Mos Def Biography

Mos Def, Musician
Born asDante Terrell Smith
Occup.Musician
FromUSA
BornDecember 11, 1973
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Age50 years
Dante Terrell Smith, understood expertly as Mos Def and also later on as Yasiin Bey, is a prolific American actor, rapper, as well as activist. Born upon December 11, 1973, in Brooklyn, New York, he started his venture right into hip-hop at a really young age. A brilliant talent, Mos Def observed the complexities of the American metropolitan experience, which he would later on utilize as motivation for his music and also acting profession.

Increased in a family with a solid artistic background, his daddy Abdul Rahman was an aesthetic musician, and his mommy Sheron Smith was a gifted writer who worked as a legal assistant. As the oldest of 12 siblings, Mos Def took on wonderful obligation in his early years, assisting the formation of his fully grown overview on life.

Mos Def attended the Philippa Schuyler Middle School for the Gifted as well as Talented for his primary education, where he refined his innovative capabilities. Showing interest in the performing arts from a young age, he began acting in college productions, and as he matured, he leaned towards hip-hop.

Mos Def's very first recognizable efficiency as a rapper can be traced back to the tv show "Yo! MTV Raps" in 1991, where he looked like a visitor. Not long after, he made his professional music launching in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics (UTD), including his siblings, Ces and DCQ. In spite of videotaping an album, UTD dissolved because of limited business success.

Mos Def after that included in a couple of singles together with rappers such as De La Soul as well as Da Bush Babees, gaining him the track record of a capable lyricist. It was in 1997, when Mos Def would experience a significant innovation as component of the team Black Star. Along with fellow rap artist Talib Kweli, they formed Black Star and launched the album "Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star", which got go crazy testimonials as well as ended up being a timeless.

In 1999, Mos Def launched his iconic and also critical solo album "Black on Both Sides", catapulting him to popularity in the hip-hop globe. The cd presented Mos Def's thought-provoking lyrical skills, jazz influence, and infectious charm, solidifying him as a pressure to be reckoned with.

Mos Def's occupation in acting started by appearing on small TV functions, but it escalated greatly with his successful tryout for "The Cosby Mysteries" in 1994. Advancing his acting accreditation, Mos Def appeared in motion pictures and also television programs, consisting of "The Italian Job", "16 Blocks", "Something the Lord Made", "Be Kind Rewind", as well as "Dexter".

As a politically conscious artist, Mos Def used his platform to articulate his political point of views as well as activism work. He has actually been a supporter for social justice, slamming techniques as well as plans versus African Americans and advertising conscious hip-hop.

In 2011, Mos Def chose to embrace the tag Yasiin Bey to represent a new phase in his life. He continued his pursuit of music and also acting, broadening his perspectives to various other creative outlets such as style as well as modeling.

The multifaceted Mos Def stays a popular number in the hip-hop area and also the globe of enjoyment. With his informative lyrics, unwavering interest for activism, and one-of-a-kind character that defies convention, he is a real pressure at the intersection of music, film, and also social justice.

Our collection contains 33 quotes who is written / told by Mos.

Related authors: Macy Gray (Musician), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete), Talib Kweli (Musician)

Discography:
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33 Famous quotes by Mos Def

Small: It wouldnt be fair to cast aspersions on an entire cultural movement based on the actions of a few.
"It wouldn't be fair to cast aspersions on an entire cultural movement based on the actions of a few. To quote my grandfather, 'One bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch.'"
Small: I cant control what people think. Im not trying to manipulate peoples thoughts or sentiments. I write a
"I can't control what people think. I'm not trying to manipulate people's thoughts or sentiments. I write all the time. You have to experience life, make observations, and ask questions. It's machine-like how things are run now in hip-hop, and my ambitions are different"
Small: I guess something that you love to do, you gotta ease up off it and give it a little space, come back a
"I guess something that you love to do, you gotta ease up off it and give it a little space, come back and be fresh to it"
Small: I dont want to waste anyones time or money. I want to give people some truth and positive heart lift
"I don't want to waste anyone's time or money. I want to give people some truth and positive heart lift"
Small: Focused. Im a hustler. And my hustle is trying to figure out the best ways to do what I like without ha
"Focused. I'm a hustler. And my hustle is trying to figure out the best ways to do what I like without having to do much else"
Small: Everythings got space between it, the planets, trees, your eyes. Your eyes get too close together, its
"Everything's got space between it, the planets, trees, your eyes. Your eyes get too close together, it's a whole different world. You can lose perspective"
Small: And remember dont high post when youre far from home, and high posting when youre all alone
"And remember don't high post when you're far from home, and high posting when you're all alone"
Small: All the things that are worth doing, take time
"All the things that are worth doing, take time"
Small: What I take from writers I like is their economy - the ability to use language to very effective ends.
"What I take from writers I like is their economy - the ability to use language to very effective ends. The ability to have somebody read something and see it, or for somebody to paint an entire landscape of visual imagery with just sheets of words - that's magical"
Small: Im retiring the Mos Def name after 2011. Im actually doing it
"I'm retiring the Mos Def name after 2011. I'm actually doing it"
Small: I dont hate nobody. I hate certain conditions that are inflicted upon the people - and theyre helpless
"I don't hate nobody. I hate certain conditions that are inflicted upon the people - and they're helpless with it"
Small: I didnt want to have to deal with having any moniker or separation between the self that I see and know
"I didn't want to have to deal with having any moniker or separation between the self that I see and know myself as"
Small: Its possible and available to any artist to be himself or herself on their own terms, to be accepted an
"It's possible and available to any artist to be himself or herself on their own terms, to be accepted and embraced by black people. You don't have to be a thug to get love from black people"
Small: Im just an artist and Im doin what I like to do
"I'm just an artist and I'm doin' what I like to do"
Small: I never had any ambitions of being a movie star or anything like that, but you know, this is nice
"I never had any ambitions of being a movie star or anything like that, but you know, this is nice"
Small: I have no confidence issues with the impact or the quality of the music. No one in hip-hop, before this
"I have no confidence issues with the impact or the quality of the music. No one in hip-hop, before this point and to this point, with all due respect, has done this"
Small: Good art provides people with a vocabulary about things they cant articulate
"Good art provides people with a vocabulary about things they can't articulate"
Small: I just dont think its very dignified to ask people to like you. You can just wind up being somebodys ot
"I just don't think it's very dignified to ask people to like you. You can just wind up being somebody's ottoman"
Small: I feel like being into the beat of your own drum has become too prominent in the culture
"I feel like being into the beat of your own drum has become too prominent in the culture"
Small: I dont wanna get into that space where a lot of guys now, their solo album is like eight or 10 songs wi
"I don't wanna get into that space where a lot of guys now, their solo album is like eight or 10 songs with other people, you don't get an idea of who this guy is. I just wasn't interested in that"
Small: African art is functional, it serves a purpose. Its not a dormant. Its not a means to collect the large
"African art is functional, it serves a purpose. It's not a dormant. It's not a means to collect the largest cheering section. It should be healing, a source a joy. Spreading positive vibrations"
Small: To me, the job of the artist is to provide a useful and intelligent vocabulary for the world to be able
"To me, the job of the artist is to provide a useful and intelligent vocabulary for the world to be able to articulate feelings they experience everyday, and otherwise wouldn't have the means to express in a meaningful and useful way"
Small: Im trying to get low. Peoples personalities can get in the way of their own work
"I'm trying to get low. People's personalities can get in the way of their own work"
Small: I was taught when theres somethin you can change around keep quiet, you got nothin to complain about
"I was taught when there's somethin' you can change around keep quiet, you got nothin' to complain about"
Small: I dont mind being black. Im black out loud. Its more than the people that they are, its the condition t
"I don't mind being black. I'm black out loud. It's more than the people that they are, it's the condition that they represent"
Small: I come from a family of very devout, praying people. That idea of peace and love toward humanity should
"I come from a family of very devout, praying people. That idea of peace and love toward humanity shouldn't be nationalistic or denominational. It should be a chief concern for all mankind"
Small: Mos Def is a name that I built and cultivated over the years its a name that the streets taught me a fi
"Mos Def is a name that I built and cultivated over the years it's a name that the streets taught me a figure of speech that was given to me by the culture and by my environment and I feel I've done quite a bit with that name and it's time to expand and move on"
Small: Im not shy about heated debate or passionate discourse, but when people get crazy or rude, thats a buzz
"I'm not shy about heated debate or passionate discourse, but when people get crazy or rude, that's a buzz kill. There's got to be a better code of conduct, some basic etiquette"
Small: Im growing as an individual, but your always growing. All of my albums are snapshots of where I am arti
"I'm growing as an individual, but your always growing. All of my albums are snapshots of where I am artistically"
Small: Im a passionate person. Im a lot of things, like most people are. Most people are dynamic. The focus is
"I'm a passionate person. I'm a lot of things, like most people are. Most people are dynamic. The focus is not on me though, I'm a screen. The aim is to always keep myself in the position where the screen is clear"
Small: I have mad brims
"I have mad brims"
Small: I get reminded a lot of the time that my life is a little bit different, but Im just trying to keep it
"I get reminded a lot of the time that my life is a little bit different, but I'm just trying to keep it as regular as possible because I like it that way"
Small: I feel like I was the only person who was capable of making this type of music in this type of way.
"I feel like I was the only person who was capable of making this type of music in this type of way. I don't rap like nobody, I don't try to sound like nobody"