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 the hip-hop world, leading to his legendary collaboration with Talib Kweli. The two formed Black Star whose debut album, Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star, would become one of the most critically acclaimed hip-hop albums. He followed with his 1999 solo debut, Black On Both Sides, which was certified gold and credited by critics as bringing hip hop back to its soapbox roots.
He was a former child actor in television films, sitcoms, and theater, and continued acting as an adult after launching his rap career. He appeared in Spike Lee's Bamboozled, MTV's Carmen: A Hip Hopera, 2002's critically acclaimed Monster's Ball, Showtime, and the 2002 romantic comedy Brown Sugar, for which he received an NAACP Image Award nomination. He hosted Def Poetry Jam from 2002 to 2007.
He completed his Broadway debut in 2002 in the Tony-nominated, Pulitzer Prize-winning, Topdog/Underdog. He then re-teamed with Topdog playwright, Suzan Lori Parks and director George Wolfe for the off-Broadway play Fucking A, for which he earned an Obie Award.
In 2003, he starred in The Italian Job alongside Ed Norton, Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron. In 2004, he starred opposite Alan Rickman in the critically acclaimed HBO movie Something the Lord Made, for which he received a 2004 Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie. He was also nominated for both a Golden Globe Award (Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture) and Golden Satellite Award (Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television) for the same role.
He continued his music career by releasing his highly anticipated and critically acclaimed sophomore solo release, The New Danger (2004). The first single, "Sex, Love and Money" earned him a 2005 Grammy nomination for Best Alternative/Urban Performance, and the album has been certified gold by the RIAA.
The following year, he appeared alongside Bruce Willis in the crime thriller 16 Blocks (2006), in Dave Chappelle’s Block Party, and had a cameo appearance in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Also in 2006, he released his third solo album, True Magic.
The next year, he appeared in the 2007 PBS historical documentary, Prince Among Slaves, and in 2008 he played the role of Chuck Berry in Cadillac Records. In 2009, he released the album The Ecstatic, which proved to be his second highest-charting album to date. He then appeared in the urban comedy Next Day Air, and (as himself) in the 2010 mockumentary film I’m Still Here, starring Joaquin Phoenix.
Mos Def announced in September of 2011 that he changed his name to Yasiin Bey, and would go by it henceforth. In the first month of 2016, Bey declared his retirement from both the film and music industries.
In 2014, About.com listed him 14th on its "50 Greatest Rappers of All Time".
2023
as Mos Def
2023
as Himself
2022
as Self
2022
as Self (archive footage)
2021
as Self (archive footage)
2021
2020
as Self
2019
as Mos Def
2016
as Focé
2015
as Self
2013
as Ordell Robbie
2013
as Saul
2013
2012
as Self
2011
as Self
2010
as Mos Def
2010
2010
as Mos Def
2009
as Eric
2008
as Chuck Berry
2008
as Narrator
2008
as Mike
2008
as Self
2006
as Brother Sam
2006
as Mos Def
2006
as Wemba
2006
as Eddie Bunker (as Mos Def)
2006
2005
2005
as Self - (as Mos Def)
2005
as Self
2005
as Ford Prefect
2005
as The Bandleader
2004
as Sgt. Lucas
2004
as Lee
2004
as Vivien Thomas
2003
as Michael Meadows
2003
as Left Ear
2003
as Himself
2003
as Self - Black Star
2003
as Self
2002
as Chris Anton 'Cav' Vichon
2002
as Lazy Boy
2001
as Mos Def (voice)
2001
as Ryrus Cooper
2001
as Lt. Miller
2001
2000
as Mau Mau: Big Blak Afrika
2000
as Robbie J
2000
as Himself
1998
as Wilt Crawley
1997
as Darius
1997
as Dante
1996
as Monty
1994
1992
as Alonzo
1992
as Self
1991
as Dead Romeos
1990
as Raymond Kirkland
1988
as Richard Watkins
1956
as Self - Performer