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
Pistola
Mos Def Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Believe when I tell you I never meant to break your heart
May God pick up the pieces of dreams that fall apart
Forgive me and forget me, make a brand new start
Don't blink your eyes and say goodbye
I know, you know, I know, you know that love is danger
Charms in your arms, your gun is wild warm
Worn, bang bang, shoot 'em up
Tips in your clip, click clack, use 'em up
Bad intentions and a very good shot
X marks the spot where you cross the heart
Candlelight vigil on my memory block
Commemorate the date where the bomb got dropped
Love, steady war no more
Put your weapon away, quit collecting the slain
She said, "You're right, I don't wanna fight
I just like the fire and the flashing lights"
Believe me when I tell you I never meant to break your heart
May God pick up the pieces of dreams that fall apart
Forgive me and forget me, make a brand new start
Don't blink your eyes and say goodbye
I know, you know that I know, you know that love is danger
If you are to fall in love
Then where should you stand to begin with?
And when the falling's done
How bad should you plan to get injured?
And if you land on your feet
Do it count as a fall or a jump?
And do it feel like a fall when the hands that pushed you
Were holding you up?
Close encounter, got you wide open
Heartache got your boom box going
Music and vocals, lonely and soulful
You're back in the scene where your sweet dreams are so true
Believe me when I tell you I never meant to break your heart
May God pick up the pieces of dreams that fall apart
Forgive me and forget me, make a brand new start
Don't blink your eyes and say goodbye
Cause I know, you know that I know, you know what love is
Cowboys and girls, oh baby
I remember when we used to play
Cowboys and girls, oh baby
I remember when we used to play
Cowboys and girls, oh baby
I remember when we used to play
Cowboys and girls, shoot 'em up, bang bang
Shotta, shotta, cowboys and girls
Shoot 'em up, bang bang
We at the movies and you're a star, get down
In this song, Mos Def expresses regret for breaking someone's heart and acknowledges the danger of love. He asks for forgiveness and a new beginning while also questioning the nature of love and the complexities of falling in love. The chorus repeats the plea for forgiveness and emphasizes the idea that love is risky and unpredictable.
The verses delve deeper into this idea of danger and unpredictability. Mos Def compares himself to a "gangster of love" with "bad intentions and a very good shot." He also acknowledges the pain he caused with lines like "Candlelight vigil on my memory block / Commemorate the date where the bomb got dropped." The second verse explores the questions and uncertainties that come with falling in love, such as whether it's a fall or a jump and whether it feels like a fall or a push. Mos Def ends the song with a playful reference to childhood games of cowboys and girls, but also brings it back to the central theme of gun violence with the repeated "shoot 'em up, bang bang" refrain.
Overall, the song is a complex exploration of the risks and rewards of love, as well as an acknowledgement of the pain and danger that can come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Believe when I tell you I never meant to break your heart
I want you to believe that I never intended to hurt you
May God pick up the pieces of dreams that fall apart
I hope God can help you move on from your broken dreams
Forgive me and forget me, make a brand new start
Please forgive me and let's start fresh without any past resentments
Don't blink your eyes and say goodbye
Take a second to reconsider before immediately walking away
I know, you know, I know, you know that love is danger
We both know that love can be risky and unpredictable
Criminal minded, gangster of love
I have a bad reputation when it comes to love
Charms in your arms, your gun is wild warm
You have a seductive power over me and my passion is intense
Worn, bang bang, shoot 'em up
My heart is tired and I'm ready to fight for what I want
Tips in your clip, click clack, use 'em up
I have all of the ammunition necessary to win your heart over
Bad intentions and a very good shot
My motives may not be pure, but I am confident in my ability to win you over
X marks the spot where you cross the heart
I know exactly what I need to do to win your heart over
Candlelight vigil on my memory block
I am mourning the loss of our relationship
Commemorate the date where the bomb got dropped
I want to remember the moment where everything fell apart
Love, steady war no more
Let's stop fighting and work towards a peaceful and loving relationship
Put your weapon away, quit collecting the slain
Let's stop hurting each other and move past our fights
She said, "You're right, I don't wanna fight
She agrees that it's time to stop fighting and arguing
I just like the fire and the flashing lights"
She may enjoy the drama and intensity of our relationship
If you are to fall in love
Assuming we're going to fall in love together
Then where should you stand to begin with?
Where do you start when it comes to falling in love?
And when the falling's done
What happens when we've already fallen in love?
How bad should you plan to get injured?
How prepared should we be for the potential heartbreak that comes with love?
And if you land on your feet
If we're lucky enough to avoid heartbreak, what happens next?
Do it count as a fall or a jump?
Is it still considered a fall if we land safely?
And do it feel like a fall when the hands that pushed you
Even if we fall, does it matter who or what led us to that point?
Were holding you up?
Especially if they end up being the ones to help us back up?
Close encounter, got you wide open
Our intense connection has left us feeling vulnerable
Heartache got your boom box going
We're using music to cope with our pain and heartbreak
Music and vocals, lonely and soulful
The music we're listening to is filled with emotion and speaks to our loneliness
You're back in the scene where your sweet dreams are so true
We're reliving a time where things felt easy and dreams felt achievable
Cowboys and girls, oh baby
We're reminiscing on simpler times when we were innocent and carefree
I remember when we used to play
We're longing for a time when we used to have fun together
Shoot 'em up, bang bang
We're trying to escape our current problems by returning to a childhood game
We at the movies and you're a star, get down
We're imagining a different reality where we're both successful and happy
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Dante Smith, Anthony Hester, Michael Jackson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hichamelfazazi1537
[Hook: Mos Def]
Believe me when I tell you
I never meant to break your heart
May God pick up the pieces
Of dreams that fall apart
Forgive me and forget me
Make a brand new start
Don't blink your eyes and say goodbye
Cause I know, you know that, I know, you know that love is danger
[Mos Def]
Criminal minded, gangster of love
Charms in your arms, your gun is wild warm
Worn, bang bang, shoot 'em up
Tips in your clip, click-clack, use 'em up
Bad intentions and a very good shot
X marks the spot where you cross the heart
Candlelight vigil on my memory block
Commemorate the date where the bomb got dropped
Love, study war no more
Put your weapon away, quit collecting the slain
She said "You right, I don't wanna fight
I just like the fire and the flashing... lights"
[Hook: Mos Def]
Believe me when I tell you
I never meant to break your heart
May God pick up the pieces
Of dreams that fall apart
Forgive me and forget me
Make a brand new start
Don't blink your eyes and say goodbye
Cause I know, you know that, I know, you know that love is danger
[Mos Def]
If you are to fall in love
Then where should you stand to begin with?
And when the falling's done
How bad should you plan to get injured?
And if you land on your feet
Do it count as a fall or a jump?
And do it feel like a fall
When the hands that pushed you were holding you up?
Close encounter, got you wide open
Heartache got your boom-box going
Music and vocals, lonely and soulful
Your back at the scene where your sweet dreams sold you
[Hook: Mos Def]
Believe me when I tell you
I never meant to break your heart
May God pick up the pieces
Of dreams that fall apart
Forgive me and forget me
Make a brand new start
Don't blink your eyes and say goodbye
Cause I know, you know that, I know, you know what love is
[Bridge: Mos Def]
Cowboys and girls, oh baby
I remember... when we used to play
Cowboys and girls, oh baby
I remember... when we used to play
Cowboys and girls, oh baby
I remember... when we used to play
Cowboys and girls..
Shoot 'em up, bang bang...
Cowboys and girls
Shoot 'em up, bang bang...
We at the movies, and you're a star..
Get down!
@papillonpantalon6743
Got it on vinyl... Just buy it folks :)
Epic song
@feikemanting5258
u pay $200 ?
@papillonpantalon6743
@@feikemanting5258 what do u mean?
@feikemanting5258
@@papillonpantalon6743 the ecstatic on vinyl is top dollar now adays
@peace2gc
@@feikemanting5258 yeah 200-400 $ kinda bummer I didn’t get it earlier
@hctr.9115
2nd verse always hits home
@427199149
It’s alway the best ones who get taken down. I love this album
@facksvillain2296
He’s doing the adlibs ahead of the chorus, I’ve never heard that before…. The whole album is incredible
@spacedandy9999
It’s a crime that Apple Music took the whole album down smh I’m hurt
@dustedrocks_5655
I hate that they took this off Apple Music