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Yasiin Bey

Actor, Writer, Additional CreditsBorn December 11, 1973 (51 years)
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.

He was a former child actor in television films, sitcoms, and theater, and continued acting as an adult after launching his rap career. He appeared in Spike Lee's Bamboozled, MTV's Carmen: A Hip Hopera, 2002's critically acclaimed Monster's Ball, Showtime, and the 2002 romantic comedy Brown Sugar, for which he received an NAACP Image Award nomination. He hosted Def Poetry Jam from 2002 to 2007.

He completed his Broadway debut in 2002 in the Tony-nominated, Pulitzer Prize-winning, Topdog/Underdog. He then re-teamed with Topdog playwright, Suzan Lori Parks and director George Wolfe for the off-Broadway play Fucking A, for which he earned an Obie Award.

In 2003, he starred in The Italian Job alongside Ed Norton, Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron. In 2004, he starred opposite Alan Rickman in the critically acclaimed HBO movie Something the Lord Made, for which he received a 2004 Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie. He was also nominated for both a Golden Globe Award (Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture) and Golden Satellite Award (Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television) for the same role.

He continued his music career by releasing his highly anticipated and critically acclaimed sophomore solo release, The New Danger (2004). The first single, "Sex, Love and Money" earned him a 2005 Grammy nomination for Best Alternative/Urban Performance, and the album has been certified gold by the RIAA.

The following year, he appeared alongside Bruce Willis in the crime thriller 16 Blocks (2006), in Dave Chappelle’s Block Party, and had a cameo appearance in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Also in 2006, he released his third solo album, True Magic.

The next year, he appeared in the 2007 PBS historical documentary, Prince Among Slaves, and in 2008 he played the role of Chuck Berry in Cadillac Records. In 2009, he released the album The Ecstatic, which proved to be his second highest-charting album to date. He then appeared in the urban comedy Next Day Air, and (as himself) in the 2010 mockumentary film I’m Still Here, starring Joaquin Phoenix.

Mos Def announced in September of 2011 that he changed his name to Yasiin Bey, and would go by it henceforth. In the first month of 2016, Bey declared his retirement from both the film and music industries.

In 2014, About.com listed him 14th on its "50 Greatest Rappers of All Time".

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • Begin Again
  • Monster's Ball
  • The Woodsman
  • I'm Still Here
  • Life of Crime
  • Next Day Air
  • Island of the Dead
  • Civil Brand
  • Rap Sheet: Hip-Hop and the Cops

Known For

  • The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
  • 16 Blocks
  • The Italian Job
  • Be Kind Rewind
  • Begin Again
  • Monster's Ball
  • Something the Lord Made
  • Life of Crime
  • Next Day Air
  • The Woodsman
  • Brown Sugar
  • Journey to the End of the Night
  • Michael Jackson's Ghosts
  • Lackawanna Blues
  • Carmen: A Hip Hopera
  • Island of the Dead
  • Def Poetry
  • Where's Marlowe?
  • The Freshest Kids
  • Civil Brand
  • Juvies
  • God Bless the Child
  • Gorillaz: Reject False Icons
  • The Cosby Mysteries

Featured Videos

    Filmography

    2019
    2016
    Tour de France · as Focé
    2013
    Life of Crime · as Ordell Robbie
    2013
    2011
    Re: Generation · as Cast
    2010
    2010
    2009
    2009
    2008
    Cadillac Records · as Chuck Berry
    2008
    Be Kind Rewind · as Mike
    2007
    Prince Among Slaves · as Narrator
    2007
    Yo Gabba Gabba! (TV Series) · as Super Mr. Superhero
    2006
    Dexter (TV Series) · as Brother Sam
    2006
    2006
    2006
    16 Blocks · as Eddie Bunker
    2006
    2005
    The Boondocks (TV Series)
    2005
    2005
    Lackawanna Blues · as The Bandleader
    2004
    The Woodsman · as Sgt. Lucas
    2004
    House (TV Series) · as Lee
    2004
    Something the Lord Made · as Vivien Thomas
    2004
    Juvies · as Cast
    2003
    The Italian Job · as Left Ear
    2002
    Civil Brand · as Michael Meadows
    2002
    Brown Sugar · as Chris Anton 'cav' Vichon
    2002
    2002
    Showtime · as Lazy Boy
    2001
    The Proud Family (TV Series) · as Mos Def (voice)
    2001
    Monster's Ball · as Ryrus Cooper
    2001
    Carmen: A Hip Hopera · as Lt. Miller
    2000
    Bamboozled · as Mau Mau: Big Blak Afrika
    2000
    2000
    My Wife and Kids (TV Series)
    1998
    Where's Marlowe? · as Wilt Crawley
    1997
    Dellaventura (TV Series) · as Morgue Assistant
    1997
    Brooklyn South (TV Series) · as Darius
    1996
    1996
    Spin City (TV Series) · as Monty
    1994
    1994
    1993
    NYPD Blue (TV Series) · as Leslie Peach
    1992
    Here and Now (TV Series) · as Alonzo
    1992
    Split Images · as Curtis Roy
    1991
    The Hard Way · as Dead Romeos
    1990
    You Take the Kids (TV Series) · as Raymond Kirkland
    1988
    God Bless the Child · as Richard Watkins

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