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
The Embassy
Mos Def Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
People seem to find that interesting
High status, intrigue and mystery
Special code name on the hotel registry
I love it when they say
Enjoy your stay
They say it how they mean it
'Cause that's how they been trained
A suite with a view
Well if anything at all
Do not hesitate to call
Nice the greatest the greatest
Compliments, tooth brush, tooth paste, razors
A bible, a Quran in a drawer
Or depending where you are
Tend to whisper through the walls
She was calling on God
The greatest the greatest
Salutations, congratulations
Reservations, exclusive arrangements
Dinner with the patrons
The scenery is amazing
It's so outrageous
They whisper when they say it
When it's really real it's even realer than the matrix
Classic modern ancient flagrant
Get a special thrill every time they get to say it
Peace
I work with the embassy
On behalf of imagination industry
I come visit
You come visit
Such a pleasure
Official business
The Embassy is a tribute to the mystery and intrigue that surrounds the world of espionage, and the lyrics illustrate the excitement of being part of this world. Mos Def highlights the high status that comes with working for the embassy by mentioning that people find it interesting. The special code name given to agents, which appears in the hotel registry, adds to the mysteriousness and glamour associated with this profession. When he arrives at the hotel, Mos Def loves it when they tell him to enjoy his stay. He appreciates that they mean it because that's how they have been trained to behave. He is shown to his room, which is a suite with a view, and offered anything he may need, no matter how small. The hotel staff goes out of their way to make it a pleasant stay for him by providing a bible, a Quran or other amenities depending on the locality.
Additionally, he mentions overhearing a woman in another room whisper prayers to God. This detail highlights the diversity of the people who stay in such hotels. The greatest compliments and arrangements are made for Mos Def, including dinner with the patrons who are associated with the embassy. The scenery is breathtaking, and Mos Def is amazed by the outlandishness of everything. Everything whispers when it is mentioned. The reality of the situation is much more exhilarating than what's depicted in the movies. Mos Def finishes by saying he enjoys visiting the embassy on official business and giving it the air of legitimacy.
Factoid:
* The Embassy was produced by Mr. Khaliyl, and is the fourth track on Mos Def's acclaimed debut album Black on Both Sides.
* The song samples Dialogue (Parts 1 & 2) by jazz musician Bobby Hutcherson.
* Mos Def reveals in the song that he worked for the embassy, which can be interpreted in different ways, ranging from a nod to the intelligence world to an acknowledgement of his African heritage.
* In 2005, Mos Def released a mashup of the song, where he combined vocals from the song with instrumentals from the Gorillaz's Feel Good Inc.
* The Embassy has been performed live by Mos Def on various occasions, including at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in 2007.
* The song received significant radio airplay when it was released and has since become a cult classic.
* Rolling Stone magazine listed The Embassy as one of the 50 Greatest Hip Hop Songs of All Time in 2012.
* The song is often used in films and TV shows that require a spy or mystery theme.
* The Embassy showcases Mos Def's poetic side, and has been widely praised for its creative use of language and metaphors.
* The Embassy also offers a social commentary on power dynamics and how they can be manipulated.
Chords: Unfortunately, the chords for The Embassy are not publicly available as it is primarily an instrumental and sample-based song.
Line by Line Meaning
Mentioned that he worked for the embassy
He told people that he was associated with the embassy
People seem to find that interesting
The mention of embassy captured people's attention
High status, intrigue and mystery
Embassy is associated with power and secrets
Special code name on the hotel registry
He checked in with a code name, as per embassy protocol
I love it when they say
Enjoy your stay
They say it how they mean it
'Cause that's how they been trained
He likes the way embassy personnel greet guests in a professional manner, per their training
Show you to your room
A suite with a view
Well if anything at all
Do not hesitate to call
Embassy staff provides good service to VIP guests, who can expect luxury accommodations and immediate assistance if needed
Nice the greatest the greatest
Compliments, tooth brush, tooth paste, razors
A bible, a Quran in a drawer
Or depending where you are
Tend to whisper through the walls
Embassy provides amenities like toiletries, holy books and offers quiet privacy
She was calling on God
The greatest the greatest
Refers to a spiritual experience at the embassy
Salutations, congratulations
Reservations, exclusive arrangements
Dinner with the patrons
Embassy offers exclusive dining and reservations to its privileged guests
The scenery is amazing
It's so outrageous
They whisper when they say it
When it's really real it's even realer than the matrix
Embassy surroundings are impressive and awe-inspiring, making people whisper about it, and it's more magnificent than the fictional Matrix universe
Classic modern ancient flagrant
Get a special thrill every time they get to say it
Embassy represents a mix of different cultures, and people take pride in talking about it
Peace
I work with the embassy
On behalf of imagination industry
I come visit
You come visit
Such a pleasure
Official business
The song is about Mos Def's association with embassy and visiting others on official business related to the creative industry
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Dante Smith, G. Bousquet, Ihsan Al Munzer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SamHutchings-ko8ux
this beats HARD!!!!!!!!!!
@limits96
Lyrics
[Intro]
"Boogie (Boogie) man (man)"
"This is your captain speaking, with just a little flight information
Coming up on the left we're going to be catching a glimpse of the Grand Canyon
On the right you can be able to see the Hoover Dam in just a few minutes
We're flying at an altitude of 37,000 feet
And our airspeed is four hundred miles an hour
Couple little facts here
I'm packing a Colt King Cobra
That's a .357 caliber firearm with a black rubber-grip and a six-inch barrel
Also, the co-pilot is carrying a Kimber Custom defense pistol
With all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a custom gun of that kind
With an alloy frame and bevel treatment on the entire gun
And our Chief Flight Attendant Roger has a, uh Ruger Bearcat
That .22 with a hand-fluted cylinder
All three are capable of piercing body armor at a distance of up to twenty-seven feet
And you can put a hole in human bone and flesh the size of the Grand Canyon
Which by the way is coming up on the left-hand side of the plane
So just sit back, relax, and enjoy the rest of your flight..."
[Verse: Yasiin Bey]
From the top, la, la, la, la...
La, la, la, la, lalalalala...
La, la, la, la... la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
Mentioned that he worked for the embassy
People seem to find that interesting
High status, intrigue and mystery
Special code name on the hotel registry
I love it when they say
"Enjoy your stay"
They say it how they mean it
Cause that's the way they been trained
Show you to your room
A suite with a view
When, if anything at all
Do not hesitate to call
Nice! The greatest, the greatest
Compliments, tooth brush, tooth paste, razors
A Bible, a Qur'an in a drawer
Or depending where you are
Tend to whisper through the walls
She was calling on God
The greatest, the greatest
Salutations, congratulations
Reservations, exclusive arrangements
Dinner with the patrons, the scenery is amazing
It's so outrageous, they whisper when they say it
When it's really real it's even realer than "The Matrix"
Classic, modern, ancient, flagrant
Get a special thrill every time they get to say it
Peace! I work with the embassy
On behalf of imagination industry
I come visit, you come visit
Such a pleasure, official business
La, la, la, la...
La, la, la, la, la-la-la-la...
(Boogey, boogey, man, man)
La, la, la, la...la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
The Embassy...greetings
@TROLLO_DA_GOAT
harry potter face dude