Yasiin Bey

Personal Info

Birthday

December 11, 1973

(51 years old)

Place of Birth

Brooklyn, New York, USA

Also Known As

Black Star

Flaco Bey

Dante Bezé

Bizet Dante

Smith Dante

Dante Smith

Mos Def

Crooklyn Dodgers

Dante Smith-Beze

Yasiin Bey

Biography

Yasiin Bey (/jæˈsiːn ˈbeɪ/; born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973), formerly known as Mos Def, is an American retired rapper, singer-songwriter, and actor. Regarded as one of hip hop's most introspective and insightful artists, Mos Def, has shaped a career that transcends music genres and artistic medium.

With the release of "Universal Magnetic" (1996), he became an underground favorite in the hip-hop world, leading to his legendary collaboration with Talib Kweli. The two formed Black Star whose debut album, Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star, would become one of the most critically acclaimed hip-hop albums. He followed with his 1999 solo debut, Black On Both Sides, which was certified gold and credited by critics as bringing hip hop back to its soapbox roots.