Mos Def

Last year we ran a Roots Tribute article in connection to the release of Rising Down.  The article, “Feeling Your Roots” was a three day feature and included artists/writers/hip hoppers such as Bun B, Mickey Factz, Naledge, Jake Paine of HipHopDx and others recounting their favorite Roots song, memory, or just vibe.  We did it again, this time honoring Mos Def and the release of his new LP, The Esctatic.  Read on to see what Mos means to artists such as Keelay and Zaire, 6th Sense, Tanya Morgan, DJ JS-1, and more…Mos Def…Mos Definitely.

Thurzday, U-N-I:

I’ve been a Mos Def fan for a while. I have all his solo efforts, the Lyricist Lounge compilations, Black Star album, etc. I support him in all his entertainment endeavors. One of his most memorable shows I witnessed occurred at the Gibson Ampitheatre. This dude had thousand of folks out their seats rockin’ to each and every song. Star Quality Indeed! Two of his dopest tracks to me off Black on Both Sides are “New World Water” and “Mathematics.” He is one the emcees that influenced me to put waaay more thought into what I’m saying on the mic…..

Lynnette Astaire, Artist:

“When Black on Both Sides was released, I was a 17 year old b-girl backpacker in NYC interning for Spike Lee’s 40 Acres and a Mule. I’d go from rocking to the album on the subway to being on set watching Mos film scenes for “Bamboozeld”. His character ‘Big Blak Afrika’ will go down as classic… Mos is truly a multi-talented artist! I totally can’t pick a favorite, but Zero 7’s ‘Umi Says’ remix is gorgeous.”

Keelay and Zaire, Producers

Favorite Mos Def Lyric:
Really the whole song of Mathematics, the way he breaks everything down with the numbers concept was genius: “It’s a Numbers game but shit don’t add up somehow.”

The Place that Mos Def music Occupies for Me:
Somehow, Mos Def always ends up in the Top 5 MC’s that we’d love to work with, that’s only a testament to the music that he’s put out.

Donwill, Tanya Morgan:

One of my favorite Mos Def tracks is “May-December”. I know that it has no words but I feel like that track explains who he is as an artist and where he was headed. To do something so musical for your debut album lets the world know that they are dealing with more than just an mc. There are several moments on his debut where you can tell that he was gearing up for something much bigger than Hip Hop. His music is urgent and says a lot about where Hip Hop is going.
 
Von Pea, Tanya Morgan:

I remember hearing Mos Def on the universal magnetic 12″ and the intro to that was like, amazing to me back then. Amazing. “My shit still hit, even when the record skip, even when the record skip” I envy the energy of his music to this day. It always comes across like he’s in his own world but not in a forced way.
 
Ilyas of Tanya Morgan:

“I remember a time I was dealing with a lot and I went to a friend’s house and heard “Umi Says” for the 1st time.  That song gave me a much needed answer at the time, as far as how to improve my situation and find happiness.  And here I am years later in Tanya Morgan releasing our 2nd album.  Thanks Mos!”
 
DJ JS-1:

Most definitely MOS DEF is an artist who injected hope and inspiration to the lives of all “back-pack” and “underground” emcees all over the planet. Making music doing what HE wanted to do, never making songs that sounded like what was on the radio, and never dumbin’ it down, Mos Def was able to achieve tons of success, critically and monetarily, which is not something many other “real emcees” can claim. From the Rawkus movement he helped pioneer and on, Mos gave us reason to believe someone can maintain a trueness to their craft, impress hip-hop purists like myself, and also be a major movie-star on the big screen. Being one of the Rock Steady Crew djays, one of my first Mos Def memories is simply how he set off his first single… “A, B – boys rock the world, Cd’s n tapes help generate papes….”In a polluted world of “auto-tune beef” and complete nonsense, Mos Def is always going to be a breathe of fresh air…

Che Grand, Artist:

Bush Babees “Love Song” (which i cant find a link to anywhere online!) followed by this song blew my mind! I remember driving with my pops in the car playing “If you can huh you can hear” and he was nodding his head hard lol I was an instant fan…”Universal Magnetic”, I used to call college radio shows to request that joint  back in ’99!

Ilyas of Tanya Morgan:

I remember a time I was dealing with a lot and I went to a friend’s house and heard “Umi Says” for the 1st time.  That song gave me a much needed answer at the time, as far as how to improve my situation and find happiness.  And here I am years later in Tanya Morgan releasing our 2nd album.  Thanks Mos!

DJ JS-1:

Most definitely MOS DEF is an artist who injected hope and inspiration to the lives of all “back-pack” and “underground” emcees all over the planet. Making music doing what HE wanted to do, never making songs that sounded like what was on the radio, and never dumbin’ it down, Mos Def was able to achieve tons of success, critically and monetarily, which is not something many other “real emcees” can claim. From the Rawkus movement he helped pioneer and on, Mos gave us reason to believe someone can maintain a trueness to their craft, impress hip-hop purists like myself, and also be a major movie-star on the big screen. Being one of the Rock Steady Crew djays, one of my first Mos Def memories is simply how he set off his first single… “A, B – boys rock the world, Cd’s n tapes help generate papes….”  In a polluted world of “auto-tune beef” and complete nonsense, Mos Def is always going to be a breathe of fresh air…

Joy Jones:

Mos Def is the artist’s artist. With him the creative flow is natural and effortless…like breath and blood. More so, he is always thinking and evolving. This latest album “The Estatic” is no exception! Keep on Mighty Mos! Keep on!

DJ Semtex:

Black on Both Sides is a perfect album, one of my favourite Hip Hop albums of all time. Mos Def is the essence of what Hip Hop is about.

Naledge, Kidz In The Hall:

“Respiration” was the soundtrack to my high school years.  If my life was a movie, Mos Def might be the narrator…The guy’s voice is so poetic and effortless it is sickening.  Between he and Q-Tip, they make dope look so easy..He was subconsciously a reason I signed to Rawkus back in 2005.

Add-2:

Its hard for me to choose my favorite Mos Def song. But two of my favorite Mos Def song’s that have always stuck with me was ‘Miss Fat Booty’ and ‘Umi Says’. When I first heard ‘Miss Fat Booty’ I was amazed by his storytelling skills. Later on once I started to write songs that 1st verse was what I listened to over and over as my inspiration to a song I wrote called ‘Break It Down’. Mos has always had a way commanding your attention with his personality, charisma, versatilty and just overall presence. He has been more than a perfect inspiration to me as an emcee and student of Hip Hop.

6th Sense:

Mos Def is one of the best.  The way he attacks the track is so rooted in the old school but it just sounds new and fresh.  I think his whole chanting/singing thing was accepted from the jump.  I mean who wasn’t screaming out the Y-O!!! on the “Re:Definition”?  Even the “Respiration Remix”, he KILLED that.  Same with “Traveling Man”.  “Umi Says”?  It’s endless.  He also says “6th Sense” on Mathematics, so I’ve had to have DJ’s cut that up quite a few times.

El Prez:

Mos Def to me always had lyrics, even from the De La ‘Stakes is High’ and Bush Babee records before he did his own thang. But when Universal Magnetic came out?!? maaan, you knew he was on some other shit from the moment the record came on! That record def was a big influence on me my Senior year, it was like anti-shiny suit repellent for some of the bullsh*t out in 97-98! Last thing tho, Mos Def is the only rapper, other than BIG, that’ll have people yelling ‘Brooklyn!’, like we lived there too…

YO, U-N-I:

Black On Both Sides was the 1st album I bought with my own money when I moved to LA. I remember when some of my classmates would come over & ask “what the hell are you listening to”? Ahaa. By the end of the day it was always guaranteed they’ll be rapping or singing along to his music.  As an artist, Mos Def is 1 of the few I look up to & showed me it’s more than rapping. I can happily say when I go into my melodic singing on records that it came from being inspired by him. Having those traits as an artist is definitely a threat & the ladies love it lmao…what else can you ask for?  How you gonna be a Hip Hop artist with a records like “Boogie Man” & “Panties” that is capable of getting ya lady warmed up. That’s f**king genius

FYI: Put those joints on in the heat of the night & its a garuntee score. Trust me, I’ve done it…ahaa.