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
Six Days
Mos Def Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't read the newspapers because they all have
Ugly prints
Check me out
Check me out
Bring it on 'cause there's gonna be some shit tonight!
At the starting of the week
At summit talks you'll hear them speak
It's only Monday
Negotiations breaking down
See those leaders start to frown
It's sword and gun day
Tomorrow never comes until it's too late
(Come come come come come with it)
(Come come come come come with it)
You could be sitting taking lunch
The news will hit you like a punch
It's only Tuesday
(What time is it?)
You never thought we'd go to war
After all the things we saw
It's April Fool's Day
(What time is it?)
Tomorrow never comes until it's too late
Tomorrow never comes until it's too late
Tomorrow is another day
Today is another bomb
Tomorrow is another day
Today is another bomb
Tomorrow is another day
Today is another bomb
Tomorrow is another day
Today is another, bomb
Fire!
Here goes a shot!
Escalation, devastation
Generation, separation
Situation, dissipation
Shot!
Another shot another shot
The tender vessel pressure pop
The heart is cold the gun is hot(shot)
I'm not sure if they done or not
I'm not sure that they wanna stop
The gun is cold the blood is hot(shot)
(Shot shot shot shot shot shot shot)
The hearts are weak the guns are not
You hear a whistling overhead
Are you alive or are you dead?
It's only Thursday
(What time is it?)
You feel the shaking of the ground
A million candles burn around
Is it your birthday?
(What time is it?)
Tomorrow never comes until it's too late (get tomorrow on the phone)
Trying to be smart, get tomorrow on the phone
Tomorrow never comes until it's too late (I need to see tomorrow)
You trying to reach tomorrow
Think tomorrow's come I think it's too late
Another day!
Tomorrow is another day
Tomorrow is another day
Bring it on! Bring it on!
Bring it on cause there's goin' be shit tonight!
The song "Six Days" by Mos Def feat DJ Shadow, depicts the increasing sense of tension and violence in society. The lyrics describe a feeling of impending doom, suggesting that a riot might occur. The line, "Bring it on 'cause there's gonna be some shit tonight!", is a call to action, indicating that violence and chaos are inevitable. The use of the term "riot" suggests that there is deep-seated anger and frustration within the society as a whole, which has reached a boiling point. The repetition of the line "Tomorrow never comes until it's too late" is a warning, indicating that it is too late to prevent the impending violence and chaos. The imagery in the song is powerful, with lyrics that paint a vivid picture of a society that is teetering on the brink of collapse.
The first verse of the song sets the scene, describing the start of the week as a time for negotiations and talks. However, these talks quickly break down, leading to a sense of tension and unease. As the week progresses, the sense of tension grows, with the lyrics describing the news hitting "like a punch". The song highlights the way in which violence can escalate, with the repetition of the word "shot" indicating that once it begins, it is difficult to stop. The references to the heart and the vessel pressure popping indicate that the violence is taking a physical and psychological toll on society. The reference to a million candles burning around is particularly poignant, suggesting that society is on the brink of collapse, with everyone holding their breath, waiting for the inevitable explosion of violence.
Overall, "Six Days" is a powerful and evocative song that speaks to the sense of unease and tension that can exist within society. The song highlights the way in which violence can escalate, and the importance of addressing underlying issues before they reach a tipping point. The repetition of the line "Tomorrow never comes until it's too late" is a powerful warning, indicating that we need to act now to prevent violence and chaos from taking hold.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a feeling there's gonna be a riot
I have a premonition that a violent disturbance is imminent
I don't read the newspapers because they all have
Ugly prints
I avoid reading newspapers because they are filled with unpleasant news stories
Check me out
Check me out
Watch and observe me
Bring it on! Bring it on!
Bring it on 'cause there's gonna be some shit tonight!
Challenge me to a confrontation because it will likely result in an altercation tonight
At the starting of the week
At summit talks you'll hear them speak
It's only Monday
Negotiations breaking down
See those leaders start to frown
It's sword and gun day
During the beginning of the week, leaders meet and try to resolve conflict, but by Monday it's clear that disagreements are leading to violence and bloodshed
Tomorrow never comes until it's too late
The future seems far away until it's too late to change what has happened
(Come come come come come with it)
(Come come come come come with it)
Encouragement to join in a fight or contest
You could be sitting taking lunch
The news will hit you like a punch
It's only Tuesday
(What time is it?)
You never thought we'd go to war
After all the things we saw
It's April Fool's Day
(What time is it?)
Even while enjoying an ordinary meal, shocking news of war can abruptly change one's mood on a Tuesday, and the surprising announcement on April Fool's Day that war is beginning, seems like a cruel prank
Tomorrow is another day
Today is another bomb
The future holds the promise of another day, but the present holds the threat of unexpected danger
Fire!
Here goes a shot!
Escalation, devastation
Generation, separation
Situation, dissipation
Shot!
Another shot another shot
The tender vessel pressure pop
The heart is cold the gun is hot(shot)
I'm not sure if they done or not
I'm not sure that they wanna stop
The gun is cold the blood is hot(shot)
(Shot shot shot shot shot shot shot)
The hearts are weak the guns are not
The conflict heats up and leads to destruction, division, and confusion as lives are lost and the situation disintegrates quickly
You hear a whistling overhead
Are you alive or are you dead?
It's only Thursday
(What time is it?)
You feel the shaking of the ground
A million candles burn around
Is it your birthday?
(What time is it?)
By Thursday, the sounds of bombs can be heard and it becomes uncertain whether one will survive, and then there is chaos, darkness, and ambiguity after the shock of an explosion
Tomorrow never comes until it's too late (get tomorrow on the phone)
Trying to be smart, get tomorrow on the phone
Tomorrow never comes until it's too late (I need to see tomorrow)
You trying to reach tomorrow
Think tomorrow's come I think it's too late
There is an urgency to reach the future since that's when change can happen, but it's only possible to live in the present and today may already be too late to prevent what has occurred
Another day!
Tomorrow is another day
Tomorrow is another day
Another day will follow after the current one
Bring it on! Bring it on!
Bring it on cause there's goin' be shit tonight!
Encouragement to engage in a fight because it's sure to be an exciting night, with potential for conflict and violence
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brian Farrell, Josh Paul Davis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CharlieCordero
cuando me subo a mi skyline r34 es la primera cancion en mi lista, luego despierto y me voy a trabajar en bus
@MarcusLeGr8
😂😂
@SoFasT99
this should never go old ! as like the other masterpiece that he made and other big artist ! big up for all who made it to the REAL hip hop and rap and managed to stay on that track, not like the most that go for the money and sell therselves ... sorry for english xD
@luksoul3641
these songs are the ones that get better when more time passes
@johnmathew0089
I remember listening to this song when I was watching Tokyo drift. I always have this song when I walk to school.
@matiastroncoso6055
gran tema me recuerda a rapido y furioso 3 o reto tokio :)
@gorkem380
Eskimeyen efsane şarkı..
@Koenneok
Still love this joint!
@xXSwag26Xx
Dates of songs don't matter to me if its good its always good dats what it should be
@hakualex
Favorite part. You could be sitting taking lunch the news will hit you like a punch it's only Tuesday.