Mos Def, who was born Dante Terrell Smith and know goes by Yasiin Smith Bey, or Yasiin Bey, began his hip-hop career and became a legend in the rap music industry thanks to his unique soulful twist on rapping. Emphasis on legend rather that current artist as he announced his retirement back in 2016 at the age of 42. However, this rapper’s signature silky smooth songs have a strong hold in their place in the playlist of fans as well as their places among the ranks of high-grossing tracks.
Like his songs and signature sound, Mos Def’s “retirement announcement” was unique as well. It was posted on the website of Kanye West (a friend of the rapper) and was performed via an informal rap taken bay a cellphone camera. In 2013, Mos Def announced that he was moving to Capetown, South Africa after being disillusioned with the United States.
A YouTube channel called “Mos Def – Topic” set up nine years ago and it contains slightly under 250 uploaded videos. Since it’s conception, it has 41.2k subscribers and has a net worth around $41,844 to date which proves that the rapper most definitely still has fans out there.
Throw on some classic Mos Def tunes while you scroll though this list and perhaps his voice might sound just a bit richer than you remember.
10 “B-Boy Document 99” – The High & Mighty Featuring Mos Def & Mad Skillz
“B-Boy Document 99” debuted on July 31, 1999 and peaked just a couple of weeks later on August 14th. The video has racked up 9,253 views from the date it was posted to The High & Mighty channel on Jul 19, 2018. It was even featured on the soundtrack of the video game “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2.” This collaboration is known as a favorite of the songs on the game’s soundtrack due to its steady uplifting beat, perfect for virtually slamming gnarly benihanas.
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9 “Respiration” – Featuring Talib Kweli Are Black Star Featuring Common
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Yet another collaboration that saw great success! “Respiration” came out in 1999 and it topped the chart in the U.S. for R&B songs at number 54 which is impressive however it topped the chart int he U.S. for rap songs at number 6. It wouldn’t be too many years after Mos Def made a big splash on the rap/R&B scene that in 2011, he announced that he had plans to legally change his name from Dante Smith as well as his stage name, Mos Def, to Yasiin Bey. But in an GQ magazine interview, he stated that he’s actually gone by the name Yasiin since 1999 informally with family and friends. The name, Yasiin, is Muslim. Mos Def has been open about his Muslim religion since the age of 19 and has included references to his faith in his lyrics.
8 “Ms. Fat Booty” – Mos Def
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The song that everyone who ever attended a party in 1999 knows well. It was featured on Mos Def’s Black on Both Sides album. Just in time for Halloween parties, “Ms. Fat Booty” debuted on Oct, 23, 1999 and shot right up to number 20 at its peak position almost immediately, spending 23 weeks on the charts. The song which features samples of Aretha Franklin’s “One Step Ahead”, is about a girl, Sharice, that Mos Def meets at club. He falls in love with her despite the fact that she plays head games with him and other men at the various hot spots around town.
7 “Travellin’ Man” – DJ Honda Featuring Mos Def
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“Travellin’ Man” is a song that needed a little bit of time to grow on its listeners. It debuted on Nov 21, 1998 but it didn’t reach its peak on the charts at the number 17 spot until Jan 23, 1999 unlike “Ms. Fat Booty” which peaked nearly right away.
Despite Mos Def’s name change nearly 13 years after this song which primarily was due to the “fear that Mos Def was being treated as a product, not a person” he insisted that he would not be offended if fans still called him Mos Def because of all of the hard work that he had put into creating his musical persona.
6 “Oh No” – Mos Def & Pharoahe Monch Featuring Nate Dogg
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On December 16, 2000, “Oh No” was released and like a rocket, shot to the number 1 spot on the Billboard charts on Jan 20, 2001. The low-key rap song by the trio about how their hard-working journey to get to a high spot on the rap chain of fame spent a week enjoying the King’s position on the charts. “Oh No” continues to be a fan favorite and a kickback party playlist must.
5 “The Love Song” – Da Bush Babees Featuring Mos Def
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On Oct 26, 1996, “The Love Song” was released and it reached its peak position on the charts a month later on Nov 30th. Da Bush Babees is a trio consisting of Babe-B-Face Kaos, Mister Man and Y-Tee. The three rappers grew up in Jamaica and Trinidad which caused their music style to be influenced by reggae. Mos Def feels so at home with this song and his relaxed, natural flow seamlessly harmonizes with Da Bush Babees.
4 “Ms. Fat Booty 2”- Mos Def Featuring Ghostface Killah
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Even though songs like “Oh No” took a bigger spot on the Billboard charts, “Ms. Fat Booty” was such a fan favorite, that it constituted a sequel and Mos Def happily obliged and brought in Ghostface Killah to assist with the continuing saga with what seems to be another girl similar to Sharice who we met in the original “Ms. Fat Booty.” Mos Def also used the same sample of Aretha Franklin’s “One Step Ahead” in the Part 2. The song debuted in Sep 16, 2000 and a month later, reached its peak position on the Billboard charts at number 15.
3 “Body Rock” – Mos Def Featuring Q-Tip & Tash
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On Feb 28, 1998, “Body Rock” hit the radio stations. Though the song took almost two whole months to reach its peak position on the charts at number 29, it was embraced as a laidback rap song. A video for “Body Rock” appears on the YouTube channel “Mos Def – Topic” and it has over 52,000 views since its upload in 2018. The song features what Mos Def fans are used to – sharp, witty lyrics against a relaxed backdrop of rhythm.
2 “A Brighter Day” – Ronny Jordan Featuring Mos Def
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Mos Def fans knew they could count on the clever rapper for songs to party to but to help decompress at the same time. On Apr 8, 2000, “A Brighter Day” was released featuring Mos Def. This song took Mos Def’s smooth, low-key songs to a new level. The rapper had done something different by collaborating with Ronny Jordan, a British guitarist. Jordan was known to be part of the acid jazz movement. His music fit into the R&B category along with Mos Def but Jordan also described his music as “urban jazz.” “A Brighter Day” bounded onto the air waves and hit its peak position spot at number 20 on the same day as its release.
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1 “Jam On It” – Mos Def
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A party song that doesn’t disappoint those who came to dance, “Jam On It” debuted on Oct 13, 2001 and hit the number 23 the very same day which was its peak position on the charts. Serious Mos Def fans may feel that “Jam On It” is different from his usual hits in that it has a throwback to the 80’s beat. But what remains the same are the whip smart lyrics that Mos Def fans can count on.
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Sources: billboard.com, digitaltrends.com, people.com, starstat.yt, hiphopdx.com
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