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
Love Rain
Mos Def Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Met him on a Thursday, sunny afternoon
Cumulus clouds, 84 degrees
He was brown, deep
Said he wanted to talk about my mission
Listen to my past lives (Word?)
Took me on long walks to places where butterflies rest easy
Reparations, blue colors, memories of shell top adidas
He was fresh, like summer peaches
Sweet on my mind like block parties and penny candy
Us was nice and warm, no jacket, no umbrella, just warm
At night we would watch the stars
And he would physically give me each and every one
I felt like cayenne pepper, red, hot, spicy
I felt Dizzy and Sonia, heaven and Miles between my
Thighs
Better than love, we made delicious
He me had, had me he
He had me tongue tied
I could hear his rhythm in my thoughts
I was his sharp, his horn section
His boom and his bop
And he was my love
Love rain down on me, on me, down on me
The rain was fallin and,and slowly and sweetly and stinging
My
Eyes
And I could not see that he became my voodoo priest
And I was his faithful concubine
Wide open, wide, loose like bowels after collard greens
The mistake was made
Love slipped from my lips
Dripped down my chin and landed in his lap
And us became new
Now me non-clairvoyant and in love
Made the coochie easy and the obvious invisible
The rain was falling
And I couldn't see the season changing
And the vibe slipping off its axis
Our beautiful melody became wildly staccato
The rain was falling and I could not see
That I was to be plowed and sowed and fertilized
And left to drown in his sunny afternoon
Cumulus clouds, 84 degrees, melody
Love rain down on me, on me, down on me (2x)
Wide open wide loose
The mistake was made
Love slipped from my lips
Dripped down my chin and
Landed in his lap
And us became new
Me not clairvoyant and in love
Made me the fool
You were never true
If you didn't want me
Ah you should have let me know
All you did was make a mockery of
Of something so incredible, beautiful
I honestly did love you so.....
Love rain down on me, on me, down on me
(Mos Def:)
I stretch my arms towards the sky like blades of tall grass,
The sun beat between my shoulders like carnival drums.
I sat still and hoped it would help my wings grow
So then I could really be fly.
And then she arrived.
Like daybreak inside a railway tunnel,
Like the new moon,
Like a diamond in the mines,
Like high noon to a junker,
Sudden...
She made my heart beat in the now, now time signature,
Her skin a canvas for ultra violet brush strokes.
She was the sun's painting,
She was a deep cognac color,
Her eyes fall for that lights along the new city,
Her lips purse as if her breath was too sweet and full for her mouth to hold.
I said:
"You are the beautiful distress of mathematics,"
I said:
"For you, I will peal open the clouds like new fruit,
And give you lightning and thunder as a dowry,
I will make the sky shed all of its stars like rain,
And I will cast the constellations across your waste,
And I will make the heavens your keep.
And they will be pleased to cover you,
They will be pleased to cover you,
May I please... cover you...
...please...
The lyrics of Mos Def's song Love Rain are a beautiful expression of love, heartbreak, and despair. The song describes a woman who meets a man on a sunny Thursday afternoon and falls in love with him. They talk about music, social justice, and their past lives. They walk to places where butterflies rest easy and watch the stars at night. The woman feels like cayenne pepper, red, hot, spicy, and her love for the man is better than love. They become intimate, and she gives him her heart. But then the season changes, and their vibe slips off its axis. The rain falls, stinging her eyes, and she realizes she was foolish in believing in his love. She becomes a fool, and the man makes a mockery of something so incredible and beautiful. The song ends with a plea to cover her in the heavens, but the man is gone, and the rain continues to fall.
The song's lyrics showcase contrasts, such as the beautiful melody becoming wildly staccato, which represent the woman's conflicting emotions. The song's melancholic tone with Mos Def's haunting voice makes it a beautiful piece of music. Mos Def's poetry and the woman's heartfelt lyrics, combined with the soft rhythms of the piano and drums, create a resonating and emotional song that leaves a lasting impression on the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Love rain down on me, on me, down on me
A plea for love and emotional comfort
Met him on a Thursday, sunny afternoon
Introduction to meeting a man who had a deep conversation about life
Cumulus clouds, 84 degrees
Perfect summertime weather for deep conversations
He was brown, deep
Physical description of the man
Said he wanted to talk about my mission
Interest in gaining insight into the woman's life goals
Listen to my past lives (Word?)
Discussion about past memories and experiences
Took me on long walks to places where butterflies rest easy
Engagement in romantic settings
Talked about Moses and Mumia
Discussion about historical figures
Reparations, blue colors, memories of shell top adidas
Discussion about race and fashion
He was fresh, like summer peaches
Physical description of the man
Sweet on my mind like block parties and penny candy
Romantic relationship felt like nostalgia and good memories
Us was nice and warm, no jacket, no umbrella, just warm
Comfortable and romantic setting
At night we would watch the stars
Romantic activities shared by the couple
And he would physically give me each and every one
Man showered woman with love and affection
I felt like cayenne pepper, red, hot, spicy
Intensity of feelings
I felt Dizzy and Sonia, heaven and Miles between my thighs
Physical and emotional passion
Better than love, we made delicious
Sexual euphemism
He me had, had me he
Intense emotional and physical connection
He had me tongue tied
Physical attraction and emotional embarrassment
I could hear his rhythm in my thoughts
Mental connection with loved one
I was his sharp, his horn section
Describing oneself as a musical instrument in the various emotions of love
His boom and his bop
Continuation of metaphor of love being a musical composition
And he was my love
Expression of love
The rain was fallin and,and slowly and sweetly and stinging / My / Eyes
Setting the scene for a dramatic turn of events for the couple
And I could not see that he became my voodoo priest / And I was his faithful concubine
Metaphor of control and manipulation transitioning from romantic love to voodoo-like possession and submission
Wide open, wide, loose like bowels after collard greens
Metaphor for the physicality of sexual intimacy
The mistake was made / Love slipped from my lips / Dripped down my chin and landed in his lap / And us became new
A mistake of speaking too soon about love and commitment leads to a change in their relationship
Now me non-clairvoyant and in love / Made the coochie easy and the obvious invisible
Love caused the woman to be less cautious and less observant, making the obvious less visible
The rain was falling / And I couldn't see the season changing / And the vibe slipping off its axis / Our beautiful melody became wildly staccato
Rain becomes a metaphor for a change in climate in the relationship. Love began to fall apart because of the man's false intentions
That I was to be plowed and sowed and fertilized / And left to drown in his sunny afternoon / Cumulus clouds, 84 degrees, melody
Woman feels a sense of heartbreak and sadness after being used for man's personal gain
Wide open wide loose / The mistake was made / Love slipped from my lips / Dripped down my chin and / Landed in his lap / And us became new / Me not clairvoyant and in love / Made me the fool / You were never true
Reiteration of mistake and questioning of the man's sincerity
If you didn't want me / Ah you should have let me know / All you did was make a mockery of / Of something so incredible, beautiful
Song turns into a lament for not being honest in relationships, and turning something beautiful into a mockery
I honestly did love you so.....
Final expression of love and regret
I stretch my arms towards the sky like blades of tall grass, / The sun beat between my shoulders like carnival drums.
Transition to Mos Def's personal narrative, expressing the feeling of hope and desire to be free
I sat still and hoped it would help my wings grow / So then I could really be fly.
Desiring for personal growth and transformation to reach a higher state of being
And then she arrived.
Introduction of a new love interest
Like daybreak inside a railway tunnel, / Like the new moon, / Like a diamond in the mines, / Like high noon to a junker, / Sudden...
Description of the woman's arrival as a sudden and dramatic event
She made my heart beat in the now, now time signature, / Her skin a canvas for ultra violet brush strokes.
Expressing the emotional and physical attraction towards the woman
She was the sun's painting, / She was a deep cognac color, / Her eyes fall for that lights along the new city, / Her lips purse as if her breath was too sweet and full for her mouth to hold.
Describing the woman's physical beauty in a poetic manner
"You are the beautiful distress of mathematics," / I said:
Metaphoric expression of her complexity and his admiration for her
"For you, I will peal open the clouds like new fruit, / And give you lightning and thunder as a dowry, / I will make the sky shed all of its stars like rain, / And I will cast the constellations across your waste, / And I will make the heavens your keep. / And they will be pleased to cover you, / They will be pleased to cover you, / May I please... cover you..."
Exaggerated promises of love and commitment
Lyrics Š Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: VIDAL DAVIS, JILL SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@wilfredoreyes9299
one of the illest tracks ever made. funky. the soul has disappeared in our music
@rosebuddraper2666
Wilfredo Reyes HELL YEAHHHHH!! SO DOPE!!
@keisi1574
The Soul IS there...SEARCH for it.
Damn.
@SuperRobertoClemente
There's a comment like this on every old school track you can find on YouTube. I don't get why appreciating the past requires us to treat young people badly. They're the inheritors of this tradition and plenty of them are terrific, so we owe it to them to do some work and enjoy their fucking music!
@lesliedavis6081
SuperRobertoClemente because itâs WHOAFUL
@nathanielscottiii5065
I agree!
@missj3434
LOVE â¤ď¸ this version. Remember u had to listen to the entire 17 tracks on the CD before you got to this one. I think it was track #44
@DJMELLOWBWAX
Facts đ
@ram09568
Exactly!!! đĽ
@lavishlee4651
Im from the Caribbean so I had Jill Scott's album on CASSETTE! Imagine my struggle lol and her of version was and is my favorite of the album.