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
Double Trouble
Mos Def Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Either stand tall, just sit the fuck down
All the way from the 2-1-5th to Bucktown
Brace yourself, it's about to go down
Runnin one on one and only hip-hop bound
Yo Tariq (whassup) how your micraphone sound
(It sound tight) well aight, show em what it's about
We got to blow up the spot, because they must have forget
We double (trouble) bubble (bubble) bubble (bubblin hot)
Well it's like smack the track up and leave dents in it
The vocalist, bustin this blunt, instrument spit
The magnificent, rapper's run from it
All fly girls, nipples and toes, numb from it
MC's in my circumference, is confronted son
Get your growth stunted from this, you don't want it
(What nigga?) The Black Thought and M-O-S Def done it
Who the ultimate? Yo my man speak upon it
Aiyyo I stop fools and drop jewels but never run it
Rock mics so nice I make you stock price plummet
All you high noon riders better rally at the summit
It's me and Tariq and your fleet outnumbered
Cross the membrane barkin big game and get hunted
Eyewitness account, say it happened so sudden
Just slid off to the side, didn't really say nuttin
Then BLAOW, blew away the 1900th
You better get your rest cause the next day comin
Oh yes, and MC's they scared to say sum'tin
Stop frontin, I'm in the cut just onlookin
Your get your kings, your rooks, rings and pawns tooken
Aiyyo, keep your tape rollin so you catch every bar
of the Black Thought and the black man from Black Star
Illadelph and Vietnam we conference, accomplish
Even with stakes inclined, I get mine, regardless
Yo, a lot of Smurfette MC's carry purses
And rock, uniforms, that's made for nurses
I burst your verses, your words is worthless
Only touchin surface, the FUCK's the purpose?
I shot the sherriff, the deputy, and head of bank treasury
So mounties in the county got a BIG bounty stressin me
But tell 'em to hold off, they too short to measure me
Mos and Black Thought blast forth with the weaponry
Like blaow-ba-dow-da-da-dow-da-dah-ow
Either stand tall or sit the fuck down
All the way from the 2-1-5th to Bucktown
Brace yourself, it's about to go down
Yo Tariq (whassup) how your micraphone sound
(It sound tight) well aight, show em what it's about
We got to blow up the spot, because they must have forget
We double (trouble) bubble (bubble) bubble (bubblin hot)
Yeah, now check your stove top before you take a listen
And make sure beans don't burn in the kitchen
These gassed-up niggaz just ain't fuel efficient
I play the winter breeze to choke hold your piston
(eh-eh-eh-eh) Now you niggaz can't make pole position
Class E chassis can't hold the transmission
Crew pit, useless, they got they tools missin
Watch me, grand prix, champy for wealth driven
Yo, you go one for my hustle (hustle)
Two to rock rhyme (two to rock rhyme)
From the muscle kid I'm one of the illets of all time
I swing from chandeliers and wall climb
And specialize in warfares of all kind
A lot of MC's said I'm a run it down rhyme
But half the time, they run it down one of mine
Thought suffocatin em with yet another stunnin line
You dumb and blind kid, it's enlarged and underlined
What I memorized leave your whole staff pressurized
Melt down all of your artificial lies
Y'all niggaz is faker than Yellow No. 5
Swine like mono and diglyceride
My vocals got texture, you just texturized
I'm nicer than your writtens even when I'm improvised
Step into my zone get flown like fly
by the b-boy Lazarus who just won't die
Yo, me and Kamal and Leanord Hubbard, ?uestlove and Malik
We go back to dollar hoagies and Tahitian Treat
Or like toast in the oven with government cheese bubblin
Me and Dante like Marvin, The Troublemen travellin
Give me the mic, we on that again
b-boy business, off the top actin and battlin
Servin them cats that forgot
But don't get too close, because you might get shot
Like blaow-ba-dow-da-da-dow-da-dah-ow
Either stand tall or sit the fuck down
All the way from the 2-1-5th to Bucktown
Brace yourself, it's about to go down
Yo Tariq (whassup) how your micraphone sound
(It sound tight) well aight, show em what it's about
We bout to blow up the spot, because y'all must have forget
We double (trouble) bubble (bubble) bubble (bubblin hot)
We go blaow-ba-dow-da-da-dow-da-dah-ow
Either stand tall or sit the fuck down
All the way from the 2-1-5th to Bucktown
Went from _Do You Want More?!??!!_ to what you want now?
Yo Tariq (whassup) how your micraphone sound
(It sound tight) well aight, show em what it's about
We bout to blow up the spot, because y'all must have forget
We double (trouble) bubble (bubble) bubble (bubblin hot)
Say here's a little story that must be told
About two young brothers who got so much soul
They takin total control, of the body and brain
Flyin high in the sky, on a lyrical plane
It's just two bad brothers who will never quit
Mos Def and Tariq from the 2-1-5th
They rock beginnin to end, on a spiritual blend
And everybody who forgot then baby tell em again
It's just me and Tariq, with Ahmir on the beat
The Roots crew baby yo we got to make it unique
We got the soul-shockinest, body-rockinest
Non-stoppinest, Fortified Live survive the apocalypse
Rhymes we say, the perfect blend
Because we know how to rock when the beat come in
Like zen-zen-zen-zen-zen
Zen-zen-zen-zen-zen, zen-zen, zen-zen
Zen zen-zen, ZEN zen zen ZEN zen zen
Zen zen, ZEN zen zen-zen
Zen-zen-zen, ZEN zen ZEN zen
Here we go, here we here we here we go
Zen zen-zen, ZEN zen zen ZEN zen zen
Zen zen, ZEN zen zen-zen
Zen-zen-zen-zen-zen, zen-zen, zen-zen
Let the poppers pop, and the breakers break
Then zen-zen-zen-zen-zen
Zen-zen-zen-zen-zen, zen-zen, zen-zen
Two years ago, a friend of mine
Zen zen, ZEN zen, zen-zen zen-zen...
The lyrics to Mos Def's song "Double Trouble" ft. The Roots showcase the rapper's lyrical and technical ability while commenting on the state of hip hop. Mos Def and Black Thought's bars are full of wordplay and clever rhymes while their flow is masterful. The lyrics show a clash between traditional hip hop and the newer, more commercialized style, with Mos Def railing against MC's who "carry purses and rock uniforms made for nurses." He proclaims himself and Black Thought as some of the "illest of all time" and boasts about his ability to "stop fools and drop jewels but never run it." The chorus serves as a call to action, urging listeners to "stand tall or sit the f*ck down" and brace themselves for what's about to come.
The lyrics also reference the collaboration between Mos Def and The Roots, with Mos Def asking Black Thought how his microphone sounds and instructing him to "show em what it's about". They also name drop areas they're from, including the 2-1-5th (Philadelphia) and Bucktown (Brooklyn). Overall, the lyrics are a testament to Mos Def's and Black Thought's skill as MC's and a critique of the direction hip hop was headed at the time.
Line by Line Meaning
We go wow, ba-da-da-dow-da-dah-ow
We are amazed and impressed, expressing excitement with 'ba-da-da-dow-da-dah-ow'
Either stand tall, just sit the fuck down
You better bring your best or just back off entirely
All the way from the 2-1-5th to Bucktown
Representing local Philadelphia and Brooklyn neighborhoods
Brace yourself, it's about to go down
Get ready for something intense to happen
Runnin one on one and only hip-hop bound
Engaging in a direct, head-to-head hip-hop battle
Yo Tariq (whassup) how your micraphone sound
Asking Black Thought about the quality of his microphone
(It sound tight) well aight, show em what it's about
Confirming that the microphone sounds good and encouraging Black Thought to showcase his skills
We got to blow up the spot, because they must have forget
We need to make our presence known since others seem to have overlooked us
We double (trouble) bubble (bubble) bubble (bubblin hot)
We are a serious pair who are gaining momentum quickly
Well it's like smack the track up and leave dents in it
Our music hits hard and leaves a lasting impression
The vocalist, bustin this blunt, instrument spit
The rapper is delivering strong, powerful lyrics
The magnificent, rapper's run from it
Even great rappers are intimidated by the strength of our music
All fly girls, nipples and toes, numb from it
The beat is so intense that even the dancers are feeling its effects
MC's in my circumference, is confronted son
Any rappers nearby are being directly challenged by our skills
Get your growth stunted from this, you don't want it
Your career will be cut short if you engage in a rap battle with us
(What nigga?) The Black Thought and M-O-S Def done it
We have accomplished something great in the world of hip-hop
Who the ultimate? Yo my man speak upon it
Who is the greatest rapper of all time? Let's talk about it
Aiyyo I stop fools and drop jewels but never run it
I challenge and enlighten others with my rhymes, but I never back down
Rock mics so nice I make you stock price plummet
I am so skilled that I can single-handedly hurt a company's financial success
All you high noon riders better rally at the summit
If you want to compete, you better bring your best to the top
It's me and Tariq and your fleet outnumbered
Our duo is strong enough to take on an entire crew
Cross the membrane barkin big game and get hunted
If you try to act tough, we'll come after you
Eyewitness account, say it happened so sudden
People are shocked by the speed and intensity at which we perform
Just slid off to the side, didn't really say nuttin
Others are intimidated by our skills and don't dare to challenge us
Then BLAOW, blew away the 1900th
We've made a significant impact on the world of hip-hop
You better get your rest cause the next day comin
Prepare yourself for what's next after seeing our performance
Oh yes, and MC's they scared to say sum'tin
Other rappers are too intimidated to engage with us
Stop frontin, I'm in the cut just onlookin
Stop pretending- I'm watching everything happen from the sidelines
Your get your kings, your rooks, rings and pawns tooken
We're taking everything you've got- your best assets and weakest pieces
Aiyyo, keep your tape rollin so you catch every bar
Record our performance so you can remember every amazing moment
of the Black Thought and the black man from Black Star
Referring to both himself and Black Thought by name and their hip-hop group names
Illadelph and Vietnam we conference, accomplish
We come from Pennsylvania and the Bronx and together we are doing great things
Even with stakes inclined, I get mine, regardless
Despite tough competition, I always come out on top
Yo, a lot of Smurfette MC's carry purses
Many male rappers today are feminine and lack strength
And rock, uniforms, that's made for nurses
Their clothing is not intimidating and looks like medical scrubs
I burst your verses, your words is worthless
I can easily outshine other rappers with my superior lyrics
Only touchin surface, the FUCK's the purpose?
Others aren't diving deep enough in their rhymes- what are they even trying to accomplish?
I shot the sherriff, the deputy, and head of bank treasury
Using the metaphor of shooting down high-level individuals in order to express his strength and power
So mounties in the county got a BIG bounty stressin me
The police finally caught him, but there is a high price on his capture
But tell 'em to hold off, they too short to measure me
Even if the police come after him, they won't be able to stop him
Mos and Black Thought blast forth with the weaponry
Our rhymes can be a powerful weapon
Like blaow-ba-dow-da-da-dow-da-dah-ow
Expressing the power and intensity of the music
Went from _Do You Want More?!??!!_ to what you want now?
Our career has progressed and we are continuing to do great things
Say here's a little story that must be told
Let me tell you a story that is important to hear
About two young brothers who got so much soul
Referring to himself and Black Thought and their exceptional talent
They takin total control, of the body and brain
Their music is taking over people's minds and bodies
Flyin high in the sky, on a lyrical plane
Their lyrics and music are transcendent and soar to great heights
It's just two bad brothers who will never quit
They are unstoppable and determined to succeed
Mos Def and Tariq from the 2-1-5th
Referring to themselves and their hometown of Philadelphia
They rock beginnin to end, on a spiritual blend
Their music is strong and meaningful throughout every song
And everybody who forgot then baby tell em again
Remind people who have forgotten just how talented they are
It's just me and Tariq, with Ahmir on the beat
Referring to himself, Black Thought, and their fellow bandmate and producer
The Roots crew baby yo we got to make it unique
The Roots brings a unique and powerful sound to the hip-hop scene
We got the soul-shockinest, body-rockinest
Their music is powerful and energizing, touching listeners' souls and moving their bodies
Non-stoppinest, Fortified Live survive the apocalypse
Their music is so great that it can survive any challenge or obstacle
Rhymes we say, the perfect blend
Their lyrics and music are in perfect harmony
Because we know how to rock when the beat come in
They are skilled at timing and performing in sync with the beat
Like zen-zen-zen-zen-zen
Expressing the rhythm of the music with onomatopoeia
Here we go, here we here we here we go
Getting ready to start another amazing performance
Let the poppers pop, and the breakers break
Encouraging dancers to do their thing while they perform
Then zen-zen-zen-zen-zen
Repeating the rhythm of the beat again
Two years ago, a friend of mine
Beginning a story or anecdote
Zen zen, ZEN zen, zen-zen zen-zen...
Ending the song with a series of repeated, rhythmic sounds
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TARIK L COLLINS, JAMES GRAY, LEONARD HUBBARD, JAMES JASON POYSER, DANTE SMITH, AHMIR K THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CJoQ
Aiyyo, I stop fools and drop jewels, but never run it /
Rock mics so nice I make you stock price plummet /
All you high noon riders better rally at the summit /
It's me and Tariq and your fleet outnumbered /
Cross the membrane barkin big game and get hunted /
Eyewitness account, say it happened so sudden /
Just slid off to the side, didn't really say nuttin /
Then BLAOW, blew away the 1900th
Incredible.
LP Jones
Forget the entire song, just the beat change alone at 4:50 makes this one of the best rap songs ever
vini
Mestres são mestres , obrigado the roots e mos def
Jordan Rios
This seriously doesn't get enough credit as one of the greatest hip hop tracks of all time
A Yank Abroad
2021, still bumping this. Loud and abrupt!!
Matt Dwelly
We need a part 2!!! Let's goooo
Christopher Walker
The song is from a routine that The Roots and Mos Def used to perform live. When Mos hooked up with Talib the two of them performed it causing a little riff between Black Thought and Mos Def. But, being who they are they worked it out and alls well.
Matt Penner
This track just blew my mind.
The Sea Org.
Let me remind you to listen to it again today and have your mind blown once again
David Olajide
Love the chorus
Cory Lucia
Another Hidden gem of hip hop