Yasiin Bey, born Dante Terrell Smith on December 11, 1973, in Brooklyn, New York, is a prominent American rapper and actor. He initially gained recognition in the hip-hop scene under the stage name Mos Def. His musical journey began in 1994 as part of the group Urban Thermo Dynamics. In 1998, he formed the influential duo Black Star with fellow rapper Talib Kweli.
As a solo artist, Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) has released several critically acclaimed albums. His debut solo album, Black on Both Sides, arrived in 1999, followed by The New Danger in 2004, True Magic in 2006, and The Ecstatic in 2009. In 2011, he officially announced his transition to using his chosen and legal name, Yasiin Bey. This announcement was made during a performance in Anchorage, Alaska, where he expressed his desire to be known by his legal name moving forward, emphasizing his deep personal connection to the persona of Mos Def while embracing his new identity.
Genres
Participation
Fans
Discussion
Ctrl + Enter (or ⌘ + Enter) to send
