Mos+Def

Mos Def was born **Dante Terrell Smith-Bey** in the Roosevelt Houses of Bedford-Stuyvesant, [|Brooklyn, New York City] the son of Abbi Shabazz. He has two younger brothers, Abdul Rahman (a.k.a. "Gold Medal Man," who is Mos's full-time DJ and Anwar Superstar. He also has a younger sister, Ces (Casey) Smith, and another younger brother Jermone Victor Moulton who resides in Brooklyn and shares the same mother Umi Smith. Mos Def and his brothers are Muslims .Mos Def was born into Islam. He is also close friends with many rappers including Muslim rappers Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Q-Tip of the group A Tribe Called Quest .Mos Def grew up during the golden age of hip-hop and has been rapping and acting since he was six years old. He attended Philippa Schuyler Middle School in Bushwick, Brooklyn. He studied at New York University in the Gallatin School of Individualized Study.

He began his professional acting career at the age of fourteen, appearing in the TV movie //God Bless the Child//, starring Mare Winningham. He then played the oldest child in the short-lived family sitcom, //You Take the Kids//, starring Nell Carter and Roger E. Mosley. His most notable acting role before his music career was that of [|Bill Cosby]'s sidekick on the short-lived detective show, //[|The Cosby Mysteries]//. He also starred in a 1996 [|Visa] check card commercial featuring [|Deion Sanders]. In 1997 he had a small role alongside Michael Jackson in his short film and music video "[|Ghosts]".

Mos Def signed with Rawkus Records and formed the group Black Star with Talib Kweli. They released an album, //Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star//, in 1998 Mostly produced by Hi-Tek, the album featured the hit singles, "Respiration " and "Definition ", which would go on to be featured in VH1s 100 Greatest Songs of Hip-Hop Mos Def released his solo debut album //[|Black on Both Sides]// in 1999, also through Rawkus. Around this time he also contributed to the Scritti Politti album //Anomie & Bonhomie// and Rawkus compilations //Lyricist Lounge// and //Soundbombing//

influences
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 * Slick Rick
 * Gang Starr
 * A Tribe Called Quest
 * Poor Righteous Teachers
 * Lakim Shabazz
 * De La Soul
 * Main Source
 * Chuck D
 * Boogie Down Productions
 * Afrika Bambaataa
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