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 & Medicine
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 is 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 before Pete Rocked it on
Now on to the mental plane, spark the brains with the building to be born
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 duper 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
Ew
When the MC's came, live out the name and to perform
Some had to snort cocaine to act insane before Pete rocked it on
Now on to the mental plane, spark the brains with the building to be born
Ghetto people on the block
Crime and medicine
Dead wrong and live in America
Off the block and right in your area
Fresh apples and peaches for the president
Ha ha
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
In Mos Def's song "Crime & Medicine", the first verse depicts the dichotomy between beauty and danger, as well as the idea of youth innocence. The hauntingly beautiful words "It was so beautiful, it was almost unfair" refers to the innocence of children playing in the schoolyard on a nice, calm day, which is disrupted by the arrival of the MC's. The MC's had to snort cocaine to act insane before they could perform, indicating the destructive nature of the music industry. Mos Def then moves on to describe how the "national pastime is victimless crime" and that everyone has their own way to get "high" or "right". He questions the idea of a victimless crime, stating that there is always a victim somewhere. The verse concludes with a description of a woman who is high on drugs, portraying the grim and bleak reality of a society that struggles with addiction and poverty.
The second half of the song moves away from the hyper-local issue of urban poverty and drug addiction to broader, systemic issues experienced across the country. Mos Def references fresh produce, playing into the idea of the American dream and politics, suggesting that despite the abundance of resources, there is still a significant disparity between the rich and poor. The line "Crime and Medicine" sums it up nicely, highlighting the fact that these issues are deeply intertwined with social, economic and political factors, and that the victims are often the most vulnerable in society.
Line by Line Meaning
It was so beautiful, it was almost unfair
The beauty of the surroundings was hard to believe and seemed unfair
It's cold but it's true, it was so cold it got warm
The situation was difficult but honest and so intense that it became comforting
Kids out in the schoolyard is playing
Children are playing in the schoolyard
It was nice and calm, it was dangerous
The situation was peaceful but had much danger lurking beneath the surface
When the MC's came, live out the name and to perform
The performers arrived and lived up to their stage persona
Some had to snort cocaine to act insane before Pete Rocked it on
Some had to use cocaine to act crazy before the music started
Now on to the mental plane, spark the brains with the building to be born
The performers are taking us to a mental space where ideas can be created and new beginnings can arise
Black niggas on the track
African American males are present on the music track
Strange times
This is a period of unfamiliar and unusual happenings
Everybody got their get high (oh my)
Everyone has their own way of getting high and enjoying themselves
Their get right, their get nice, they get by (oh my)
People are using their own methods to get in the right mindset and just get through life
They get open, get ready, get primed
People are getting into a position of being mentally and physically prepared
The national pastime is victimless crime
Engaging in crimes which have no direct victim is a widely accepted part of our culture
You want your thrill and I want mine
Everyone desires their own kind of excitement and pleasure
As long we can get it we ain't got to say why
As long as we are able to find what we seek, there is no need to explain ourselves
I don't mean to pry, you ain't got to lie
I don't want to intrude but you don't have to be dishonest
We ain't got to speak when it's written in the eyes
Our emotions and intentions are conveyed through our eyes without the need for words
Whenever she was high off the sparkle in her palm
Whenever she was under the influence of a drug taken orally
She had a young girl's smile and a hustler's charm
Her smile was filled with innocence and youth but her mannerisms showed a streetwise quality
Dying from the city where the hustler's are born
She is from a city that breeds street smart individuals
Made, traced, murdered, replaced
People are born, their lives are marked, they die, and someone else takes their place
Life-long residents barely feel safe
The people who have lived there for their whole life don't feel secure
And the street's offer plenty taste and little faith
The streets tempt people with many pleasures but give them little reason to have faith or trust in anything
Little face, soft lips, little waist (break it more) Tiny hands (oh God) fat ass (oh more) Big eyes like birthday surprise Super duper fly, born in '85
Describing a physically attractive woman born in 1985
Repeat it to yourself, this is a victimless crime
Repeating this phrase to convince oneself that their actions have no direct victim
Psyche your mind there's a victim every time
Trying to convince oneself that their actions have no victim can be detrimental to their mental state
Your tasty little pill, your freaky little thrill
A drug that gives you pleasure and excitement
Pray won't leave you still, you wonder how it feel
You hope that the drug doesn't have negative effects and you are curious about how it will make you feel
It's real, pussy like some money that you steal
It is a real, exciting experience, like obtaining money in a criminal act
When the MC's came, live out the name and to perform
The performers are getting ready to live up to their stage persona and give a great show
Some had to snort cocaine to act insane before Pete rocked it on
Some had to use cocaine to act wild before the music started
Now on to the mental plane, spark the brains with the building to be born
The performers are taking us to a mental space where ideas can be created and new beginnings can arise
Ghetto people on the block
People from the ghetto and low-income areas are present
Crime and medicine
Illegal activities and drugs
Dead wrong and live in America
As a nation, we are living with wrongs that still exist
Off the block and right in your area
These issues are present off the streets and even in your own neighborhood
Fresh apples and peaches for the president
Fruit and produce displayed as luxury for important figures
Ha ha
A moment of sarcastic laughter
Fresh peaches and apples for the president
Fruit and produce displayed as luxury for important figures
Crime
Illegal activities
Fresh chocolates and apples for the president
Chocolate and produce displayed as luxury for important figures
Crime
Illegal activities
Fresh linens and apples to the president
Linens and produce displayed as luxury for important figures
Crime
Illegal activities
Fresh
New or clean, indicating a sense of luxury
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 💯