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
Fear Not of Man
Mos Def Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you can hear me ladies and gentlemen
Then I'm very happy that you came here
Ooh, ooh-wee
That was for Brooklyn
Ha ha, we get it every time
You got me on? Ohh
All the continent, Europe, all abroad international
Bring it in, bring it in, bring it in, bring it in
Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, ouh, what's up?
It's a lot of things goin' on y'all
21st century is comin'
20th century almost done
A lot of things have changed
A lot of things have not, mainly us
We gon' get it together right? I believe that
Listen, people be askin' me all the time
"Yo, Mos, what's gettin' ready to happen with Hip-Hop?"
(Where do you think Hip-Hop is goin'?)
I tell em, "You know what's gonna happen with Hip-Hop?
Whatever's happening with us"
If we smoked out, Hip-Hop is gonna be smoked out
If we doin' alright, Hip-Hop is gonna be doin' alright
People talk about Hip-Hop like it's some giant livin' in the hillside
Comin' down to visit the townspeople
We are Hip-Hop
Me, you, everybody, we are Hip-Hop
So Hip-Hop is going where we going
So the next time you ask yourself where Hip-Hop is going
Ask yourself, "Where am I going? How am I doing?"
'Til you get a clear idea
So if Hip-Hop is about the people
And the Hip-Hop won't get better until the people get better
Then how do people get better? (Hmm)
Well, from my understanding people get better
When they start to understand that, they are valuable
And they not valuable because they got a whole lot of money
Or 'cause somebody, think they sexy
But they valuable 'cause they been created by God
And God, makes you valuable
And whether or not you, recognize that value is one thing
You got a lot of societies and governments
Tryin' to be God, wishing that they were God
They wanna create satellites and cameras everywhere
And make you think they got the all-seeing eye
Eh, I guess The Last Poets wasn't too far off
When they said that certain people got a God Complex
I believe it's true
I don't get phased out by none of that, none of that
Helicopters, the TV screens, the newscasters, the
Satellite dishes they just wishing
They can't really never do that
When they tell me to fear they law
When they tell me to try to
Have some fret in my heart behind the things that they do
This is what I think in my mind
And this is what I say to them
And this is what I'm saying to you check it
All over the world hearts pound with the rhythm
Fear not of men because men must die
Mind over matter and soul before flesh
Angels hold a pen keep a record in time
Which is passing and running like a caravan trader (uh-huh)
The world is overrun with the wealthy and the wicked (uh)
But God is sufficient in disposing of affairs
Gunmen and stockholders try to merit my fear
But God is sufficient over plans they prepared
Mos Def in the flesh, where you at, right here
On this place called Earth, holding down my square
'Bout to do it for y'all, and y'all at the fair
So just bounce, come on bounce
B-b-bounce, bounce, just b-bounce
And just
Just step two, three
Just step two, three and
Step two
Two, three and
One, two, three and four
One, two, three and four
(we gon' dance, said we dance again) one, two, three
Once again
All over the world hearts pound with the rhythm
Fear not of men because men must die
Mind over matter and soul before flesh
Angels hold a pen keep a record in time
Which is passing and running like a caravan trader
The world is overrun with the wealthy and the wicked
But God is sufficient in disposing of affairs
Gunmen and stockholders try to merit your fear
But God is sufficient over plans they prepared (God Allah)
Mos Def in the flesh, where you at, right here
On this place called Earth, holding down my square
'Bout to represent in your whole atmosphere
'Bout to represent in your whole atmosphere
your atmosphere, to your atmosphere
ooh-ooh (wee)
That was for you, and Brooklyn too (ha, ha)
The song “Fear Not Of Man” by Mos Def is a social commentary on various issues affecting society. The song starts with Mos Def addressing his audience and acknowledging the significance of the Brooklyn borough. He then points out that the 20th century is almost over, and the 21st century is approaching, bringing numerous changes both good and bad, but the one constant is the people. Mos Def points out that Hip-Hop, a genre that many love, is only as good as the people practicing it.
Mos Def emphasizes how rooted Hip-Hop is in everyday people’s lives and how we are all part of the Hip-Hop culture. He says that if individuals are smoking marijuana, then Hip-Hop will also reflect that. If people are doing alright, then Hip-Hop would reflect that too. Hence, the direction that Hip-Hop takes in the future will solely depend on the direction that society takes. Mos Def further emphasizes that Hip-Hop is not just music played by famous artists. Instead, Hip-Hop is a way of life practiced by everyone who feels part of the community.
Mos Def continues by pointing out how important it is for individuals to recognize their worth. He emphasizes that people should understand that they are significant not because of their money or physical attributes but because of God’s creation. The rappers warn against governmental bodies and corporations that wish to replace God and claim omniscience over humanity. In conclusion, he advises that people should not fear men as they will all pass away, but instead, they ought to lead a meaningful life.
Line by Line Meaning
If you can hear me ladies and gentlemen
I am glad you all are present and can hear me.
Then I'm very happy that you came here
I am happy that you have joined me here.
That was for Brooklyn
I am representing Brooklyn.
A lot of things have changed
The world has changed since the last century.
A lot of things have not, mainly us
We need to change ourselves before anything else.
So Hip-Hop is going where we going
Hip-Hop's future depends on us and where we go.
Then how do people get better?
We can get better by realizing our value as human beings.
They not valuable because they got a whole lot of money
People's worth is not based on their wealth.
But they valuable 'cause they been created by God
We are all valuable because we are created by God.
They wanna create satellites and cameras everywhere
Governments want to intrude on our privacy.
When they tell me to fear they law
I refuse to fear the law they create or their power.
All over the world hearts pound with the rhythm
We all share a common bond amidst the world's diversity.
Fear not of men because men must die
We should not fear people because everyone will die one day.
Mind over matter and soul before flesh
Our mental and spiritual well-being come before our physical form.
Angels hold a pen keep a record in time
There is a spiritual record of our actions.
The world is overrun with the wealthy and the wicked
There are powerful and evil people controlling our world.
But God is sufficient in disposing of affairs
God has ultimate control over the world and its workings.
Gunmen and stockholders try to merit your fear
Those who hold power try to instill fear in others.
Mos Def in the flesh, where you at, right here
I am physically present here in this moment.
On this place called Earth, holding down my square
I am asserting my presence and impact on Earth.
Bout to represent in your whole atmosphere
I am about to make an impact in your surroundings and environment.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dante Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ajesam George
on Ms. Fat Booty
https://soundcloud.com/.../sudenly-by-da-george-prod-by...