- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- December 11, 1973
- Place of Birth
- Brooklyn, New York, USA
Yasiin Bey
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 launchi…
Filmography
movieTogether for Palestine
2025 · Self
movieGorillaz | MTV World Stage
2023 · Mos Def
moviePart of Me
2023 · Himself
movieHargrove
2022 · Self
tvjeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy
2022 · Self (archive footage)
movieYou're Watching Video Music Box
2021 · Self (archive footage)
moviePeculiar Contrast, Perfect Light
2021
movieGorillaz: Reject False Icons
2019 · Mos Def
movieFrench Tour
2016 · Focé
movieAmy
2015 · Self
movieBegin Again
2014 · Saul
movieLife of Crime
2013 · Ordell Robbie
Standard Operating Procedure
2013
movieSomething from Nothing: The Art of Rap
2012 · Self
movieA Man's Story
2011 · Self
movieBeats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest
2011 · Self
movieI'm Still Here
2010 · Mos Def
movieGorillaz: Live at Roundhouse in London
2010 · Mos Def
Bouncing Cats
2010
movieThe Making of Plastic Beach
2010 · Mos Def
movieNext Day Air
2009 · Eric
movieCadillac Records
2008 · Chuck Berry
movieFats Waller Was Born Here
2008 · "Fats" Wallter/Mike (as Mos Def)
moviePassaic Mosaic
2008 · Thanks
movieBe Kind Rewind
2008 · Mike
moviePrince Among Slaves
2008 · Narrator
movieIn Prison My Whole Life
2008 · Self
tvYo Gabba Gabba!
2007
tvDexter
2006 · Brother Sam
movieTalladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
2006 · Mos Def
movieSeptember in Brooklyn: The Making of Block Party
2006 · Self
movieCoachella
2006 · Self - Interviewee
movieJourney to the End of the Night
2006 · Wemba
movie16 Blocks
2006 · Eddie Bunker
movieRap Sheet: Hip-Hop and the Cops
2006
tvThe Boondocks
2005
movieAlicia Keys: Unplugged
2005 · Self
movieDave Chappelle's Block Party
2005 · Self - (as Mos Def)
movieDon't Crash: The Documentary of the Making of the Movie of the Book of the Radio Series of 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'
2005 · Self
movieThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
2005 · Ford Prefect
movieLackawanna Blues
2005 · The Bandleader
movieStranger: Bernie Worrell on Earth
2005 · Self (as Mos Def)
tvThe Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
2005 · Self
movieThe Woodsman
2004 · Sgt. Lucas
tvHouse
2004 · Lee
movieSomething the Lord Made
2004 · Vivien Thomas
movieRichard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
2003 · Self
movieThe Italian Job
2003 · Left Ear
movieGil Scott-Heron: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
2003 · Himself
tvReal Time with Bill Maher
2003 · Self
tvJimmy Kimmel Live!
2003 · Self
tvChappelle's Show
2003 · Self - Black Star
movieBrown Sugar
2002 · Chris Anton 'Cav' Vichon
movieCivil Brand
2002 · Michael Meadows
movieShowtime
2002 · Lazy Boy
movieMonster's Ball
2001 · Ryrus Cooper
tvThe Proud Family
2001 · Mos Def (voice)
movieCarmen: A Hip Hopera
2001 · Lt. Miller
tvMy Wife and Kids
2001
movieBamboozled
2000 · Mau Mau: Big Blak Afrika
movieIsland of the Dead
2000 · Robbie J
movieFreestyle: The Art of Rhyme
2000 · Himself
tvMark Twain Prize
1999 · Self - Musical Guest
movieWhere's Marlowe?
1998 · Wilt Crawley
tvBrooklyn South
1997 · Darius
movieGhosts
1997 · Dante
tvThe View
1997 · Self
tvSpin City
1996 · Monty
tvThe Cosby Mysteries
1994
tvHere and Now
1992 · Alonzo
tvHBO First Look
1992 · Self
movieSplit Images
1992 · Curtis Roy
movieThe Hard Way
1991 · Dead Romeos
tvYou Take the Kids
1990 · Raymond Kirkland
movieGod Bless the Child
1988 · Richard Watkins
tvSaturday Night Live
1975 · Self - Musical Guest
tvTony Awards
1956 · Self - Performer
Dave Chappelle's Block Party 2
— · Self
Gorillaz Tottenham Hotspur Stadium documentary
— · Self