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
Supermagic
Mos Def Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ecstatic ecstatic
Classic
Flow
Super magic black origin freshly out of dopeness
Definitely out of dopeness, sketch another opus
Knock off your set, Brooklyn we keep 'em open
Mojo hand healing power like Bang
Snap, I rebuke these snitches
We know the truth, you can't confuse me bitches
Great name, greater than all your riches
Yah Dante Flaco Bey that's the business
Repeat, I rebuke these snitches
We know the truth, you can't confuse me bitches
Strong magic that bust all your wishes
Cherokee Chief rock upon cha rock it don't stop
And let's get
Yes
You're now rockin' with the Def
Lararara
Oh oh oh oh
It's like heartbeat, you make me feel
So, real
Super magic black origin freshly out of dopeness
Definitely out of dopeness, sketch another opus
Knock off your set, Brooklyn we keep 'em open
Again again
Super magic black origin freshly out of dopeness
Definitely out of dopeness, sketch another opus
Knock off your set, come close and get 'em open
Get it here, let it go!
Ectasy
The heavens expand the stars advance feel the boogieman
Nice!
Magic!
The opening track of Mos Def's 2009 album The Ecstatic, "Supermagic," is a display of the rapper's masterful lyricism and flow. The lyrics reference Black culture and history, as well as Mos Def's personal beliefs and experiences. Mos Def starts off the song with the line “Super magic black origin freshly out of dopeness”, which asserts that blackness is imbued with an inherent sense of magic and wonder. He goes on to rap about his ability to create quality music and challenge the status quo of the music industry. The line “Knock off your set, Brooklyn we keep ‘em open” is a nod to his hometown and its influence on him.
Throughout the verses, Mos Def makes use of wordplay and references to hip-hop culture. He includes the line “Mojo hand healing power like Bang,” which references the African American vernacular term “mojo,” meaning a magical charm or talisman. He also asserts his disdain for snitches and those who exploit hip-hop culture for profit. The chorus, “It’s like heartbeat, you make me feel, so real,” is a nod to the power that music has in bringing people together and making them feel alive.
Overall, "Supermagic" is a celebration of Black culture and a call for hip-hop artists to use their influence to create positive change in the world. Mos Def's intricate wordplay, use of metaphor and cultural references make this song a standout in his discography.
Line by Line Meaning
Super magic black origin freshly out of dopeness
This is an incredibly impressive and wondrous piece of art that comes straight from the source, with a freshness that's undeniable, and skill so refined that it can only be described as dope.
Definitely out of dopeness, sketch another opus
The artist is so dope that they can produce incredible work again and again, with each new work of art being just as impressive as the last.
Knock off your set, Brooklyn we keep 'em open
This artist from Brooklyn is so impressive that they're able to knock off any competition, leaving the people of Brooklyn always wanting more.
The heavens expand the stars advance feel the boogieman
The vast and wondrous universe is constantly expanding and changing, with new advancements and discoveries happening all the time - but there's also an ever-present, underlying darkness that lingers underneath it all.
Mojo hand healing power like Bang
This incredible talent has the power to heal and uplift like no other - it's like a magical spell that can make everything better.
Snap, I rebuke these snitches
The artist is calling out any fake or false people who claim to be something they're not, and shutting them down with ease.
We know the truth, you can't confuse me bitches
No matter what anyone else tries to tell them, this artist knows exactly who they are and what they stand for - there's no confusing them.
Great name, greater than all your riches
This artist's name is worth more than any amount of wealth or material possessions - it carries a weight and significance that goes beyond money.
Yah Dante Flaco Bey that's the business
This is the artist's name, and it has significant meaning - it's not just a name, it's a business.
Strong magic that bust all your wishes
This artist's incredible talent is so strong that it can make anything they wish for come true - it's like a powerful magical force.
Cherokee Chief rock upon cha rock it don't stop
This artist is like a Native American chief, standing firm and unyielding, always moving forward and never stopping, no matter what obstacles come their way.
Yes, you're now rockin' with the Def
The listener is now experiencing the incredible talent of the artist, and it's like nothing they've ever heard before - they're truly in awe.
It's like heartbeat, you make me feel, so real
Listening to this artist's music is like having a heart-to-heart conversation with someone you truly respect and admire - it feels real and meaningful.
Again again, Super magic black origin freshly out of dopeness
This artist is so uniquely talented that they can continue to produce incredible work, with each new piece being just as impressive as the last.
Sketch another opus, knock off your set, come close and get 'em open
This artist is constantly creating new works of art, with each one being just as impressive as the last - they're able to knock out any competition and leave people begging for more.
Get it here, let it go!
This work of art is so incredible that the listener should get it and hold on tight, enjoying it for all it's worth - they should let go of their inhibitions and allow themselves to be fully immersed in the experience.
Ecstatic, Ecstatic, Classic, Flow, Super magic black origin freshly out of dopeness
This artist's style is truly unique and one-of-a-kind - it's both classic and modern, with an incredible flow that makes the listener feel like they're experiencing magic.
Nice! Magic!
This artist's work is so incredibly impressive that the listener can't contain their excitement - it's just pure magic!
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DANTE SMITH, MICHAEL JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dreamer
Let's salute the guitarist Fehiman Ugurdemir who played that piece at the age of 19.
Claude Imanuel
Salute!!
taylan
yeeeees i knew the original sample was familiar !! my mom used to play this in the car . the song is called ince ince by selda bagcan
Teoman Kilic
thanks to the rock music of Selda Bağcan he could make this awesome beat
Imparator
she is not the beatmaker u serious
Çağtürk Karacan
just sample
TheMrJDeezy
@Imparator The sample. He's talking about the creator of the sample.
Harrison Brand
Oh No made the beat
Hasan Hasan
"She"
Oni
70's Turkish rock vibes.