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
Do It
Mos Def Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Back up, back up, back up, back up ease off
This goes out to all area crew (yes, yes, yes)
This to my BK crew, to my QB crew
My LI crew, my Shaolin crew
My Dirty South crew
(What y'all niggas about the Dirty South?)
Atlanta, North Cakalak'
Yea, man
Yes, the first cut should be the deepest
To penetrate beyond the muscle wall's inner regions
First you was icing me, connect with the staring at the speakers
Heard the rhyme, head high with ya staring at ya sneakers
You shy now, got a lot of things on your mind now
You don't feel fly now, you hunting the exit sign down
Fuck what you heard 'cause I snatch the grapevine down (yeah, yeah)
Don't understand how I ran the line down, rewind now
Yo, we be the most magnetic, so athletic
Leave your peeps on the side so they can watch you and your mans get it
Take the arch rivalry stance up on the podium
And give the flavor to niggas but keep it low on sodium
Possess shit that got you wondering how we holding 'em
Things that'll lay you out like a piece of linoleum
Bring who-ever you want, we 'bout to bug son and bounce
Down to Henry Hudson, after I bust one
Yo, Mos Def
Alright, okay
How you feel?
Feeling great
What ya want?
I wan' do it to death, what's up wit' you?
You know my steez
True indeed
Say it loud
Black and proud
Ain't no time to hesitate at the gate
Do it now
Bust-a-bus
What a gwan?
How you feel?
Feeling great
What you want?
I want to do it to death, what up with you?
You know my steez
True indeed
Say it loud
Black and proud
Ain't no time to hesitate at the gate
Do it now
Hay dios mio, me and Bustarimo muy peligro
The hottest Negroes en Los Estados Unidos
Hotter than Reno when discovered by Bugsy Siegal
I'm black like Don Cheadle shouting, "Power to the people"
My rhymes dipping like the lifeline on the e-boat
The raw sugar cane, NutraSweet, never Equal
If you in a Benzito or your mother's Buick Regal
I get up like Chino shouting, "Power to the people"
Yo, me and the Mighty Mos shine like a light post
Live nigga shit be straight fucking up the white folks
That's why they with it now because niggas like me and you
We did it now, brought it to that level so they get it now
We graduated, saturated the game now
Infatuated with the fame now, let me explain how
We doing this at any time or any place ready willing and able
Let's get the dough, secure the food on the table
Ayy, Mos Def
Oh my God
How you feel?
Feeling great
What ya want?
Wanna do it to death, what's up wit' you?
You know my steez
True indeed
Say it loud
Black and proud
Ain't no time to hesitate at the gate
Do it now
Bust-a-bus
Rhymes galore
What's the deal?
Feeling great
What you want?
I want to do it to death, what up with you?
You know my steez
True indeed
Say it loud
Black and proud
Ain't no time to hesitate at the gate
Do it now
From east, west, north and south, I got joints for all of those
Heavy aquatic water flows, keepin' them on they toes
Tell them thugs that wanna be CEO's to be derobed
'Fore I wear your little dumb ass out like Easter clothes
Yo, yo-yo (yo-yo)
It's like a freak show, soon as my heat blow
Sometime I speak slow so people understand my street flow
And while we keep it hot
We got the most shine up in this whole shit
Me and Mos spit and blow the show quick
Watch out, yuh pussy sound get box out
Mos and Busta Rhymes, two bad man ah shuck out
Watch out, give a damn what fancy car ya hop out
Shut down your game like the NBA lockout
You betta watch out, I'm 'bout to black on niggas
Like I'm blowing a sax, blowing my gats on niggas
Blowing my raps on niggas, now let me mash out
We fatter than the biggest ass chicks poking they ass out
Hey, Mos Def
Magnetism
How you feel?
Feeling great
What ya want?
Me wan' do it to death, what's up wit' you?
Yo, you know my steez
True indeed
Say it loud
Black and proud
Ain't no time to hesitate at the gate
Do it now
Bust-a-bus
Woo-hah
How you feel?
Feeling great
What you want?
I want to do it to death, what up wit' you?
You know my steez
True indeed
Say it loud
Black and proud
Ain't no time to hesitate at the gate
Do it now
What? What?
We got to do it, do it
We got to do it, do it
Make me do it, do it, what?
Wha-wha-what? We got to do it, do it
Make me do it, do it
Do it, do it, do it now
What? What? We got to do it, do it
Said we do it, do it, do it, a-do it now
What? We got to do it, do it
Got to do it, do it (ahh)
Do it now
In Mos Def's "Do It Now," the rapper is speaking to his crew--and all hip-hop fans--urging them to act with urgency: "Ain't no time to hesitate at the gate/Do it now." He mentions various friends from different areas, signaling to his listeners that hip-hop is not just a localized genre but is instead a global movement. The lyrics in the chorus highlight the urgency of the moment, urging listeners to take action. The fourth line of the chorus, "Say it loud, black and proud," references James Brown's 1968 song "Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud" and emphasizes the political nature of hip-hop.
The first verse shows Mos Def's dissatisfaction with his pretentious critics ("First you was icing me, connect with the staring at the singers/Heard the rhyme, head high with ya staring at ya sneakers") and his efforts to keep the genre moving forward even as critics attempt to shut it down. The second verse describes him and Busta Rhymes as the "most magnetic," "athletic," and talented rappers in the game. The chorus repeats, showing how the two rappers feed off of each other's energy and use their rhymes to spark momentum.
In the third verse, Mos Def takes on a more political tone, discussing his identity as a black man and the power he has as an artist. He not only promotes black pride but addresses "thugs" who aspire to be "CEO's" and tells them to "be derobed" of their material possessions. In the final verse, the rappers boast about their skills and competitiveness, describing themselves as "two bad man ah shuck out."
Line by Line Meaning
Back up, back up, back up, back up
Get out of the way, step back
Back up, back up, back up, back up ease off
Relax, don't crowd
This goes out to all area crew (yes, yes, yes)
Dedicated to all fans in all areas
This to my BK crew, to my QB crew
Dedicated to my Brooklyn and Queensbridge crews
My LI crew, my Shaolin crew
Dedicated to my Long Island and Shaolin crews
My Dirty South crew
Dedicated to my Dirty South crew
(What y'all n***as about the Dirty South?)
Questioning if everyone knows about the Dirty South
Atlanta, North Cakalak'
Shoutouts to Atlanta, North Carolina, and South Carolina
For all my fam, all area crew
Dedicated to all friends and fans in all areas
Yes, the first cut should be the deepest
The first attempt should be the most successful
To penetrate beyond the muscle wall's inner regions
To overcome challenges and go deeper
First you was icing me, connect with the staring at the speakers
At first, you were unapproachable, but now you're connecting with the music
Heard the rhyme, head high with ya staring at ya sneakers
You were ignoring the music before, but now you're listening intently
You shy now, got a lot of things on your mind now
You're feeling embarrassed and preoccupied
You don't feel fly now, you hunting the exit sign down
You don't feel cool anymore and are looking for a way out
Fuck what you heard 'cause I snatch the grapevine down (yeah, yeah)
Ignore rumors because I'm correcting them
Don't understand how I ran the line down, rewind now
You don't understand how I got to this point, listen again
Yo, we be the most magnetic, so athletic
We are captivating and athletic
Leave your peeps on the side so they can watch you and your mans get it
Leave your friends on the sideline while we showcase our skills
Take the arch rivalry stance up on the podium
Take a competitive stance on the platform
And give the flavor to n****s but keep it low on sodium
Provide entertainment but avoid drama
Possess shit that got you wondering how we holding 'em
We have skills that amaze you
Things that'll lay you out like a piece of linoleum
Skills that will floor you and knock you out
Bring who-ever you want, we 'bout to bug son and bounce
Bring whoever you want, we're about to hype everyone up and leave
Down to Henry Hudson, after I bust one
Hyped up and ready to go to Henry Hudson
Alright, okay
Acknowledgement, agreeing
How you feel?
Asking how someone is doing
Feeling great
Responding positively
What ya want?
Asking what someone wants to do
I wan' do it to death, what's up wit' you?
I want to do it to the fullest, are you in?
You know my steez
You know what I'm about
True indeed
Absolutely true
Say it loud
Speak up boldly
Black and proud
Proud of being black
Ain't no time to hesitate at the gate
There's no time to waste, let's get going
Do it now
Start now
Bust-a-bus
Addressing Busta Rhymes
What a gwan?
What's happening?
What you want?
Asking what Busta Rhymes wants to do
Hay dios mio, me and Bustarimo muy peligro
Oh my God, me and Busta are very dangerous
The hottest Negroes en Los Estados Unidos
The hottest black guys in the United States
Hotter than Reno when discovered by Bugsy Siegal
As hot as Reno was when Bugsy Siegal discovered it
I'm black like Don Cheadle shouting, "Power to the people"
Proud of being black, like Don Cheadle shouting for equality
My rhymes dipping like the lifeline on the e-boat
My rhymes are deep and intense
The raw sugar cane, NutraSweet, never Equal
My rhymes are raw and intense, not watered down or artificial
If you in a Benzito or your mother's Buick Regal
If you're driving a fancy car or a regular car
I get up like Chino shouting, "Power to the people"
I get energized like Chino shouting for equality
Yo, me and the Mighty Mos shine like a light post
Myself and Mos Def shine brightly
Live nigga shit be straight fucking up the white folks
Our energetic rap is disrupting audiences, especially white people
That's why they with it now because n****s like me and you
People are enjoying our music because we are unapologetically ourselves
We did it now, brought it to that level so they get it now
We've achieved success and brought rap to a higher level
We graduated, saturated the game now
We've proven ourselves and made a major impact in the rap industry
Infatuated with the fame now, let me explain how
We are now in love with our success, allow us to vent
We doing this at any time or any place ready willing and able
We are prepared to perform anytime, anywhere
Let's get the dough, secure the food on the table
Let's make money and support our families
Rhymes galore
Loads of rhymes
From east, west, north and south, I got joints for all of those
I have music for all regions of the country
Heavy aquatic water flows, keepin' them on they toes
My flow is strong like water and keeping people attentive
Tell them thugs that wanna be CEO's to be derobed
Encouraging violent criminals to change their ways
'Fore I wear your little dumb ass out like Easter clothes
Before I embarrass you and shame you
Yo, yo-yo (yo-yo)
Attention getter
It's like a freak show, soon as my heat blow
It's a wild experience when I start rapping
Sometime I speak slow so people understand my street flow
I speak slowly so everyone can appreciate my rhymes
And while we keep it hot
We stay on fire
We got the most shine up in this whole shit
We are the most successful in the industry
Me and Mos spit and blow the show quick
Me and Mos perform quickly and impressively
Watch out, yuh pussy sound get box out
Be careful, you might get beaten up
Mos and Busta Rhymes, two bad man ah shuck out
Mos Def and Busta Rhymes are two tough guys
Watch out, give a damn what fancy car ya hop out
Be careful, we don't care what car you drive
Shut down your game like the NBA lockout
We will disrupt your success, like the NBA lockout
You betta watch out, I'm 'bout to black on niggas
Be prepared, I'm about to make a scene
Like I'm blowing a sax, blowing my gats on niggas
I'm about to get wilder, like playing a sax and shooting guns
Blowing my raps on niggas, now let me mash out
Continuing to rap aggressively
We fatter than the biggest ass chicks poking they ass out
We are making more money than anyone else
Magnetism
A quality that attracts others
Me wan' do it to death, what's up wit' you?
I want to do it until the end, are you in?
What? What?
What's happening?
We got to do it, do it
We need to get started
Make me do it, do it, what?
Encouraging others to join
Wha-wha-what? We got to do it, do it
We need to get started
Make me do it, do it
Encouraging others to join
Do it, do it, do it now
Do it immediately
What? What? We got to do it, do it
We need to get started
Said we do it, do it, do it, a-do it now
We need to do it now
What? We got to do it, do it
We need to get started
Got to do it, do it (ahh)
Need to do it quickly
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Cloud9
Written by: Trevor Smith, Dante Smith, Acklins Dillon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mistahmst
Mos and Busta had really great chemistry on this song. Just nonstop energy throughout.
@robertalexander3067
Broooo can’t believe they didn’t do anything else, crazy
@bigsolo6952
Last verse is disgusting
@ExplodingMummies
That beat is fucking incredible, holy shit.
@steeltownbrown52
Mr. Khaliyl aka Mr. Man of the Bush Babees on production.
@thedreamer702
Inspired by Mantronix but needs more cowbell 😁
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ9_uur0_HU
@RomarioToretto
Sounds like ride or die chick.
@soulknightsam4919
Mannn this beat goes crazy!!! I was nodding my head so hard to this and then when I heard that flow and beat switch at 0:47, I had to press stop, took of my headphones, because that was too much heat to handle, so I had to listen again to catch the bars. Now that's real Rap at its finest🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@NickyP1
💯💯💯💯💯💯
@sreski504
I did the stank face when the beat changed 😂