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
Ms Fat Booty
Mos Def Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For one moment (I was in love with this girl, dude)
That it's too soon to forget (I was tore up, dawg)
I know I can't afford to stop (I'm telling you, man)
(Wow, man)
For one moment (for real)
That it's too soon (it's, she's too-)
Let me tell you about her
In she came with the same type game
The type of girl giving out the fake cell phone and name
Big fame (big fame), she like cats with big thangs
Jewels chip, money clip, phone flip, the six range
I seen her on the Ave, spotted her more than once
Ass so fat that you could see it from the front
She spot me like paparazzi
Shot me a glance in that Catwoman stance
With the fat booty pants, hot damn
What's your name, love? Where you came from?
Neck and wrist laced up, very little make-up
The Schwinns at the Reebok gym tone your frame up
Is sugar and spice the only thing that you made of?
I tried to play it lowkey but couldn't keep it down
Asked her to dance and she was like, "Yo, I'm leaving now"
An hour later, sounds from Jamaica
She sipping Cris' straight up, skanking, whining her waist up
Scene two, my fam throwing a jam
Fareed is on the stand, big things is in the plans (uh)
The brother Big Moon make space for me to move in
"Ay, yo, this my man, Mos, baby, let me introduce"
I turn around (say word)
It was the same pretty bird who I had priorly observed
Tryna play me for the herb (yeah, that's her)
Shocked as hell she couldn't get it together
I just played along and pretended I never met her
"How you feeling?"
Oh, I'm fine"
"My name is Mos"
"I'm Sharice"
"I heard so much good about you, it's nice to finally meet"
We moved to the booth reserved for crew especially
And honey-love ended up sitting directly next to me
I'm type polite but now I'm looking at her skeptically
'Cause baby girl got all the right weaponry
Designer fabric, shoes, and accessories
Chinky eyes, sweet voice is f- with me mentally
We conversated, made a laugh, yeah, you know me, bro
Even though I know the steelo, she wild sweet, yo
I'm 'bout to murk, I say peace to the family
She hop up like, "How you gon' leave before you dance with me?"
She blew my whole head with that dude, I was like, "Word?"
I played it low though, I was like
"Yeah, aight, come on then, let's go"
Was mad, was so sick, I tell-
Yo, honey was so blazing she was just
What? Yo, she looked like Jayne Kennedy, word bond
To my mother, man
She was that ill, man, she take me to the dance floor
And she start whispering to me and
"Yo, let me apologize for the other night, I know it wasn't right
But, baby, you know what it's like, some brothers don't be coming right"
I understand, I'm feeling you, besides
"Can I have a dance?" Ain't really that original
We laughed about it, traced her arms across my shoulder blades
They playing Lovers Rock, I got the folded fingers on her waist (on her waist)
Heating my blood up like the Arizona summer
Song finished then she whispered, "Honey, let's exchange numbers"
Scene three, weeks of dating, late night conversation
In the crib heart racing, trying to be cool and patient
She touched on my eyelids, the room fell silent
She walked away smiling, singing Gregory Issacs
Like, "if I don't, if I don't have you"
Showing me her tan line and that tattoo
Playing Sade, Sweetest Taboo
Burning candles, all my other plans got cancelled
Man, I smashed it like an Idaho potato
She call me at my J-O-, "Come now," I can't say no
Ginseng tree trunks, rocking the P-funk
Cocking her knees up, champion lover nuh ease up
Three months, she call, I feel I'm running a fever
Six months, I'm telling her I desperately need her
Nine months, flu-like symptoms when shorty not around
I need more than to knock it down I'm really trying to lock it down (down)
Midnight, we hook up and go at it
Burn a stoge and let her know, sweetheart, I got to have it
She telling me commitment is something she can't manage
Wake up the next morning, she gone like it was magic
Ah damn it, is on Harrison Ford frantic
My 911's unanswered by my fly Taurus enchantress
(Next week) Moon hit me up, I saw Sharice at the kitty club
With some banging-ass Asian playing lay it down and lick me up
What?
“Ms Fat Booty” by Mos Def is a story of an encounter between the artist and a woman with a striking physical appearance. The first verse describes how the woman tries to impress Mos Def with her wealth and attracts him with her curvy figure. Mos Def tries to play it cool by asking her for a dance but she turns him down. In the second verse, Mos Def attends a party with his friends and the same woman turns up unexpectedly. She doesn't reveal that she knows Mos Def, which catches him off-guard. They talk and laugh and Mos Def starts to appreciate her charming personality. In the third verse, Mos Def and the woman start to date and develop deep feelings for each other. But despite Mos Def's commitment, the woman expresses that she is not ready for a serious relationship and eventually disappears from his life.
The lyrics in "Ms Fat Booty" have several layers of meaning. At a superficial level, the song is about attraction and desire, but there is also commentary on societal values around physical appearance and wealth. Mos Def describes a woman who uses her ostentatious displays of wealth and assets to attract men’s attention – her ‘fake cell phone and name’, her ‘jewels, money clip, phone flip, and six range’ refer to her material possessions. The song critiques consumerist values and highlights the shallow nature of attraction based solely on physical attributes. However, in the end, Mos Def is also seen grappling with the same desires and physical attraction that he criticises earlier in the song.
Interestingly, Mos Def never actually uses the phrase ‘Ms Fat Booty’ in the lyrics of the song. This title is a popular reference given to the track based on its hook, which samples the phrase "I know I can't afford to stop for a moment.. that it's too soon.. to forget I know I can't afford to stop for a moment.. that it's too soon.. to forget my ms fat booty."
Line by Line Meaning
In she came with the same type game
She entered into the scene with the same shtick as other women.
The type of girl giving out the fake cell phone and name
She was the type to give out fake contact information.
Big fame, she like cats with big thangs
She was attracted to men who had fame and fortune.
Jewels chip, money clip, phone flip, the six range
She had expensive jewelry, a money clip with cash, a flip phone, and a luxury car.
I seen her on the Ave, spotted her more than once
He saw her on the avenue and noticed her multiple times.
Ass so fat that you could see it from the front
She had a large rear end that could be seen from the front.
She spot me like paparazzi
She noticed him like a celebrity might notice a paparazzi photographer.
Shot me a glance in that catwoman stance with the fat booty pants
She gave him a seductive look while standing in a catwoman-like pose, wearing tight pants that highlighted her large rear end.
Hot damn
He was impressed by her appearance.
What's your name love, where you came from
He asked for her name and where she was from.
Neck and wrist laced up, very little make-up
She had jewelry on her neck and wrist, but wore minimal makeup.
The slims at the Reebok gym tone your frame up
She stayed in shape by exercising at a gym.
Is sugar and spice the only thing that you made of
He asked if she was only made of sweetness and positivity, or if she had other sides to her personality.
I tried to play it low key but couldn't keep it down
He tried to keep his interest in her subtle, but couldn't help but show it.
Asked her to dance she was like, yo I'm leaving now
He asked her to dance, but she declined because she was leaving.
An hour later, sounds from Jamaica
An hour later, Jamaican music started playing.
She sipping Cris straight up, skanking, winding her waist up
She was drinking champagne straight and dancing, moving her waist in a Jamaican style.
Scene two: my fam throwing the jam
The next scene was his family hosting a party.
Fareed is on the stand big things is in the plans
A man named Fareed was giving a speech, and there were big plans for the future.
The brother Big Moon make space for me to move in
His friend Big Moon made space for him to join the group.
Hey, this my man Mos, baby let me introduce
Big Moon introduced the artist, Mos Def, to the crowd.
I turn around, say word
Mos Def turned around and made a comment.
It was the same pretty bird who I had priorly observed
He realized that the woman he had noticed earlier was also at the party.
Trying to play me for the herb
She was trying to take advantage of him, thinking he was an easy target.
Shocked as hell she couldn't get it together
She was surprised and flustered after realizing that he had seen through her act.
I just played along and pretended I never met her
He decided to go along with her previous story and pretend that they had never met before.
How you feeling
He asked how she was feeling.
Oh, I'm fine
She responded that she was fine.
My name is Mos
He introduced himself as Mos.
I'm Sharice
She introduced herself as Sharice.
We moved to the booth reserved for crew especially
They moved to a special booth reserved for a specific group of people.
And honey-love ended up sitting directly next to me
Sharice ended up sitting next to Mos Def.
I'm type polite but now I'm looking at her skeptically
He was polite, but now he was suspicious of her motives.
Cause baby girl got all the right weaponry
She had all the right charms and attractive qualities.
Designer fabric, shoes, and accessories
She had expensive clothing, shoes, and accessories.
Chinky eyes, sweet voice is fucking with me mentally
Her attractive physical features and sweet voice were affecting him emotionally.
We conversated, made a laugh, yeah you know me bro
They talked and laughed together, becoming more familiar with each other.
Even though I know the steelo, she wild sweet, yo
He recognized her tactics, but still found her charming and likable.
I'm about to murk, I say peace to the family
He was about to leave and say goodbye to his friends and family.
She hop up like, how you gon' leave before you dance with me
Sharice asked him how he could leave without dancing with her first.
Yo, let me apologize for the other night, I know it wasn't right
She apologized for something that had happened between them earlier.
But baby you know what its like, some brothers don't be coming right
She made excuses for her behavior, saying that some men didn't treat her well in the past.
I understand, I'm feeling you, besides
He told her that he understood and was attracted to her.
Can I have a dance ain't really that original
He asked her to dance, knowing that it wasn't a very original move.
We laughed about it, traced her arms across my shoulder blades
They laughed and then danced close together, with her arms around his shoulders.
They playing Lovers Rock, I got the folded fingers on her waist
The music they were dancing to was in the Lovers Rock style, and he had his fingers folded on her waist.
Heating my blood up like the Arizona summer
The closeness and attraction between them was heating him up like the hot Arizona summer.
Song finished then she whispered honey, let's exchange numbers
After the song finished, she whispered to him that they should exchange phone numbers.
Scene three: weeks of dating late night conversation
In the next scene, they had been dating for weeks, spending time together and having conversations late into the night.
In the crib heart racing, trying to be cool and patient
They were at home, but his heart was racing as he tried to be cool and patient with her.
She touched on my eyelids, the room fell silent
She touched his eyelids, and everything in the room fell silent.
She walked away smiling, singing Gregory Issac
After touching him, she walked away with a smile and started singing a song by Gregory Issac.
Like, if I don't, if I don't
She was singing a line from the Gregory Issac song.
Showing me that tan line and that tattoo
She showed him a tan line and a tattoo on her body.
Playing Sade, Sweetest Taboo
They were listening to the song 'Sweetest Taboo' by Sade.
Burning candles, all my other plans got cancelled
They were burning candles, and all his other plans were cancelled because of his interest in her.
Man I smashed it like an Idaho potato
He had sex with her, comparing it to smashing a potato.
She call me at my J.O., come now, I can't say no
She called him at work and asked him to come over, and he couldn't say no.
Ginseng tree trunks, rocking the P-funk
They were having sex, with her rocking back and forth like a ginseng tree and the music playing being P-funk.
Cocking her knees up, champion lover not ease up
She lifted her knees up during sex, and was a great lover who didn't let up.
Three months, she call I feel I'm running a fever
After three months, she called him and he felt like he had a fever.
Six months, I'm telling her I desperately need her
After six months, he told her he needed her desperately.
Nine months, flu-like symptoms when shorty not around
After nine months, he had flu-like symptoms when she wasn't around, indicating how much he was affected by her absence.
I need more than to knock it down I'm really trying to lock it down
He wanted more than just a physical relationship, he wanted a commitment with her.
Midnight we hook up and go at it
They hooked up and had sex at midnight.
Burn a stoge and let her know, sweetheart I got to have it
After having sex, he smoked a cigarette and told her that he had to have her.
She telling me commitment is something she can't manage
She told him that she couldn't commit to him.
Wake up the next morning, she gone like it was magic
He woke up the next morning and she was gone, as if it had been magic.
Ah damn it, my shit is on Harrison Ford frantic
He was upset and frantic, like the character Harrison Ford plays in movies.
My 911's unanswered by my fly Taurus enchantress
He tried calling her multiple times, but she didn't answer the phone.
Next week, Moon hit me up, I saw Sharice at the kitty club
The next week, his friend Moon contacted him and told him that Sharice was at a club called the kitty club.
With some banging ass Asian playing lay it down and lick me up
She was at the club with another person, an attractive Asian woman who was playing music with explicit lyrics.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Charles Singleton, Dante Smith, Eddie Snyder, Lamont Dorrell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ceo_felcone
Who’s watching / listening to this in 2024? ✋🏽
@badbatch78
Timeless classic! Shame he switched to dance music.
@Fadwd_Trickster
Meee
@christophermontague8326
me
@ceo_felcone
@@christophermontague8326 👍🏽
@ceo_felcone
@@Fadwd_Trickster 👍🏽
@justsaying5311
This is rap. This is a lyricist. One of the best songs ever made.
@GQwalker1
Check out my remix I did to this track
https://youtu.be/KX1S3KRYwCE
@keyboardgangsta6890
Mos def was underated
@keepingitreal.544
@@keyboardgangsta6890 definitely...class artist