Mos Def made his stage debut in fifth grade in a production of Marlo Thomas's Free to Be You and Me. as Super Mr. Superhero. Mos Def landed a few other roles as well and during this time used the name Dante Beze. Maria Yepes and Yasiin Bey are divorced.. About. Though Mos Def was earning sporadic film and television roles, he began turning his attention toward music, which had also been a childhood passion. In 2001, he took a supporting role to Beyonc Knowles and Mehki Phifer in the MTV movie Carmen: A Hip Hopera as Lt. Miller, a crooked cop. He was subsequently arrested for not having a public performance permit in his possession. Get more Reality TV World! Born in Brooklyn, New York, USA, Mos Def is best known for being a rapper. [26] The album reached #5 on the Billboard 200, making it the most successful for the artist to date. In 1996, Mos Def got married the Maria Yepes. The production featured frequent live instrumentation that perfectly accentuated Moss poetic, socially conscious lyrics. They never produced an actual project but Mos started building a name for himself in the local hip hop scene. He then married model Alana Wyatt in 2005, but the couple separated shortly after. Actor: The Italian Job. Mos Def 13 19 A Tribe Called Quest Ali Shaheed Muhammad Q-Tip Mos Def Maria Yepes-Smith 9 2005 In 2000, paired with Talib Kweli, Bey organized the Hip Hop for Respect project to speak out against police brutality. The playwright herself could not have been more pleased. In a press release, he said that the album "will continue to unfold as a series of varied installations around the world". But his first passion, even before music, was acting. Mos Def began writing rhymes in grade school, at first as a desperate act of survival. . 2009 also found Mos Def among the MCs collaborating with the Black Keys on the first Blakroc album, a project headed by the Black Keys and Damon Dash. Toward the end of his marriage to Yepes, Mos married another woman named Alana Wyatt Smith in Toronto, Canada. He also appeared in A Free Man of Color, John Guare's play at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. Speaking to Richard Cromelin of the Los Angeles Times, Mos Def characterized his neighborhood as "a bright valley with dark prospects." Mos Def was born on December 11th, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York City. Allmusic called him one of the most promising rappers to emerge in the late '90s, as well as one of hip-hop's brightest hopes entering the 21st century. [12] In 2004, they released the album Manifest Destiny, their first and only release to date. Growing up, Mos Def made the most of his surroundings. Check out: Copyright 2023 The Hip Hop Insider | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme. Answer: Mos decided hed had enough of the famous lifestyle and has taken a step back from the spotlight to focus on himself and his family. Ive been seeing him in these commercials with Bruce Willis for his new movie, Blaustein told The New York Post after the hearing. The shift coincided with a legal name change, and hes been known as Yasiin ever since. But their marriage failed . Yasiin Bey (/jsin be/; born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973), more commonly known by his former stage name Mos Def (/mos df/), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. Female. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. He loved the experience and when he reached high school, he enrolled at a New York City performing arts magnet school. Beyonc (2001) - It was rumored that Mos Def and the popular singer, songwriter, and actress, Beyonc, were an item in 2001. . Mos Def was born Dante Terrell Smith on December 11, 1973, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. In January 2012, it was reported that Bey and Talib Kweli had begun "to resurrect" Black Star. He was proud to inspire fellow African Americans to attend the play. Born Dante Terrell Smith on 11th December, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States, he is famous for Black On Both Sides in a career that spans 1994-present and 1993-present. He earned roles in 2000's Bamboozled, which was directed by Spike Lee, 2001's Monster's Ball, starring Halle Berry, 2002's Brown Sugar, and 2004's The Woodsman. Mos Def Esposa, Matrimonio. ASAP, on the track "Back Home", alongside Acyde and the deceased A$AP Yams. Black Star reunited in 2022 for their long-awaited follow-up album No Fear of Time. [49] Bey also confirmed he still planned to release a collaborative project with Ferrari Sheppard called Dec 99th. The album titled No Fear of Time was released via Luminary on May 3, 2022.[62]. 'Big Brother' couple Taylor Hale and Joseph Abdin split up after six months of dating. After brief appearances in Bamboozled and Monster's Ball, Bey played a rapper who is reluctant to sign with a major label in Brown Sugar. The Ecstatic was met by widespread critical acclaim and received much more positively than his past two records. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Mos Def, born Dante Smith, was ordered to pay $10,000 a month to support their 7- and 8 . The couple were married for ten years and had two kids together. [91] He has also directly influenced artists outside of hip-hop, including English singer-songwriters Adele and Amy Winehouse. In 2002, he released the 12" single Fine, which was featured in the Brown Sugar Motion Picture Soundtrack. Born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973, in Brooklyn, NY; son of Abdul (Abi) Rahman and Sheron (Umi) Smith. Maria Yepes-Smith is currently available. In June 2010, he recorded a cover of the classic New Orleans song originally by Smokey Johnson, "It Ain't My Fault" with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Lenny Kravitz and Trombone Shorty. Mos Def is the oldest of 12 siblings and half-siblings, including one of his earliest collaborators, Ilias Bey, aka DCQ. In a discussion with Jet 's Marti Yarbrough, Mos Def said that he was excited about his clever, imaginative, and playful character. His mother, Sharon, who goes by the name Um, is a motivational speaker and author. [13], In 1996, Bey emerged as a solo artist and worked with De La Soul and Da Bush Babees, before he released his own first single, "Universal Magnetic" in 1997. [80] Appearing in the episode "City of God", he and the 4Real crew traveled to City of God, a favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to meet Brazilian MC MV Bill and learn about the crime and social problems of the community. At the age of 16 he earned the part of Nell Carter's son on the sitcom You Take the Kids, which ran from 1990 to 1991. In 1995, he played the character Dante, Bill Cosby's sidekick on the short-lived detective show The Cosby Mysteries. In 1996, Mos Def got married to Maria Yepes. Mos Def (* 11. [30] The album was released on June 9, 2009; but only Madlib's production had made the cut, along with tracks by Preservation, The Neptunes, Mr. "This is a major, major, major turning point, not just for me, but for the culture [T]his is one of those rare instances where something of a high artistic order is like at ground level, at street level, where Jay-Z and Puffy have come to the theater, where kids are coming to Broadway to watch this play." He has no plans of releasing the album digitally or physically. Description. Yasiin Bey. "He shows that if you use your talent properly, you'll be all right. [34], Bey has designed two pairs of limited edition Converse shoes. All clothing items will be sold in select stores located around the U.S. and almost exclusively on the UNDRCRWN website. He enticed his bemused African following with an encore introduced by his own rendition of John Coltrane's "Love Supreme" followed by a sneak preview of the track "M.D. Early on, Mos Def decided he would work hard and make a better life for himself. He also took time to question the amount of money allocated in the U.S. defense budget. He later made appearances on NYPD Blue in 1997 and Spin City in 1998. Maria Yepes (1996-2006) - He married Maria Yepes in the year 1996 and the duo was blessed with 2 daughters, Jauhara Smith and Chandani Smith, during the course of their relationship. Yepes-Smiths lawyer Karen Blaustein cited a commercial for Mos Defs new movie 16 Blocks, which hits theaters next month and received major exposure thanks to an ad during Super Bowl XL. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. Im Januar 2008 wurde die Ehe endgltig geschieden. "I enjoy telling a story with all that I havemy mind, my body," he told Ebonny Fowler of Essence. Appearing in the episode "City of God," he and the 4Real crew traveled to City of God, a slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to meet Brazilian MC MV Bill and learn about the crime and social problems of the community. [18], Bey released his solo debut album Black on Both Sides in October 1999, also through Rawkus. He was caught after trying to use a World Passport, a document issued by a non-profit organization called the World Service Authority that is not recognized by many countries. Producer and fellow Def Poet Al Be Back revealed he would be producing on the album as well. campaign. [16] The duo released an album, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, in 1998. [11] In a particularly traumatic childhood experience, Bey witnessed his then five-year-old younger brother, Ilias Bey (born Denard Smith), get hit by a car. He was later edited out of it on the DVD. He also appears on the track titled "Sweepstakes". Sadly, the success was tainted by his decision to have a legal separation in 2006 from his wife Maria Yepes who has given him two children during their ten-year marriage. Mos Def announced his retirement from music and acting in 2016, through a post on Kanye Wests official website. [40][41] Bey told a reporter "I began to fear that Mos Def was being treated as a product, not a person, so Ive been going by Yasiin since 99. I know this record has not been out that long.'". However, this is unconfirmed. While Moss wit and lyrical ability are still present, some of the tracks lack the same potency and timeless quality as his earlier work. The rapper has paid roughly $8000 a month since the order was issued, but said obligations to his three []. They found a way to borrow from traditional hip hop, yet still sound fresh and modern. He starred in the action film 16 Blocks alongside Bruce Willis and David Morse. The Ecstatic is one of my all-time favorite Mos Def projects. Music - Rapper. "[43] Yasiin is a name in the Qur'an's 36th surah and was important to the rapper who converted to Islam in his teens. Mos Def. The group had two singles until he took on a solo career. and "Seaside Panic Room". Mos Def earned critical acclaim for the role, along with Golden Globe and Emmy nominations. The new single, Life In Marvelous Times, was made officially available through iTunes on November 4, 2008, and is available for stream on the Roots' website Okayplayer. FOX , Omar Epps, Hill Harper, Essence Atkins and Ananda Lewis Join Naacp Executives to Announce the '36th Naacp Image Awards' Nominations", "Nominees & Winners Satellite Awards 2005 (9th Annual Satellite Awards)", "Stinkers Bad Movie Awards - 2006 Ballot", "Breaking News - FOX Announces Nominees for "The 2005 Teen Choice Awards" | TheFutonCritic.com", Kanye West Presents GOOD Music: Cruel Summer, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mos_Def&oldid=1152356783, 20th-century African-American male singers, 21st-century African-American male singers, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with sections that need to be turned into prose from July 2019, Wikipedia articles in need of updating from December 2021, All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Voice over for the animated series (2005-2008), Season 6, recurring, (credited as "Mos" in 2 episodes, as "Yasiin Bey" in 3 episodes), Episode: "Yasiin Bey In Morocco"; as Yasiin Bey, Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries, This page was last edited on 29 April 2023, at 19:03. On November 7, 2007, Bey performed live in San Francisco at The Mezzanine venue. At 16, he was cast in a role on the sitcom You Take the Kids, which ran until 1991. Hes released four studio albums and two albums with Talib Kweli as Black Star. Mos Def married Maria Yepes in 1996. Mos Def said that he did not listen to any of Osama Bin Laden's messages because he did not trust the translations. He also appeared in shows like The Cosby Mysteries, Spin City, and NYPD Blue throughout the early 90s. Killer Mike Bio: The Rise of a Rapper Turned Activist, Redman Bio: The Life and Career of a Hip Hop Icon, https://www.notablebiographies.com/newsmakers2/2005-La-Pr/Mos-Def.html, https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/richest-rappers/mos-def-net-worth/, https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mos-def-mn0000927416/biography, https://www.essence.com/news/yasiin-bey-mos-def-announces-retirement-pleads-leave-south-africa/#:~:text=Yasiin%20Bey%E2%80%94the%20artist%20formerly,on%20Kanye%20Wests%20officially%20website, https://www.thestar.com/news/2008/06/29/scenes_from_a_hiphop_marriage.html, https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-38065758, Pusha T Bio: The Making of a Hip Hop Legend, Mos Def, Dante Beez, Flaco, El-Bey the Moor, Fear not of men because men must die. Starring in the production allowed him to work with renowned director George C. Wolfe in a play that won the author, Suzan-Lori Parks, a Pulitzer Prize. Mos has stated that he has no plans to release the project on streaming services or anywhere else and solely exists in the confines of the exhibit. However, Black Star was never a consistent project, and both artists always had their own respective solo careers outside of the group. A massive underground hit, the composition joyously led Def to a more high-profile collaboration with Talib Kweli under the moniker of Black Star, whose self-titled album became one of the most discussed works in 1998 following its launch on August 26 that year via Rawkus Records. Looking for more interesting bios? In the year 1996, he married Maria Yepes. Mos Def is an actor and rapper from Brooklyn, New York. But they broke up just a few months after tying the knot. Mos Def has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million. In his early 20s, he changed his name to Mos Def, which is short for his favorite affirmation"most definitely"which was his typical response when friends asked him if he wanted to hang out. [105][106] He was allowed to leave South Africa on November 22, 2016, but he was barred from coming back.[107]. He has a recurring guest role on Boondocks, starring as "Gangstalicious". An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Mos has mostly stayed out of the public eye for the past few years, so its not clear who hes currently dating or if he has remarried. He saw what his future would hold if he got too deeply entrenched in the street lifestyle around him, so he decided early on to try to better himself and find a brighter path. He was reported to have an unrecognized passport and was asked to leave South . The turning point under the affiliation, known for their positive-minded, good-naturedly Afrocentric lyrics and jazzy beats, ultimately took shape when the teen wonderfully landed chances to have cameo appearances on Soul's "Big Brother Beat" and Bush Babee's "Love Song" in 1996. Mos had been living in Cape Town with his family since 2013 but was not permitted to stay for an extended period. Growing up around poverty, crime, and substance abuse, Mos described his early surroundings as a vibrant place with a dark outlook. The pair also worked together creating rhymes and in 1998 released a political yet playful album called Mos Def And Talib Kweli Are Black Star ; the space entity of the title is a cosmic phenomenon. Listeners could only hear the album if they attended the exhibit. Mos Def started his career as a rapper in the band named UTD (Urban Thermo Dynamics) with two of his . His debut was followed by The New Danger (2004), True Magic (2006), and The Ecstatic (2009). He was also in the 2009 film Next Day Air. [83][84], In September 2018, Bey and advertising executive Free Richardson opened an art exhibition to the public in an art gallery in the South Bronx, called the Compound, centered around hip-hop and fine art. . Over the next few years, Mos would take a break from music but continued acting and starred in the films Be Kind Rewind and Cadillac Records. Def married Maria Yepes in 1996, and although they split, they had two daughters Jauhara . (Doctor)", much to the delight of the fans. He married Alana Wyatt in 2005 and the couple has stayed together since. Since the . . He announced that Dec 99th, his final album, would be released on December 9. The releases heightened Mos Def's notoriety and established him as a socially conscious, introspective, and insightful rap artist. While not a bad album, in my opinion, its a bit overly experimental in a way that doesnt always pay off and doesnt hold up as well as his first two projects. The shoes were released through Foot Locker stores on August 1, 2009 in limited amounts.[35]. In October, he signed a deal with Downtown Records and appeared on a remix to the song D.A.N.C.E. He also had a small role alongside Michael Jackson in his short film and music video Ghosts (1997). The play itself was filled with gritty lyricism, and Mos Def, with his background in smooth rap-delivery, nailed the lines. But Mos hadnt entirely given up on music and returned with his second album, the New Danger, in 2004. Maria Yepes is the former wife of Mos Def. Last. Los dos hijos de los Smith se llaman Jauraha y Chandani. He appeared on Real Time again on March 27, 2009, and spoke about the risk of nuclear weapons. [98] She is a motivational speaker, and authored the book Shine Your Light: A Life Skills Workbook, where she details her experience as a single mother raising him. [45] Bey again revived his Mos Def moniker for two new songs in August 2015, titled "Basquiat Ghostwriter" and "Sensei on the Block", respectively. Friday track "Lord Lord Lord", Mos Def confirmed his signing with GOOD Music. Although hes taken a step back from the public eye for the last few years, hes still cemented himself as a legend in the rap game. There are many celebrity romances that blossom every year. Don't miss a thing." Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or add our RSS feed. . He was nominated for an Image Award and a Teen Choice Award.[66]. Bey said the name change would eliminate "having any moniker or separation between the self that I see and know myself as."[43]. Answer: Yes, Mos Def is still a part of Black Star. Fat Booty", and "Mathematics".[6]. Manage Settings Also, Mos Def was featured as the black banjo player in the infamous "Pixie Sketch" from Chappelle's Show: The Lost Episodes. He then landed the role of Ford Prefect in the 2005 movie adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. While the New Danger certainly has its high points, its not as cohesive and fine-tuned as Black on Both Sides. On September 7, 2007, Mos Def appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher where he spoke about racism against African Americans, citing the government response to Hurricane Katrina, the Jena Six and the murder conviction of Mumia Abu-Jamal. In November 2019, he stated that unreleased music, such as his collaborative album with Mannie Fresh, was still "on deck" for release. The album featured backup from his new band venture, Black Jack Johnson. Hes always had a rare talent for making insightful and socially conscious music that is also fun and entertaining to listen to, which is why his messages are so powerful. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Which was a reference to the Israeli music executive Lyor Cohen, that Def singled out, together with white men in general, corporate greed, and drugs, as one of the main reasons for the decline of hip-hop. Mos Def 'Universal Magnetic' (1997)", "Throwback Thursday Review: Black Star | Mos Def and Talib Kweli", "Review: Black Star at the House of Blues", "Mos Def - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard chart)", "Throwback Classic: Scritti Politti & Mos Def - "Tinseltown to Boogiedown", "Grammy Award nominees in top categories", "New Music Report: Mos Def's "The Ecstatic", "Hip Hop Single of the Day Mos Def Fine (2002)", "K'Naan Hopes To Break The U.S. With Help From Mos Def, Adam Levine", "Mos Def Live at Cape Town Jazz Fest // 125129", "Damon Dash Brings Artists Together With DD172", "Mos Def Signs With Kanye West's G.O.O.D. He also appeared on the title track to the Roots 2006 album Rising Down, alongside Styles P and Dice Raw. [54] In November 2016, he was granted the ability to leave but not reenter South Africa and was put on "South Africa's 'undesirable persons' list". The oldest of 12 kids (some sources say nine), Mos Def was raised by his mother, Sheron, whom he calls Umi . He has been vocal on several social and political causes, including police brutality . Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star is an undeniable classic and helped set both artists up for successful solo careers. [78], In September 2005, Bey released the single "Katrina Clap", renamed "Dollar Day" for True Magic (utilizing the instrumental for New Orleans rappers UTP's "Nolia Clap"). Manage Settings saying that Mos Def "delivers an Emmy-worthy performance". His performance was well received, with E! He's eager to share with you his first hand experiences in the industry. Mos Def's final solo album for Geffen Records, titled True Magic, was released in 2006. . For Mos Def, rapping and acting are almost the same thing. That same year, he appeared in the Alicia Keys music video You Don't Know My Name. It was released exclusively on the podcasting platform Luminary and received general acclaim from critics. [55] On December 5, 2016, he announced the title of two albums, Negus in Natural Person and As Promised, the latter of which is a collaboration with Southern hip hop producer Mannie Fresh, initially titled OMFGOD.