Mos Def

Born: 1973
Location: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Genre: Hip Hop, Conscious Hip Hop
Years Active: 1994 -
Real Name: Dante Smith
Meaning of the Name: Short for 'most definetly'.
A.K.A.: The Mighty Mos Def, Yasiin Bey.
Way of Working: Works with producers
Associated: Talib Kweli, Medina Green, Urban Thermal Dynamics

Essential Releases

Black Star (1998)

Bouncy, conscious hip hop album recorded together with Talib Kweli as Black Star.

Black On Both
Sides (1999)

Debut solo album. Spiritual, socially aware, hard-hitting.

A more thoughtful from of hip hop threw down the gauntlet to gangsta rap in the late-'90s. The brutal murders of Tupac and Biggie Smalls certainly elevated them to iconic status but also posed serious questions about the genre's direction of travel. Is a lucrative career as a rapper really worth dying for? The violent music entered reality as blood-stained concrete and bodies outlined in chalk, prompting artists like Mos Def to take a different approach.

"One, two, three, it's kinda dangerous to be a emcee. They shot Tupac and Biggie, too much violence in hip hop, why oh." (from 'Definition').

While 1998's Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star is a well-respected album in underground circles, his debut solo effort, Black On Both Sides (2000), is a true classic of conscious hip hop, penetrating the mainstream by reaching #3 on the US R&B charts. Featuring socially aware rapping, soulful singing, raw lyricism, and live instrumentation, in combination with spirituality, it was a call for change in hip hop culture — part album, part manifesto.

Earlier conscious records, such as Return on the Boom Bap by KRS One, have a more confrontational tone. The rapper scolds the cops, claiming they're racist criminals whose guns are smaller than his. Black On Both Sides moves away from pounding boom bap into a lush tapestry of warm soul.

It was less aggressive, more introspective, more complex musically but no less radical in theme. Except here, the tone is celebratory. Tracks like 'Rock N Roll' champion the genre's roots in black music by shouting out foundational artists such as Little Richard and Chuck Berry, while on the rap free 'Umi Says' he urges the listeners to shine your light for the world to see.

The opener, 'Fear Not of Man' begins with a prayer to Allah. Mos, in turn, dedicates his album to: God, man, woman, his hometown (Brooklyn), and "everyone, all over the map." Making it clear from the beginning that his music is for all, he reminds us that hip hop belongs to the people because it comes from the people.

"If we smoked out, hip hop is gonna be smoked out. If we doing alright, hip hop is gonna be doing alright."

With a constructive message, he states: "hip-hop won't get better until the people get better" and "people get better when they start to understand that they are valuable and they not valuable because they got a whole lot of money or 'cause somebody think they sexy but they valuable 'cause they been created by God." In the cash money obsessed 'bling bling' era of rap, such statements were truly refreshing.

Claiming all people have value regardless of personal wealth is a unifying sentiment of hope, which is juxtaposed with the fear caused by the state "they wanna create satellites and cameras everywhere trying to make you think they got the all seeing eye."

Many of the issues found on the album, such as the surveillance state and environmental concerns (see 'New World Water'), are more relevant today than they were 25 years ago. Climate change has evolved from a potential threat to an incoming catastrophe, while everyone with a mobile phone carries a GPS that can track their movements. The fact that these concerns still resonate proves that Black On Both Sides has stood the test of time and should be considered an all-time great record.

Skills

*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.

Emotional Impact

i Does it connect with the heart? What does it make you feel and how much of it?

85

Mental Impact

i Does it connect with the head? Social issues, interesting observations, clever lyrics, similies etc.

90

Originality

i Are they unique? Did they break new ground, use new techniques or create new genres.

85

Artistry

i Using creativity and imagination to present themselves in a unique way. Example, Wu-Tang Clan as Shaolin and Marvel characters etc.

65

Authenticity

i Do they really mean what they say? Is it autobiographical, personal?

80

Live

i Stage presence, working the crowd, performance. Miming, forgetting lyrics reduce this.

85

Production

i Studio techniques. More important for electronic music including hip hop.

80

Musicianship

i Their ability to play individually and as a group. Technical skills. DJing. Freestyling for hip hop.

90

Rapping

i Technical attributes.

90

Songwriting

i Storytelling. Cohesive themes. Is the song about something? Stan by Eminem is an example of excellent songwriting.

90

Danceability

i Does it make you move? Do you tap your foot, nod your head or move your whole body?

75

Fun

i Is listening to it a good time? Are the lyrics funny? Depressing themes lowers value.

70

Consistency

i Have they put out good music across their careers. Two good albums and 5 band ones will reduce this value.

70

Range

i Fast, slow, ballads, party jams. Do they go beyond their own genre?

80

Cool

i Laid-back, icy detachment, unflustered.

70

Charisma

i Factors include appearance, force of personality. Elvis making people faint etc.

70

Commercial & Critical Success

Awards >>>

• Grammy Award Nominee x3

Certifications >>>

• Black on Both Sides: Gold in the USA; Silver in the UK
• The New Danger: Gold in the USA

Charts >>>

• The New Danger: #5 in the USA
• The Ecstatic: #5 in the USA

Critics

Similar Acts

• Common
• The Roots
• Lupe Fiasco
• Digable Planets
• A Tribe Called Quest

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