Mos Def

Mos Def Headshot

Rapper • Singer

Birth Date: December 11, 1973

Age: 50 years old

Birth Place: Brooklyn, New York

Seminal alternative hip-hop artist and acclaimed actor Mos Def was well on his way to building a screen career when he rocketed into the spotlight with back-to-back album releases, Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star and Black on Both Sides. The notoriety only boosted his acting opportunities, and while he relished the chance to poke fun of the image of rap stars in "Brown Sugar" (2002), Spike Lee's "Bamboozled" (2000), and the animated series "The Boondocks" (Adult Swim, 2005-14), he also showed dramatic talent when far removed from the music world element. Def earned Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for his leading role in "Something the Lord Made" (HBO, 2004), and multiple Image and Black Reel Awards for such diverse offerings as "The Italian Job" (2003) and "Cadillac Records" (2008), in which he was tasked with portraying rock-n-roll icon Chuck Berry. His natural charisma and playful energy made Def a perfect comic foil, but he also proved an appealing leading man in "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (2005) and "16 Blocks" (2006). With his screen versatility and his reputation as one of hip-hop's most introspective and insightful artists, Mos Def enjoyed a unique multi-media career virtually unmatched by any of his rapper-actor peers.

Born Dante Terrell Smith on Dec. 11, 1973, Mos Def was raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. From the age of 10, Def was actively performing as both an actor in school plays and a rapper on the neighborhood streets. But prior to making an impact on the underground hip-hop scene, Def's screen career ignited first when he was cast in the ABC movie-of-the-week, "God Bless the Child" (1988) and the CBS inner-city sitcom, "You Take the Kids" (CBS, 1990-91). After landing another regular role on the equally short-lived "Here and Now" (NBC, 1992-93), Def made guest appearances on several police drama series and appeared alongside Bill Cosby as the reluctant detective's sidekick on "The Cosby Mysteries" (NBC, 1994-95). In 1994, Def and Urban Thermo Dynamics - a group that included his brother D.

c.Q. and sister Ces - released a pair of singles but Def did not really break out musically until guest appearances on albums by De La Soul and Bush Babees and a 1996 solo single, "Universal Magnetic," which was a hit on the underground scene and positioned Def as a new voice in the socially-conscious school of alternative hip-hop.

While still making regular guest appearances on primetime television, Def began working with fellow MC, Talib Kweli, under the group name Black Star, and in 1998, the Rawkus Records-signed pair released Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star. Offering a positive, thoughtful alternative to gangsta rap and philosophical takes on modern issues, Def and Kweli's effort became one of the most critically acclaimed hip-hop albums of the era, peaking at No. 13 on the Hip-Hop album charts. Def followed up with the 1999 solo release, Black on Both Sides, which further delivered sociopolitical meditations and an expanded musical palette. The album was certified gold, hit No. 3 on the Hip-Hop album charts, and was widely touted as one of the top albums of the year; additionally, Def was credited with helping to "reclaim" the original spirit of hip-hop from its artistic decline. Now recognized as a significant artist with a distinctive point of view, Def's screen career heated up as directors came calling. He played a politically radical musician in Spike Lee's satire, "Bamboozled" (2000), and made a brief appearance in Marc Forster's acclaimed "Monster's Ball" (2001) before his performance as the rapper client of a music executive (Taye Diggs) in "Brown Sugar" (2002) earned Def a Best Supporting Actor nomination from the Image Awards.

Def began a long relationship with the HBO series "Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry" (HBO, 2002-07) as both a host and a performer, and further showcased his range with a starring role in the Tony nominated, Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway play, "Top Dog/Underdog." He appeared alongside Eddie Murphy and Robert DeNiro in the unpopular buddy cop comedy, "Showtime" (2002), and earned a Black Reel Award nomination for his role in the indie prison drama, "Civil Brand" (2003). Another Black Reel Award nomination was forthcoming for Def's supporting comic role in the actioner "The Italian Job," starring Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron. Playing a Philadelphia cop, Def psychologically antagonized a convicted child molester (Kevin Bacon) in the acclaimed "The Woodsman" (2004); this time taking home a Black Reel Award for Best Actor in an independent movie. Def was recognized yet again that year for his portrayal of a pioneering cardiac researcher relegated to anonymity in segregated 1940s America, in "Something the Lord Made" (HBO, 2004), based on a true story.

Hot on the heels of his Emmy, Golden Globe, Image Award, and Black Reel Award nominations for his starring role in that "Something the Lord Made," Def returned to the studio to record The New Danger. Despite hitting No. 2 on the Hip-Hop album charts, the overall effort, which was marked by soul and rock sounds, failed to meet the high expectations of fans and critics. However the Grammy Awards, typically last on the bandwagon, made up for overlooking Def's earlier achievements with a Best Urban/Alternative Performance nomination for the single, "Sex, Love and Money." His screen career showed no signs of slowing down with his leading role as the cynical, hard-drinking galactic hitchhiker Ford Prefect in "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (2005), the long-awaited film adaptation of Douglas Adams' famed sci-fi novels, and Def's starring role in the HBO original movie "Lackawanna Blues" (2005), based on Ruben Santiago-Hudson's autobiographical one-man show. The same year, Def began a recurring voiceover role on the animated series, "The Boondocks" (Adult Swim, 2005-14), where he took a dig at gangsta rap with his characterization of the thuggish but closeted gay Gangstalicious.

Following a pair of cameo appearances as himself in comedian Dave Chappelle's documentary "Dave Chappelle's Block Party" (2006) and the Will Ferrell vehicle "Talladega Nights, The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" (2006), Def starred with Bruce Willis in Richard Donner's "16 Blocks" (2006), playing the chatty, energetic witness assigned to the care of a gruff detective (Willis). Def's final recording for Geffen Records, True Magic (2006), was released quietly with no promotion or fanfare, per Def's request, at end of the year and met with a lukewarm reception. He returned to theaters in 2008 in Michel Gondry's charmingly improbable comedy, "Be Kind Rewind" (2008), co-starring with Jack Black as a video store employee who accidentally de-magnetizes his stock and sets out to reenact bootleg versions of famous films. Unfortunately the well-reviewed film did not bring in large audiences, but it proved an excellent showcase for Def's charisma as a leading actor, and he followed up the madcap comedy with a dramatic portrayal of rock-n-roll guitar legend Chuck Berry in "Cadillac Records" (2008). Def earned another Image Award nomination for his strong performance, though his follow-up film, the mistaken-identity comedy "Next Day Air" (2009), did not enjoy nearly the positive reception.

Credits

Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye TrilogyStream

Self
Docuseries
2022
82%

Culturebox Festival

Music Performer
Show
2021

Voices of the Generation

Music Performer
Show
2021

Greatest Rappers 2

Music Performer
Show
2019

Alicia Keys - Unplugged

Music Performer
Show
2017

AmyStream

Self
Movie
2015

Mos Def

Host
Show
2013

Life of Crime

Actor
Ordell Robbie
Movie
2013

Begin AgainStream

Actor
Saul
Movie
2013
83%

Cypher Replay

Guest Star
Show
2012

Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap

Actor
Movie
2012

Gulf Aid: Concert for the Coast

Music Performer
Show
2010

Gorillaz Feat. Mos Def & Bobby Womack: Stylo

Music Performer
Show
2010

Gorillaz Feat. Bobby Womack & Mos Def: Stylo

Music Performer
Show
2010

Gulf Aid AllStars Feat. Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Mos Def, Lenny Kravitz & Trombone Shorty: It Ain't My Fault

Music Performer
Show
2010

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Music Performer
Talk
2009

Mos Def: Casa Bey

Music Performer
Show
2009

Mos Def Feat. Talib Kweli: History

Music Performer
Show
2009

Next Day Air

Actor
Eric
Movie
2009

Be Kind RewindStream

Actor
Mike
Movie
2008
65%

Cadillac RecordsStream

Actor
Chuck Berry
Movie
2008
66%

Number One With a Bullet

Actor
Movie
2008

Yo Gabba Gabba!Stream

Guest Star
Series
2007

DexterStream

Guest Star
Brother Sam
Series
2006
71%

16 BlocksStream

Actor
Eddie Bunker
Movie
2006
55%

Journey to the End of the Night

Actor
Wemba
Movie
2006

Prince Among Slaves

Narrator
Movie
2006

The Colbert Report

Guest
Talk
2005

Lackawanna Blues

Actor
The Bandleader
Movie
2005
75%

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyStream

Actor
Ford Prefect
Movie
2005
60%

HouseStream

Guest Star
Lee
Series
2004
90%

Mos Def: Ghetto Rock

Music Performer
Show
2004

Mos Def: Ghetto Rock

Music Performer
Show
2004

Something the Lord MadeStream

Actor
Vivien Thomas
Movie
2004

The Woodsman

Actor
Sargent Lucas
Movie
2004

Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet ...

Actor
Show
2003

The Italian JobStream

Actor
Left Ear
Movie
2003
72%

Showtime

Actor
Lazy Boy
Movie
2002

Brown Sugar

Actor
Chris
Movie
2002

Civil Brand

Actor
Michael Meadows
Movie
2002

Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry

Host
Show
2001

The Proud FamilyStream

Guest Voice
Himself
Series
2001

My Wife and KidsStream

Guest Star
Series
2001

Carmen: A Hip Hopera

Actor
Lt. Miller
Movie
2001

Monster's BallStream

Actor
Ryrus Cooper
Movie
2001
85%

Bamboozled

Actor
Big Black
Movie
2000

Island of the Dead

Actor
Movie
2000

Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme

Actor
Movie
2000

Where's Marlowe?

Actor
Wilt Crawley
Movie
1998

Dellaventura

Guest Star
Show
1997

Brooklyn South

Guest Star
Show
1997

Spin CityStream

Guest Star
Series
1996
69%

The Cosby Mysteries

Actor
Show
1994

The Cosby Mysteries

Actor
Dante
Movie
1994

NYPD BlueStream

Guest Star
Leslie Peach
Series
1993
83%

Late Show With David Letterman

Music Performer
Talk
1993

Austin City LimitsStream

Music Performer
Series
1976