Dante Terrell Smith (born December 11, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York, United S… Read Full Bio ↴Dante Terrell Smith (born December 11, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York, United States), now known by the stage name Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def), is a Grammy Award-nominated rapper and actor. He now works under the nom de plum Yasiin Bey, and has performed under the aliases Mighty Mos Def, The Freaky Night Watchman, Boogie Man, Black Dante and Pretty Flaco. He began rapping in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics in 1994, and then formed the duo Black Star with Talib Kweli in 1998. As a solo artist he has released the albums Black on Both Sides in 1999, The New Danger in 2004, True Magic in 2006 and The Ecstatic in 2009. Initially recognized for his musical output, Mos Def's screen work since the early 2000s has established him as one of only a handful of rappers who have garnered critical approval for their acting work.

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

What
Mos Def Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Took spanish one for four years, just so you know
Spit my shit right here

Oigame, malo muchacho
Mos Def con Tony Flaco, el idioma que yo hablo
Pretty young champ like Camacho, spittin the hot flow
B-Boy shout, Zulu gestapo, bro
You know my stilo, cigarrillo con tamarindo

Habichuelas negras, arroz amarillo
Yo soy suave viejito, campeon nacional como Tito
Bringin the heat bro, unique when I speak yo
Doin my Way like Carlito, beats by M-A-S-E-O
From Panama to Puerto Rico, play my jam on Caliente noventa y siete
On the expressway, and press play, see what ya neck say
Duro siempre, para mi gente, ganamos
Se acabo venga vamos, corillo, alcen las manos
Blowin ya spot like I got toast
A lotta MC's is Def, but they not Mos, and not close
Understand it when I shine, all your light is through
Ya niggas wack in one language, I'm nice in two, fuck is you

[Chorus]
Que eso? Tu no sabe mi sonido
Siempre ganamos, nunca perdimos
Para quien? Blanco, Negro, Latino
Del mundo, cuando junto, que profundo
Que eso? Tu no sabe mi sonido
Siempre ganamos, nunca perdimos
Para quien? Blanco, Negro, Latino
Corillo, so my street folk come unidos

I got chips, to Ziploc grips to burst
Non-conventional, original B-Boy, my peeps call me Merc'
I'm from N.Y.C., so see why in me
There's a lot of hustlin', found around my cheek
Sippin' strawberry daq, that ain't never been fucked
Try to catch me off balance, man, you shit outta luck
Cause we got more rams, and I drivin' y'all
Got the people like the jams, more live than y'all
I'm wit Tone Touch, while ya all touched in the head
Such a lethal combination, got you facin' the red
And um, yo, you don't want no parts in that
You style so pussy, last name should be Cat
We takin it back, like flea stacks and pylons
Wit the ladies in a frenzy, runnin' they nylon
Reveal flesh to test, cause I love bruisin' 'em
Treat my battles like my children nigga, I'm never losin' 'em

Aiyo, what's that? You don't know, that's my sound yo
No one can rock it like this, we put it down yo
For who? Black, white, purple or brown yo
It's Mos, De La, and Touch, we hold the crown yo
Pero what's that? You don't know, that's my sound yo
No one can rock it like this, we put it down yo
For who? Black, white, purple or brown yo
So all my street folk come on gather round yo

Pardon me son, but the only Spanish I knew, was dame un beso
Cut bitches wit niggas, who nettin' the peso
Ya breathin' on beats like this, if you say so
I stay sippin' on God theories, so where the case yo?
Wait flow on four floors like film edits
Fuck sayin' the name, you read it in the credits
Sit that ass down on my lyrics
We servin' niggas up some beans and rice, everything is everything
Heavy metal thing, rock, wit Mos and Pos and us
Written flows get broke down by the comas
From L.I. lawn, I green shit up in my wallets
To fly the wrong places, and get red like scarlet
How I dollar it, I just earn the say
So when the itchy itchy come, I satisfy the crave
And let it fall a little too much
I let Tone touch my ears to let the bullshit disappear

Pa' 'fuera, tu no sabe, mi manera
Native tongue, puttin' it down, donde quiera
De La, Mos Def wit a candela
Borinquen, que bonita bandera
Respect the architect or be next to catch a pela
I send ya all runnin' home to your abuela
Cash rap over a beat or acapella
Kick a wicked rhyme like a fortune teller
This fella, se pone feo quando llego
I still be shoutin' out cats in San Diego
I'm still in effect, and I'm still doin the huevo
I still be putting it down, till I'm a viejo
Man, you can't tell me nothin' about the juego
I told ya suckas before, leggo my eggo
Yet you insist upon playin' wit fuego
But I catch you on the rebound, hasta luego, pendejo

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

In "What's That?", Mos Def showcases his bilingual skills by dropping rhymes in both English and Spanish. He states that he took Spanish for four years and then spits some verses in the language. Mos Def talks about his impressive skills and unique style of rapping. He talks about his multicultural appeal and how his music brings people from different races and backgrounds together. Mos Def also talks about the importance of keeping it real and staying true to oneself in the rap game.

The chorus emphasizes Mos Def's confidence in his sound and its ability to transcend race and ethnicity. The verse of Tony Touch highlights the importance of staying sharp and original in the game, as well as maintaining one's street credibility. The final verse, by Q-Tip, emphasizes the importance of respect and staying true to one's roots, expressing pride in his Puerto Rican heritage and his contribution to the Native Tongues collective.

Line by Line Meaning

Took spanish one for four years, just so you know
I studied Spanish for four years to speak fluently

Spit my shit right here
I'm rapping right now

Oigame, malo muchacho
Listen up, bad boy

Mos Def con Tony Flaco, el idioma que yo hablo
Mos Def with Tony Flaco, the language I speak

Pretty young champ like Camacho, spittin the hot flow
I'm talented like Camacho and rapping with a great flow

B-Boy shout, Zulu gestapo, bro
I represent the B-Boy culture and Zulu Nation with my rhymes

You know my stilo, cigarrillo con tamarindo
You know my style, smoking a cigar with tamarind taste

Habichuelas negras, arroz amarillo
Black beans and yellow rice, a meal from my culture

Yo soy suave viejito, campeon nacional como Tito
I'm smooth and a national champion like Tito

Bringin the heat bro, unique when I speak yo
I'm bringing the heat and my rhyming style is one of a kind

Doin my Way like Carlito, beats by M-A-S-E-O
My way of rapping is similar to Carlito's and the beats are produced by M-A-S-E-O

From Panama to Puerto Rico, play my jam on Caliente noventa y siete
From Panama to Puerto Rico, my music is played on Caliente 97FM radio station

On the expressway, and press play, see what ya neck say
Play my music on the expressway and see how your head nods to the beat

Duro siempre, para mi gente, ganamos
Always hard for my people, we win

Se acabo venga vamos, corillo, alcen las manos
It's over, let's go, come on guys, raise your hands

Blowin ya spot like I got toast
I'm taking your spot like I have a gun

A lotta MC's is Def, but they not Mos, and not close
Many rappers have Def in their name, but they're not me and they're not similar

Understand it when I shine, all your light is through
When I shine, your light becomes insignificant

Ya niggas wack in one language, I'm nice in two, fuck is you
You're not even good at rapping in one language, I'm talented in two, who are you?

Que eso? Tu no sabe mi sonido
What's that? You don't know my sound

Siempre ganamos, nunca perdimos
We always win, never lose

Para quien? Blanco, Negro, Latino
For whom? White, black, Latino

Del mundo, cuando junto, que profundo
From the world, when we come together, it's deep

Corillo, so my street folk come unidos
Group of people, so my fellow street folks come together

I got chips, to Ziploc grips to burst
I have money and the means to keep it safe

Non-conventional, original B-Boy, my peeps call me Merc'
I'm unique, an original B-Boy; my peers call me Merc

I'm from N.Y.C., so see why in me
I'm from New York City, so understand my background

There's a lot of hustlin', found around my cheek
I grew up in a place where hustling is common

Sippin' strawberry daq, that ain't never been fucked
Drinking a strawberry daiquiri, something that never went wrong before

Try to catch me off balance, man, you shit outta luck
If you try to trick me, you'll fail miserably

Cause we got more rams, and I drivin' y'all
Because we have more talent, we're driving you away

Got the people like the jams, more live than y'all
People prefer my music, it's more exciting than yours

I'm wit Tone Touch, while ya all touched in the head
I'm with Tone Touch, while you're all crazy

Such a lethal combination, got you facin' the red
A dangerous team, you're facing great danger

And um, yo, you don't want no parts in that
You don't want to be involved in this

You style so pussy, last name should be Cat
Your rapping style is weak and timid

We takin it back, like flea stacks and pylons
We're bringing it back, to simpler times

Wit the ladies in a frenzy, runnin' they nylon
The women are excited and running around

Reveal flesh to test, cause I love bruisin' 'em
I like making women uncomfortable by exposing skin

Treat my battles like my children nigga, I'm never losin' 'em
I take my rap battles seriously and never lose them

Aiyo, what's that? You don't know, that's my sound yo
Hey, what's that? You don't know, that's my music style

No one can rock it like this, we put it down yo
No one can perform like us, we're the best

Borinquen, que bonita bandera
Borinquen, what a beautiful flag

Respect the architect or be next to catch a pela
Respect the creator or you'll face punishment

I send ya all runnin' home to your abuela
I make you scared and you run home to your grandma

Cash rap over a beat or acapella
I make money by rapping over a beat or acapella

Kick a wicked rhyme like a fortune teller
I rap skillfully, like a fortune teller tells fortunes

This fella, se pone feo quando llego
This guy acts ugly when I arrive

I still be shoutin' out cats in San Diego
I'm still giving recognition to artists in San Diego

I'm still in effect, and I'm still doin the huevo
I'm still active and rapping explosively

I still be putting it down, till I'm a viejo
I'll keep making music until my old age

Man, you can't tell me nothin' about the juego
You can't teach me anything about the game

I told ya suckas before, leggo my eggo
I warned you before, leave me alone

Yet you insist upon playin' wit fuego
You keep playing with fire, even though it's dangerous

But I catch you on the rebound, hasta luego, pendejo
But I'll catch you off guard, goodbye, idiot

Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOSEPH A. HERNANDEZ, DAVID J JOLICOEUR, VINCENT LAMONT MASON, KELVIN MERCER, DANTE SMITH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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