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
Life In Marvelous Times
Mos Def Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bright moments always come back vivid
The fifth great was epic citywide test pressure
The pre-crack era!
Mr. Schollmen, what a prick, attitude matches wardrobe, uglier then sin
This is Bed Stuy 82'
9th floor three tiny rooms one view
Buck-town, Roosevelt house
They green grass is green
Our green grass is brown
Shots rang my phone wasn't touch tone
A heavy beef in the street
ET had to flee
Grey heavens! Good grief!
Hungry bellies!
Bright gold on they teeth!
The windows on the ave look like sad eyes
They fix their sharp gaze on you when you pass by
And if you dare to stand, you can see 'em cry
You can watch em scowl
Feel them prowl
Wall and study every inch about you
Fast math measuring what you amount to
The laughter, the screams!
The numeral, the song of Psalms
The book of dreams!
Ends don't meet where the arms can't reach
Mean streets
Even when its free it ain't cheap
On going saga, terminal diagnosis
Basic survival requires super heroics
No space in the budget for a cake
It's when you gotta fly by night to save the day
Crash-landings routinely happen
Some survive, others never rise from the ashes
Watching asphalt and observing the Sabbath
Creates an ecstatic and there you have it
From teenage love
Praying in tongue
Strange fruit, batty boots and native drums
From hence I come
So here we go
Signs and wonders all along the road
Some lies open
Some lies close
Some stretchers role with no lies at all
Some riders don't know what they riding for
Hands on the wheel and their mind is gone
Wherever you ride, whatever your name
This raw cold life is a beautiful thing
And we are alive in amazing times
Delicate hearts, diabolical minds
Revelations, hatred, love and war
And more and more and more and more
And more of less than ever before
It's just too much more for your mind to absorb
It's scary like hell, but there's no doubt
We can't be alive in no time but now!
It's just another shot to the heart
It's just a sure shot in the dark
It's just another place in the stars
Wonders on every side, life in marvelous times
Life in marvelous times
Bey!
Right, everywhere
All over the world, you can feel it
All over the world, feel it
Spirits rise everywhere
It's just a sure shot to the heart
It's just a sure shot in the dark
It's just another place in the stars
Wonders on every side, life in marvelous times
Life in marvelous times
Now, always
The lyrics of Mos Def's song "Life In Marvelous Times" offers a layered depiction of life in the 1980s in Brooklyn, New York. The opening lines, "Bright moments always come back vivid," introduces the idea that even though times are hard, there are still good and memorable moments that people can hold onto. The following lyrics reminisce about the pre-crack era in Bed Stuy, giving a nostalgic feel for the good old days. The song speaks about the struggles of life in the ghetto, from poverty and hunger to violence and crime, all told through Mos Def's sharp and perceptive eye.
The lyric "Bright gold on they teeth," refers to a style of dental adornment popular in the hip-hop community of the era that involved adding gold caps to teeth, often seen as a symbol of wealth and success. Mos Def paints a bleak picture of the environment, with "windows on the ave look like sad eyes" and the need to survive requiring "super heroics." The line "Hands on the wheel and their mind is gone" depicts how living in this type of environment can be mentally and emotionally exhausting, and how even survival can become a burden.
Line by Line Meaning
Bright moments
Positive and memorable experiences
Bright moments always come back vivid
Positive experiences have a lasting impact
The fifth great was epic citywide test pressure
Describing the stress of high stakes testing in school
The pre-crack era!
Referring to a time period before the rise of drug addiction and violence in urban areas
Mr. Schollmen, what a prick, attitude matches wardrobe, uglier then sin
A negative portrayal of a school administrator and their personality
This is Bed Stuy 82'
9th floor three tiny rooms one view
Buck-town, Roosevelt house
They green grass is green
Our green grass is brown
The singer describes a poor living situation in a predominantly black and impoverished neighborhood
Shots rang my phone wasn't touch tone
A heavy beef in the street
ET had to flee
A violent incident occurs, forcing someone to flee for their safety
Grey heavens! Good grief!
Hungry bellies!
Bright gold on they teeth!
Describing a bleak and impoverished environment with a focus on the physical appearance of the people living there
The windows on the ave look like sad eyes
They fix their sharp gaze on you when you pass by
And if you dare to stand, you can see 'em cry
The artist personifies the buildings in the neighborhood and portrays them as being in a state of sadness and despair
You can watch em scowl
Feel them prowl
Wall and study every inch about you
Fast math measuring what you amount to
The artist describes the scrutiny and judgment one faces in this environment
The laughter, the screams!
The numeral, the song of Psalms
The book of dreams!
Describing the diverse range of experiences and emotions one encounters in life
Ends don't meet where the arms can't reach
Mean streets
Even when its free it ain't cheap
On going saga, terminal diagnosis
Basic survival requires super heroics
The artist emphasizes the difficulty of surviving in a tough environment and the necessity of heroic effort to do so
No space in the budget for a cake
It's when you gotta fly by night to save the day
The singer describes the need to improvise and take risks to achieve success when resources are scarce
Crash-landings routinely happen
Some survive, others never rise from the ashes
The singer depicts the possibility of failure and the difficulty of bouncing back from setbacks
Watching asphalt and observing the Sabbath
Creates an ecstatic and there you have it
The singer comments on the different ways that people find joy or peace amid difficult circumstances
From teenage love
Praying in tongue
Strange fruit, batty boots and native drums
From hence I come
The artist recalls different experiences that have shaped their identity and perspective
So here we go
Signs and wonders all along the road
The artist expresses readiness and anticipation for whatever life brings
Some lies open
Some lies close
Some stretchers role with no lies at all
Some riders don't know what they riding for
The singer reflects on the variety of motivations and values that people hold
Hands on the wheel and their mind is gone
Wherever you ride, whatever your name
This raw cold life is a beautiful thing
The singer acknowledges the harshness of life while also appreciating its beauty and diversity
And we are alive in amazing times
Delicate hearts, diabolical minds
The artist describes the contradictions and complexity of living in the current era
Revelations, hatred, love and war
And more and more and more and more
And more of less than ever before
It's just too much more for your mind to absorb
The artist comments on the overwhelming amount of information and experiences that modern life presents
It's scary like hell, but there's no doubt
We can't be alive in no time but now!
The artist emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment even when it is scary or difficult
It's just another shot to the heart
It's just a sure shot in the dark
It's just another place in the stars
Wonders on every side, life in marvelous times
Life in marvelous times
Bey!
Right, everywhere
All over the world, you can feel it
All over the world, feel it
Spirits rise everywhere
It's just a sure shot to the heart
It's just a sure shot in the dark
It's just another place in the stars
Wonders on every side, life in marvelous times
Life in marvelous times
Now, always
The singer concludes that life is full of surprises and wonders, and encourages people to embrace the present moment despite its challenges
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Dante Smith, Gilles Bousquet
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@soundbwoy2011
“Ends don’t meet where the arms can’t reach.. mean streets.. even when it’s free it ain’t cheap” bars
@nicowilliams4151
One of my fav artists and one of the best Hip-Hop songs I have heard
@kubanieten
why the fuck this shit isn’t on spotify
@nicowilliams4151
@@kubanieten That's a good question.
@H.K.5
@@kubanieten It's literally here on YouTube, why tf do you need Spotify?
@jaredengel3627
@@H.K.5 cause we listen to music on Spotify
@H.K.5
@@jaredengel3627 Well that's weird considering you have to pay for Spotify, when you can just listen to music on YouTube for free. Smh
@bilelkhentache4924
Fight night round 4 !
@ceepablo2340
My entrance music
@scorpioskyswelltrimmedbeard
@ceepablo2340 absolutely. I had fighters at every weight using this 😂😂😂😂