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
Frontlines
Mos Def Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On urbain terrain I strive to maintain
Stress is strain with a whole heap of pain
A lotta fuckin games that I can't seem to win
I'm livin in the land of sin
I close my eyes and I count to 10'000
Shit is still fucked up down in public housing
Turn on the TV just to see my man on the news
So I get my head ready cause I know where I'm at
I got good sense and now I need a 1'000 gats
Cause times in America is all out of order
You gotta pay just to get good drinkin water
They goin bucknuts and I ain't tryina hear it
The end ain't near, it's here
I stay cool in the Babylon swelter
Bout to build a house with a fuckin bomb shelter
Cause it's a lotta smilin faces out here and I don't trust em
Muthafuckas make a wrong move and I'ma bust em
I'm sleepin on the floor with my nines by the door
War ain't fair, it's war
Front line, muthafucka
[Mos Def]
You can never underestimate your enemy
You gotta realize there's people who wake up 6 AM in the morning to jog
Running for their life cause they underestimate...
[VERSE 2: Ces]
Shit in here is gettin kinda warm
Muthafuckas didn't know that I had this for em
I'm spittin buckshots and you could all get dropped
Muthafuck a vest, I'm takin all headshots
It's the great beat breaker, Brakalak jacker
Dominant genes, son, it gets no blacker
You're scared, bitch, as is with the style you lack
I'm havin reoccurin dreams of blowin out your back
So take that ( *gunshot* ) and that ( *gunshot* )
And that ( *gunshot* ) and that ( *gunshot* )
I'm as hard as it gets, you can't sit where I sat
Roll with a ill crew, pack a big god jewel
I ain't the bitch steady tryina get a new hairdo
(Ooh) Look, you ain't gotta like it, cause shit is real
I'ma say how I feel, the truth must be revealed
Your eyes wide open and you still can't see
Steady smokin blunts talkin bout I'm free
Spend all of your time sleepin with the enemy
Doin dumb shit that you seen on TV
Can't get caught up in the hocus pocus
Times is so hopeless, I gotta keep focus
And I'ma do whatever it takes
Cause shit ain't easy, but that's the breaks
Times is too wild to smile
I'm ready, get it on, son, you know my style
Can't clown cause I'm down for mine
From now to '99, frontline, muthafucka
[Mos Def]
It's no room for fear
We givin these heads the respect and the credit that they don't deserve
Youknowmsayin?
That's why they don't respect us
When we start to realize who we are
Then we can clearly see who they are
[VERSE 2: Mos Def]
Originality is now a yummy soundbite
Everything sounds aight but trite, but it don't sound right
Treadin over urban terrain is a great source of pain
But it's the path that I chose, so I can't complain
If I get honory, pardon me, gems and gents
I'm on a mission in the very literal fuckin sense
If heads don't understand it's of no consequence
Cause not everyone is worthy to hold my confidence
In a world so clandestine I stand frontline
[?] motion and mad explosion
The vision descension and massive tension
Stiflin congestion and no progression
I try to keep on lookin at the prize
But I'm steady wipin blood out my eyes
Mr. Charlie kill your pops and rape your mother
Now we fuckin turn around and shoot each other?
Run for cover, well that ain't a fuckin option
I'm comin through head first, I ain't stoppin
Suckers want beef cause I speak on these topics
But don't sleep, I'm keepin heat like the tropics
A full clip and my hand on my dick
I'm like a muthafuckin elephant, I don't forget shit
From Medgar Evers down to Emmet Till
Black bodies swingin from trees outlining American hills
Talk all that racism shit if you want to
But white man, I don't trust you, and I will bust you
Even if you try to act trife
It's the M-o-s loced out for life
100 years ago you brought the rah-rah
Now it's recycled in Kumbaya
And I ain't goin out like a punk
You say holier than thou, well you can call it what you want
No slippin, I gotta stay aware
I'm too prepared to be steppin out scared
Brothers' eyes are watchin, can't go out like a sucker
Mos Def is in another frontline muthafuckas
[Mos Def]
Victory is the only choice
There's no other alternative but victory
And the only way to be victorious is to understand your enemy
You have to understand that they're fighting to survive
But we are fighting to live
They're fighting for something totally different
The differences are great
And we have to realize that their time is up
And if they're desperate...
A desperate enemy should not be hard-pressed because he has nothing to lose
And he will take you to hell with him
So you either to win or you fight to die
Fight to win or you fight to die
In Mos Def's song Frontlines, the concept of war is not limited only to physical altercations but also the convoluted concept of power dynamics and oppression. The two verses, starting with DCQ and then Ces respectively, delve into the problems of the inner-city, societal sins, and hence the necessity of being on the front lines. The chorus aptly puts forth the importance of having a strong, fearless front to face and fight the enemy.
DCQ appears to be stuck in the vicious cycle of inner-city life in America. He highlights the presence of public housing, lack of access to basic amenities, unemployment, and violence. He talks of maintaining good sense and the dire need for guns, and how things are all "out of order" in America. He mentions how he stays prepared for the worst by sleeping on the floor with guns by his side. The chorus, which is the point of view of Mos Def, further emphasizes that one can never underestimate the enemy.
Ces continues in the second verse with aggressive, violent imagery, painting himself as a "Brakalak jacker," ready to take down anyone in his way. Ces is critical of the people around him, who he considers false, and speaks about their ignorance and naivete. Moreover, he mentions the importance of staying alert, focused, and preparing for a fight. Mos Def wraps up the song by intensifying the importance of victory and understanding the enemy. Triumph is the only option, and if we don't fight to the bitter end, we'll be destroyed.
Line by Line Meaning
On urbain terrain I strive to maintain
I am doing everything I can to survive in this gritty, urban environment.
A lotta fuckin games that I can't seem to win
There are many challenges here that I cannot overcome.
I'm livin in the land of sin
I am surrounded by immorality and corruption.
Shit is still fucked up down in public housing
Conditions are still very poor in the public housing projects.
Turn on the TV just to see my man on the news
I see someone I know on the news for something negative.
No job, but he had a pair of $100 shoes
He may not have a job, but he still has expensive things.
Times in America is all out of order
Things are not going well in America.
You gotta pay just to get good drinkin water
Even basic necessities are becoming harder to access.
The end ain't near, it's here
We are already in the midst of difficult times.
I'm sleepin on the floor with my nines by the door
I need to be ready for anything, and I am constantly on guard.
War ain't fair, it's war
There is no justice or fairness in war.
You can never underestimate your enemy
It is important to always be aware of the power and tactics of the people you are fighting against.
Shit in here is gettin kinda warm
Things are heating up and getting more dangerous.
It's the great beat breaker, Brakalak jacker
I am a powerful force to be reckoned with, and I will not hesitate to take what is mine.
I'm havin reoccurin dreams of blowin out your back
I am constantly thinking about taking down my enemies and those who oppose me.
Spend all of your time sleepin with the enemy
People are making alliances with those who wish to harm them or their communities.
Times is so hopeless, I gotta keep focus
Things seem dire and difficult, but I must stay on course and not lose hope.
Originality is now a yummy soundbite
Authenticity has been replaced by marketable, trendy ideas.
If I get honory, pardon me, gems and gents
If I seem angry or rude, forgive me, but I am passionate about my beliefs.
The vision descension and massive tension
My outlook and perspective cause me to feel angry and frustrated with the state of the world.
I'm steady wipin blood out my eyes
The violence and conflict is taking a toll on me physically and emotionally.
Black bodies swingin from trees outlining American hills
The legacy of slavery and racism still haunts us, as seen in the brutal lynchings of black people in America's past.
And I ain't goin out like a punk
I refuse to back down and surrender to those who seek to harm me and my community.
No slippin, I gotta stay aware
I cannot afford to let my guard down or make any mistakes.
Mos Def is in another frontline muthafucka
I am fighting on behalf of my community and will not back down in the face of adversity.
Victory is the only choice
We must be determined to win and achieve our goals, rising above those who seek to harm us.
Contributed by Colton G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ajesam George
on Ms. Fat Booty
https://soundcloud.com/.../sudenly-by-da-george-prod-by...