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Mos Def is a Actor American born on 11 december 1973 at New York City (USA)

Mos Def

Mos Def
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Birth name Dante Terrell Smith
Nationality USA
Birth 11 december 1973 (50 years) at New York City (USA)

Yasiin Bey (/jæˈsiːn ˈbeɪ/; born Dante Terrell Smith; December 11, 1973), better known by his former stage name Mos Def (/ˈmoʊs ˈdɛf/), is an American hip hop recording artist, actor, comedian, and activist from Brooklyn, New York City, New York. Best known for his music, Mos Def embarked on his hip hop career in 1994, alongside his siblings in the short-lived rap group Urban Thermo Dynamics (UTD), after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. He subsequently formed the duo Black Star, alongside fellow Brooklyn-based rapper Talib Kweli, and released their eponymous debut album in 1998. He was a major force in late-1990s underground hip hop while under Rawkus Records. In 1999, Mos Def released his solo debut, Black on Both Sides, under Rawkus and Priority Records. His debut was followed by The New Danger (2004), True Magic (2006) and The Ecstatic (2009).

Prior to his career in music, Mos Def first entered public light as a child actor, having played roles in television movies, sitcoms, and theater, some of which were under the name Dante Beze. At the age of 14, he appeared in the TV movie God Bless the Child, which aired on ABC in 1988. He played the oldest child in the 1990 family sitcom You Take the Kids, shortly before it was cancelled. In 1995, he played the character "Dante" in The Cosby Mysteries. Since the early 2000s, Mos Def is well known for his roles in films such as Something the Lord Made, Next Day Air, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 16 Blocks, Be Kind Rewind, The Italian Job, Bamboozled and Brown Sugar, as well as for his portrayal of Brother Sam in the Showtime drama series Dexter. He is also known as the host of Def Poetry Jam, which aired on HBO between 2002 and 2007.

Mos Def has been vocal on several social and political causes, including police brutality, the idea of American exceptionalism, and the state of black Americans.

Biography

Mos Def has six children with four women, including two with his first wife Maria Yepes.

Mos Def married Maria Yepes in 1996, and has two daughters with her: Jauhara Smith and Chandani Smith. He filed for divorce from Yepes in 2006. The former couple made headlines when Yepes took Mos Def to court over failure in child-support obligations, paying $2,000 short of the monthly $10,000 he is ordered to pay.

On August 17, 2005, Mos Def traveled to Canada where he married music video model Alana Wyatt. Following a tumultuous relationship, the couple separated soon thereafter, but have not yet divorced. Wyatt published a tell-all book "Breaking The Code Of Silence" in January 2012.

His mother Sheron Smith, who goes by her nickname "Umi", has played an active role managing portions of her son's career. She is also a motivational speaker, and has authored the book Shine Your Light: A Life Skills Workbook, where she details her experience as a single-mother raising Mos Def.

Best films

The Italian Job (2003)
(Actor)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
(Actor)
16 Blocks (2006)
(Actor)

Usually with

Casey Affleck
Casey Affleck
(1 films)
Michel Gondry
Michel Gondry
(2 films)
Common
Common
(5 films)
Adam McKay
Adam McKay
(1 films)
Source : Wikidata

Filmography of Mos Def (35 films)

Display filmography as detailed form
YearNameJobRoles
2016French TourActorFocé
2015AmyActorSelf
2014Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesActor
2013Begin AgainActorSaul
2013Life of CrimeActorOrdell Robbie
2012Something from Nothing: The Art of RapActorSelf
2011Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called QuestActorSelf
2010I'm Still HereActorMos Def
2010Bouncing CatsActor
2009Next Day AirActorEric
2008Cadillac RecordsActorChuck Berry
2008Be Kind RewindActorMike
2008In Prison My Whole LifeActorSelf
200616 BlocksActorEddie Bunker (as Mos Def)
2006Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky BobbyActorMos Def
2006Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats & RhymesActor
2006Journey to the End of the NightActorWemba
2005The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyActorFord Prefect
2005Dave Chappelle's Block PartyActorSelf - (as Mos Def)
2004The WoodsmanActorSgt. Lucas
2004Something the Lord MadeActorVivien Thomas
2003The Italian JobActorLeft Ear
2003Civil BrandActorMichael Meadows
2003Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!ActorSelf
2002Brown SugarActorChris Anton 'Cav' Vichon
2002ShowtimeActorLazy Boy
2001Carmen: A Hip HoperaActorLt. Miller
2001Monster's BallActorRyrus Cooper
2000BamboozledActorMau Mau: Big Blak Afrika
2000Island of the DeadActorRobbie J
2000Freestyle: The Art of RhymeActorHimself
1998Where's Marlowe?ActorWilt Crawley
1997GhostsActorDante
1991The Hard WayActorDead Romeos
1988God Bless the ChildActorRichard Watkins