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
Undeniable )
Mos Def Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Live your life right
Make the beat the bump
It's like one for the treble
Two for the bass
Three for the pretty babies up in the place
The undeniable
I rock on the mic
And the world wanna dance
Fly like a dove
That come from up above
I'm rocking on the mic
And you can call me Mos love
Little homie you can call it what you want
But you can't call it weak
And you can't call it chump
And looking like that
Babe you need to call me up
Seven eighteen D-a-n-t-e, one what?
These jokers don't want none
And all the pretty mommies want some
Tell 'em come
BK do it how Biggie say
Spread love
R. Harrison, throw it on get 'em up
Dispirit and raw till they can't get enough
Haters get it twisted
Real niggas get it done
Buck down like a live round
Not a dum dum, bop bop
And you know, you know (make 'em say)
(No matter how hard you try
You can't stop us now)
Yea, the undeniable
(There ain't no future in fronting
So just love me now)
Yea, the undeniable
So I start a flow
Just want y'all to know
Just who your listening to
Black Dante
So listen let me tell ya
Who I am, and how I do
The undeniable
Respect a foundation that they can't hold
And it's bullet, shatter, and earthquake proof
See how I drop the jewel
It's the golden rule
A-B-C Always be cool
They need to teach it at every school It's the
A-B-Y Always be you
Def, and I always been true
Real, true
Skill, true Ill
Ghetto world I know exactly how it feels
(Some go work, and some go steal)
Children grow, women produce
And we rock on no matter what what you do
(No matter how hard you try
You can't stop us now)
Yea, the undeniable
(There ain't no future in fronting
So just love me now)
Yea, the undeniable
Yea, the undeniable, spread love y'all
6x spread love, it's the Brooklyn way
13x spread love,
Every day, Brooklyn way, can't deny, no
Matter how hard you try
Can't deny, can't deny, can't deny
Spread love you can give us a one
Uh, What it is, what you want
Get your mind right
It's the beat to bump
It's like one for the treble, two for the bass
Make no mistake, you are rocking with
Black Dante
The undeniable
Ha, Yea, The undeniable
Fantastic
Raw, dynamic, and real
You got the feel
Yea, the undeniable
Spread love
Undeniable
Spread love
Yea, the undeniable
Brooklyn way
So good to you
So hood to you
The song "Undeniable" by Mos Def is a celebration of himself as an artist, his roots, and his art form. The verses start with a question, "what it is, what you want?", which can be interpreted as a challenge to the listener to stay true to themselves and live their life unapologetically. Mos Def then goes on to proclaim his talent as a rapper, "I rock on the mic, And the world wanna dance, Fly like a dove, That come from up above". He also alludes to his personal life and history with the reference to "seven eighteen D-a-n-t-e, one what?" which is a call-out to his childhood address. The final verse talks about the struggles of growing up in the ghetto and the importance of staying true to oneself, "Ghetto world I know exactly how it feels, (Some go work, and some go steal) Children grow, women produce, And we rock on no matter what what you do".
The chorus is an anthem of sorts, with Mos Def implying that he is unstoppable and undeniable. He encourages love and respect for oneself, others, and one's craft. The use of the phrase "spread love" is repeated multiple times and can be seen as a mantra for the artist and the listeners. Overall, "Undeniable" is a song about confidence, self-love, and perseverance.
Line by Line Meaning
What it is, what you want?
What are you looking for? What do you want to achieve?
Live your life right
Live a righteous life with strong values and morals.
Make the beat the bump
Make the music thump and groove to it.
It's like one for the treble
One for the high-pitched sounds in the music.
Two for the bass
Two for the low-pitched sounds in the music.
Three for the pretty babies up in the place
Three for the beautiful women in the room.
The undeniable
Unquestionably talented and impossible to ignore.
Come to the party in a B-boy stance
Arrive at the party in a classic hip-hop dance pose.
I rock on the mic
I am a skilled and confident rapper.
And the world wanna dance
My music has the power to make people want to move and groove to it.
Fly like a dove
I soar above the rest with my unique talent and style.
That come from up above
My talent comes from a divine power.
I'm rocking on the mic
I am delivering an amazing performance as a rapper.
And you can call me Mos love
My rapper name is Mos Love and I appreciate love and positive energy in my life.
Little homie you can call it what you want
You can call me whatever name you like, but I won't let it bring me down.
But you can't call it weak
My talent and lyrics are strong and powerful, not weak.
And you can't call it chump
I am not a loser or a disappointment.
And looking like that
You are looking attractive and I notice you.
Babe you need to call me up
You should give me a call sometime.
Seven eighteen D-a-n-t-e, one what?
That's my street address, one to the what?
These jokers don't want none
These people don't want any of this talent or success.
And all the pretty mommies want some
The beautiful women are attracted to me and my talent.
Tell 'em come
Encourage them to come closer and enjoy my music and company.
BK do it how Biggie say
Brooklyn practices and executes the same style as the legendary Notorious B.I.G.
Spread love
Promote peace and unity through love and kindness.
R. Harrison, throw it on get 'em up
Ripley Harrison will play the song and let's party.
Dispirit and raw till they can't get enough
Perform passionately and authentically until the audience is satisfied.
Haters get it twisted
Critics misunderstand my lyrics and intent.
Real niggas get it done
Genuine and authentic people are the ones who accomplish great things.
Buck down like a live round
Move with energy and intensity like a live bullet.
Not a dum dum, bop bop
I am not a fool or a sucker, I am sharp and alert.
And you know, you know (make 'em say)
You understand, you get it, pump up the audience to agree with me.
(No matter how hard you try
No matter how much you oppose or resist my talent or message
You can't stop us now)
You cannot prevent us from succeeding and making great music and art.
Yea, the undeniable
It's a fact, we are undeniable and unstoppable.
(There ain't no future in fronting
There is no long-term benefit to pretending to be someone you are not.
So just love me now)
Let's just appreciate and enjoy each other in the present moment.
So I start a flow
I begin to rap and express myself through music.
Just want y'all to know
I want you to be aware and acknowledge my talent and message.
Just who your listening to
You already know, but it doesn't hurt to reiterate who's delivering this message.
Black Dante
My nickname is Black Dante and I am proud of my heritage and culture.
So listen let me tell ya
Pay attention, I have something important to say.
Who I am, and how I do
I am a talented rapper, and I perform with authenticity and creativity.
Respect a foundation that they can't hold
I honor and value my roots and culture, which cannot be taken away or ignored.
And it's bullet, shatter, and earthquake proof
My foundation and values are so strong, they can withstand anything.
See how I drop the jewel
Witness my wisdom and insight in my words and performance.
It's the golden rule
Live life by treating others how you want to be treated.
A-B-C Always be cool
Stay calm, collected, and composed in all situations.
They need to teach it at every school
This rule should be taught universally to every student.
A-B-Y Always be you
Stay true to yourself and maintain your identity and values.
Def, and I always been true
I have always been real, authentic, and true to myself and my audience.
Real, true
My talent and message are genuine and true.
Skill, true Ill
My rap skills and artistry are top-notch.
Ghetto world I know exactly how it feels
I understand and relate to the harsh realities of growing up in a rough neighborhood.
(Some go work, and some go steal)
Some people choose to work hard and some people choose to resort to thievery and crime.
Children grow, women produce
The world progresses as children mature and women give birth.
And we rock on no matter what what you do
We will keep creating and performing great music regardless of any obstacles or challenges.
Yea, the undeniable, spread love y'all
Promote love, peace, and unity, we are unstoppable.
6x spread love, it's the Brooklyn way
Repeat the message of spreading love and positivity, a common theme in Brooklyn culture.
13x spread love,
Further emphasize and repeat the message of spreading love.
Every day, Brooklyn way, can't deny, no
Every day, we live by the Brooklyn way and can't be denied.
Matter how hard you try
No matter how much you resist or challenge us.
Can't deny, can't deny, can't deny
We are undeniable and unbeatable.
Spread love you can give us a one
Spread love, show us your support.
Uh, What it is, what you want
What do you desire or want to achieve?
Get your mind right
Get your thoughts and perspective in order and aligned with your goals.
It's the beat to bump
The rhythm and tempo of the music is enthralling and irresistible.
Make no mistake, you are rocking with
Understand and acknowledge that you are experiencing and enjoying top-notch talent and performance.
Ha, Yea, The undeniable
Undoubtedly talented and impossible to ignore.
Fantastic
Exceptional, phenomenal, and awe-inspiring.
Raw, dynamic, and real
Honest, energetic, and authentic.
You got the feel
You can sense and feel the passion and energy in the music and performance.
Undeniable
Cannot be denied or ignored, superb and excellent.
Brooklyn way
Following the cultural values and lifestyle of Brooklyn, New York.
So good to you
Positively impacting and pleasing to your senses and emotions.
So hood to you
Representing and reflecting the raw and authentic nature of hip-hop culture.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHAEL OLIVIERE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ajesam George
on Ms. Fat Booty
https://soundcloud.com/.../sudenly-by-da-george-prod-by...