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
Sex Love & Money
Mos Def Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Brooklyn, sex, love, and money
Get up, come, danger
You are now rockin' with the best
Black dante exclusive, fire in the dark
Fire in the dark, ghetto let this spark
Freaky black beauty with the party pal
Bam, I hit the g ready for the street
Heavy, ghetto sweet breezing through the evening
Bam, I'm on the lounge path for the warm blast
Got the john shaft cocked back and loaded
Bam, I beat it, word john, body awesome
Is the way that you come that got me goin'
Bam, I'm on the back streets rollin'
I'm playin back all the magic moments
Don't front, you know I got ya, know I got ya
You sneaky freaky, but I know about ya, know about ya
You straight dope, I can't do without ya, go without ya
Lay back and relax you mind, I'm 'bout to
Double the doses in half the time
Ha, master physical, mastermind
You play it quiet but in private that ass is mine
We body rockin' the last of time
And then we, we body rockin' the last of time
And then we, body rockin' the last of time
And then we, her body rockin' huh, her body rockin'
Now shell on one deep it ain't nobody steppin'
Honey shell on ten deep it ain't nobody steppin'
Thousand shell or hundred deep, I'm there the body rockin', come on
I wanna show you in my ghetto miss I'm a star
I wanna show you love, I just can't help myself
I wanna show you in my ghetto miss I'm a star
I wanna show you love, I just can't help myself
Freaky, freaky, freaky, freaky black
Sex love and money, fun
Brooklyn, sex love and money come
Fun temperature's risin'
Freaky black beauty pretty purse and blouse
Where you took it out got me leanin' bam
I hit the streets easy in my seat
Lighting on my feet breezy like the evening bam
I'm on the lunch pack feel the warm blast
Boogie bohn shaft cocked and loaded bam
Top and bottom, body awesome
Is the way that you come that got me goin' bam
I'm on the back roads rollin', rollin'
I'm playin back all the magic moments, don't front
She know I got'cha, know I got'cha
You sneaky freaky, but I know about'cha, know about'cha
You goog hurricane, go without'cha, go without'cha
Lay back and relax you mind
I'm bout to, double the doses in half the time, huh
Master physical, mastermind
You play it quiet but in private a-ha a-ha, huh
We body rockin the last of time
And then we, we body rockin the last of time
And then we, we body rockin the last of time
And then we, the body rockin huh, the body rockin huh
The body rockin huh, the body rockin huh, the body rockin huh
The body rockin says, don't stop the body rock
I wanna show you in my ghetto miss I'm a star
I wanna show you love, I just can't help myself
I wanna show you in my ghetto miss I'm a star
I wanna show you love, I just can't help myself
Freaky, freaky, freaky, freaky black
Sex love and money, fun
Brooklyn, sex love and money come
The lyrics of Mos Def's song Sex Love & Money celebrate the pleasures of sex, love and money in the context of the Brooklyn ghetto. The refrain "sex, love, and money, fun" is repeated throughout the song, setting the tone for the upbeat, party atmosphere. Mos Def describes a night out on the town with "freaky black beauties" and plenty of drinks, celebrating their bodies and the physical pleasure they can provide. The lyrics contain many slang terms and references to specific locations and experiences, creating a vivid picture of a particular time and place.
Amidst the celebration, there is also a sense of danger and urgency. Mos Def invokes the image of "fire in the dark," suggesting that these pleasures are in some way illicit or risky. He also warns his listeners not to "front," acknowledging that not everyone approves of the lifestyle he's describing. Overall, however, the song is a joyous celebration of life in the ghetto, where pleasure and excitement can be found even in the midst of hardship and struggle.
Line by Line Meaning
Sex, love and money, fun
Having sex, being in love, and having money is fun
Brooklyn, sex, love, and money
In Brooklyn, people have sex, fall in love, and chase after money
Get up, come, danger
Get ready, come with me, there may be danger ahead
You are now rockin' with the best
You're in good company, listening to the best
Black dante exclusive, fire in the dark
This is an exclusive track by Black Dante, and it's hot even in the dark
Fire in the dark, ghetto let this spark
This hot track can light up and motivate the ghetto
Freaky black beauty with the party pal
A lovely and wild black woman with a friend who loves to party
Where you work it out got me fiendin'
I'm obsessed with the way you move your body
Bam, I hit the g ready for the street
I'm amped and ready to hit the streets
Heavy, ghetto sweet breezing through the evening
There's a heaviness to the ghetto, but it's also sweet and refreshing during the evening
Bam, I'm on the lounge path for the warm blast
I'm headed towards a relaxing spot for a warm breeze
Got the john shaft cocked back and loaded
I'm ready for action
Bam, I beat it, word john, body awesome
I'm impressed by your performance, you have an amazing body
Is the way that you come that got me goin'
The way you climax turns me on
Bam, I'm on the back streets rollin'
I'm cruising down the back streets
I'm playin back all the magic moments
I'm replaying all the amazing moments we've had
Don't front, you know I got ya, know I got ya
Don't pretend, you know I have your back
You sneaky freaky, but I know about ya, know about ya
You're naughty, but I'm aware of your secrets
You straight dope, I can't do without ya, go without ya
You're amazing, I can't live without you
Lay back and relax you mind, I'm 'bout to
Take it easy and relax, I'm about to...
Double the doses in half the time
I'll make it twice as good in half the amount of time
Ha, master physical, mastermind
I'm a master of the physical and mental aspects of the situation
You play it quiet but in private that ass is mine
You may seem reserved, but in private you're mine
We body rockin' the last of time
We're enjoying ourselves until the end of time
And then we, we body rockin' the last of time
We'll keep body rockin' until the end of time
Now shell on one deep it ain't nobody steppin'
Let's go out, just the two of us, there won't be any competition
Honey shell on ten deep it ain't nobody steppin'
If we go out with a big group, nobody will mess with us
Thousand shell or hundred deep, I'm there the body rockin', come on
Even in a huge crowd, I'll be there having a good time
I wanna show you in my ghetto miss I'm a star
I want to show off my success to you
I wanna show you love, I just can't help myself
I'm deeply in love with you and can't help it
Freaky, freaky, freaky, freaky black
A wild, crazy, sexy black person
Fun temperature's risin'
We're having a lot of fun and things are heating up
Freaky black beauty pretty purse and blouse
A lovely and wild black woman with a pretty outfit
Where you took it out got me leanin' bam
The way you move your body is driving me crazy
I hit the streets easy in my seat
I'm cruising down the streets comfortably
Lighting on my feet breezy like the evening bam
I'm light on my feet and enjoying the evening
I'm on the lunch pack feel the warm blast
I'm headed towards a relaxing spot for a warm breeze
Boogie bohn shaft cocked and loaded bam
I'm ready for a good time and prepared for action
Top and bottom, body awesome
Your entire body is amazing
I'm playin back all the magic moments, don't front
I'm replaying all the amazing moments we've had, don't pretend you don't feel it too
She know I got'cha, know I got'cha
She knows I have her back
You goog hurricane, go without'cha, go without'cha
You're the best, I couldn't live without you
The body rockin huh, the body rockin huh, the body rockin huh
We're having a great time dancing and moving our bodies
The body rockin says, don't stop the body rock
Keep dancing, enjoy yourself, and don't stop
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DANTE SMITH, WARRYN CAMPBELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ajesam George
on Ms. Fat Booty
https://soundcloud.com/.../sudenly-by-da-george-prod-by...