File:Mos_Def_-_Ilosaarirock_2012.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Yasiin Bey
Sign in to saveAlso known as Dante Terrell Smith, Dante Beze, Black Dante, Mos Def, Flaco, El-Bey the Moor
American rapper
OverviewAI-generated
Yasiin Bey, born Dante Terrell Smith in Brooklyn, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He has also worked in acting. His musical output spans East Coast hip-hop, alternative hip-hop, conscious hip-hop, and soul. Bey began his professional work in 1994 and has released works through Rawkus Records and Downtown Records. He is a partner in business with Talib Kweli.
Bey was educated at New York University and practices Islam. He has received a Theatre World Award. His discography includes five works. He is the father of six children.
Synthesized by Vinony from 37 facts across 7 sources: Wikidata, Crossref, MusicBrainz, Last.fm, TMDb, Wikiquote, Vinony graph. Generated from structured data (not the Wikipedia text) and checked against those facts — may still contain errors.
Film & TV
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Yasiin Bey (/jæˈsiːn ˈbeɪ/; born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973), formerly known as Mos Def, is an American retired rapper, singer-songwriter, and actor. Regarded as one of hip hop's most introspective and insightful artists, Mos Def, has shaped a career that transcends music genres and artistic medium. With the release of "Universal Magnetic" (1996), he became an underground favorite in…
Known for
- Together for Palestine — Self2025
- Part of Me — Himself2023
- Gorillaz | MTV World Stage — Mos Def2023
- Hargrove — Self2022
- jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy — Self (archive footage)2022
- You're Watching Video Music Box — Self (archive footage)2021
- Peculiar Contrast, Perfect Light2021
- Gorillaz: Reject False Icons — Mos Def2019
- French Tour — Focé2016
- Amy — Self2015
via TMDB
Music · MusicBrainz
- Type
- Person
- Gender
- Male
- Origin
- United States
- Active from
- 1973
Discography
Member of
via MusicBrainz · CC0
Listeners · Last.fm
- Listeners
- 4,569
- Total plays
- 34,169
Tags
Dante Terrell Smith (born December 11, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York, United States), better known by the stage name Mos Def and Yasiin Bey, is a rapper and actor. 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. In regards to changing from Mos Def to Yasiin Bey, he announced the n
Key facts
- Also known as
- Mos Def (1994–2011) Black Dante Dante Beze Flaco El-Bey the Moor
- Born
- Dante Terrell Smith , ( 1973-12-11 ) December 11, 1973 (age 52) , Brooklyn , New York City , U.S.
- Genres
- East Coast hip-hop alternative hip-hop conscious hip-hop progressive rap
- Occupations
- Rapper singer songwriter record producer actor activist
- Works
- Discography songs
- Years active
- 1987–present
- Labels
- Downtown GOOD Geffen Rawkus Priority
- Member of
- Black Star
- Formerly of
- Crooklyn Dodgers Dec 99th Soulquarians
- Children
- 6, including Laila
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- human
- Given name
- Dante
- Family name
- Smith
- Gender
- male
- Citizenship
- United States
- Place of birth
- Brooklyn
- Occupation
- film actor
- Languages spoken
- English language
- Native language
- English language
- Religion
- Islam
- Award
- Theatre World Award
- Notable work
- Something the Lord Made
- Genre
- conscious hip-hop
- Instrument
- voice
- Record label
- Downtown Records
- Official website
- www.mosdefmusic.com
- Image
- Mos Def - Ilosaarirock 2012.jpg
- Number of children
- 6
Show 10 more facts
- Commons category
- Mos Def
- date of birth
- 1973-12-11
- start of work period
- 1994-00-00
- pseudonym
- Yasiin Bey
- birth name
- Dante Terrell Smith
- social media followers
- 130115
- partner in business or sport
- Talib Kweli
- member of
- Black Star
- writing language
- English language
- name in native language
- Mos Def
Sources (7)
via Wikidata · CC0
~24 min read
Encyclopedic overview
Yasiin Bey (/jæˈsiːn ˈbeɪ/ yass-EEN BAY; born Dante Terrell Smith; December 11, 1973), formerly known as Mos Def (/ˌmoʊs ˈdɛf/ MOHSS DEF), is an American rapper, singer, and actor. A prominent figure in conscious hip-hop, he is recognized for his use of wordplay and commentary on social and political issues, such as police brutality, American exceptionalism, and the status of African Americans in the United States.
After embarking on his career in 1994, he joined his siblings in the short-lived rap group Urban Thermo Dynamics (UTD) and guest appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. In 1996, he and fellow Brooklyn-based rapper Talib Kweli formed the duo Black Star, whose debut album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star (1998) spawned the singles "Definition" and "Respiration" (featuring Common). His debut solo album, Black on Both Sides (1999), was met with critical acclaim, along with his fourth album, The Ecstatic (2009). Bey's 2000 single, "Oh No" (with Pharoahe Monch featuring Nate Dogg) remains his sole entry on the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo act. In 2014, About.com listed him 14th on its "50 Greatest Rappers of All Time".
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Yasiin Bey” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.