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
Priority
Mos Def Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Peace before everything
God before anything
Love before anything
Real before everything
Home before anyplace
Style and state radiate
Love power slay the hate
Truth killer, flaky face
Players say it to they face
Ain't afraid to major straight
Grace at the table straight
Flow greatest like the greatest lakes
Capes all greatest states
Quiet water major waves
Steer the course make a way
And come ashore on a greater day
Home grown from the greatest grain
Full flavor in the native strain
Now put that on your brainy brain
Full exposure to faith and slang
Minimum wage and major gains
Yasiin Dante to Bey
From day to night to day to day they came to play
We came to stay get out the way
Biotch sunspot hot heat rocks
Brooklyn finest, preservation to beat box
Friend or foe poison or detox
When we rock the people I respond priority
Peace before anything
God before everything
Love before anything
Real before everything
Home before anyplace
Truth before anything
Style and state radiate
Love power slay the hate, priority
Love power
In Mos Def's song "Priority," the artist is emphasizing the importance of certain values that he holds dear. He begins by listing his top priority: peace. Mos Def believes that peace should come before everything, and this can be achieved through prioritizing respect, love, and honesty. He further emphasizes that God should be put before anything else, demonstrating his faith and belief in a higher power.
Mos Def also values the importance of truth, recognizing that it should come before anything else. He believes that style and state should radiate, which can be interpreted as saying that the outward expression of oneself should reflect one's inner values. Mos Def believes that love, rather than hate, should be spread, and that it has the power to overcome the harshness of life.
Throughout the song, Mos Def places emphasis on the idea of staying true to oneself and one's beliefs, no matter what. He evokes imagery of "truth killers," or those who try to undermine others' beliefs, but Mos Def is not afraid to speak up or express himself in a genuine way. Ultimately, Mos Def encourages listeners to stay true to themselves and put their priorities in order.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, top priority
This is a statement of the artist's focus and what matters most to him in his music and in life.
Peace before everything
The artist values peace over all else.
God before anything
The artist values his relationship with God above all else.
Love before anything
The artist places love and compassion above all other things.
Real before everything
The artist values authenticity and honesty above other things.
Home before anyplace
The artist values his home and community above other places.
Truth before anything
The artist values truth and honesty above other things.
Style and state radiate
The artist values his own unique style and being true to himself and his state of origin.
Love power slay the hate
Love is more powerful than hate and can overcome it.
Truth killer, flaky face
There are people who spread lies and falsehoods, and the artist is not afraid to identify them.
Players say it to they face
The artist is straightforward and honest with people, even those who don't want to hear the truth.
Ain't afraid to major straight
The artist is not afraid to be upfront and honest.
Grace at the table straight
The artist values grace and courtesy in his interactions with others.
Flow greatest like the greatest lakes
The artist's flow is strong and powerful, like the great lakes.
Capes all greatest states
The artist takes pride in his state of origin and believes it is the best.
Quiet water major waves
Small actions and peacefulness can lead to major positive changes.
Steer the course make a way
The artist is determined to chart his own path to success.
And come ashore on a greater day
The artist believes success is coming and will arrive on a 'greater day.'
Home grown from the greatest grain
The artist is proud of his roots and upbringing in the best location.
Full flavor in the native strain
The artist's original style is rich and powerful, like a tasty food.
Now put that on your brainy brain
The artist challenges listeners to pay attention and remember his message.
Full exposure to faith and slang
The artist's style combines religious beliefs and his own unique slang and way of speaking.
Minimum wage and major gains
The artist has come from humble beginnings and achieved great success.
Yasiin Dante to Bey
This is a reference to the artist's various aliases and names throughout his career.
From day to night to day to day they came to play
The artist and his team are always working hard and never stop to rest.
We came to stay get out the way
The artist and his team are here to stay and will not let anyone stop them.
Biotch sunspot hot heat rocks
This is a reference to the artist's hot and powerful music.
Brooklyn finest, preservation to beat box
The artist is proud of his hometown and the quality of his music.
Friend or foe poison or detox
The artist is wary of people's intentions and knows that some may be detrimental or harmful to him.
When we rock the people I respond priority
The artist knows that his music can impact people's lives, and he takes this responsibility seriously. It is his top priority.
Love power slay the hate, priority
Once again, the artist emphasizes that love is more powerful than hate and that it is his top priority.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: BOBBY HEBB, DANTE SMITH, JEAN GUILLAUME DAVAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sirLiridon.
After 12 years, we can say this album finally won its classic status.
Mos Def with 3 classic albums, unforgettable!
Sandro Vadacca
Honestly this was an instant classic to me from the first listen ❤️
Benimaru
Classic since the first day ! ❤
accradata
Bro when that second hook kicks in with the mariachis it absolutely owns all of hip hop. Breaks my heart every time. Global peace to all real hip hop heads✊
a
facts !!
Chanc' Register
Brilliantly factually stated, much love and respect!
Alfaels
That’s the hoo(d)k kick 🐉
Max Grundle
Man good call.totally right.like minded people keep moving forward
Max Grundle
I meant like minded
Christeena Robinson
I wish this song was longer 😪 thank you for making this mos def 🙏