85
She's super cool and was born in 1985.
Repeat it to yourself: This is a victimless crime
Remind yourself that this is a crime without a victim.
Psyche your mind there's a victim every time
Trick your mind into realizing that there is a victim every time.
Your tasty little pill, your freaky little thrill
Referring to a drug that gives you pleasure and makes you feel wild.
Pray won't leave you still, you wonder how it feel
You hope it won't leave you feeling empty and wonder how it will make you feel.
It's real, pussy like some money that you steal
It's a real experience, as exciting as getting money from stealing.
When the MC came, fill out the name
When the MC arrived, they lived up to their name.
And to perform
And they were ready to perform.
Some had to snort cocaine to act insane
Some used cocaine to get into character and act crazy.
Before they rocked the don
Before they began their performance.
Now on to the mental pains, spark the brains
Now moving onto the difficult mental challenges, sparking the creativity.
Building to be born
Creating something new and exciting.
Give the people a new drug
Providing the audience with a new experience.
Crime and medicine
The line between crime and medicine.
Dead wrong and live in America
Something that is morally wrong can still exist in America.
Off the block and right in your area
Crime happens in your neighborhood.
Fresh apples and peaches for the president
There is an abundance of fresh produce, but the president still doesn't care.
Crime and medicine
The line between crime and medicine.
Dead wrong and live in your area
Something that is morally wrong can still exist in your own community.
From the street corner, right in your residence
Illegal activities can happen right where you live.
Fresh apples and peaches for the president
There is an abundance of fresh produce, but the president still doesn't care.
Crime
Crime.
Fresh peaches and apples for the president
There is an abundance of fresh produce, but the president still doesn't care.
Crime
Crime.
Fresh chocolates and apples for the president
There is an abundance of candy and fresh produce, but the president still doesn't care.
Crime
Crime.
Fresh linens and apples to the president
Offering the president luxurious textiles and fresh produce, but they still don't care about the issues at hand.
Crime
Crime.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DANTE SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@papapetad
Fuck me this is a heavy track. Woohoo I'm so stoked to have found another one of Def's epic pieces. Thanks for the upload rightful and thank you Mos for not bending over in the face of our wannabe masters. I don't know how much longer mankind will be around but people like you and us made all the difference. We didn't fall for the mind trap. We see clearly and through these thoughts we connect. One people standing with their heads high. Peace out
@pbjmk
Amazing rendition of an amazing song. Love mos def’s style
@truthspeaks01
this song is nice. mad love for mos & the gza.
@cubencis
this is my favorite track on the album--- mayb it wasnt when i first heard it. but i could hear this 20 times in a row and not get sick if it.... i think that says a lot
@parabellum5503
It's the best WU solo album period IMO.
@c3mi979
Gza murdered this beat on Liquid Swords, but Mos put 'em in intensive care. Lesson: RZA just as good as Dre, if not better. Yeah, I just said that.
@csori1992
u cant really say one is better cuz ppl got styles, flava,flows we are hip hop.
@feleque
+Michael Florence dre is overrated af
@davidmoya6449
RZA > dre x1000
@plusone8015
It's simple mathematics 💯