Most definitely Mos Def has achieved a satisfying and successful career with his musical and acting caliber. Some very lucky few personalities have earned popularity in both the spheres of performance which requires the highest confidence and inborn aptitude. In the passage of time, Dante Terrell Smith has become Mos Def who is also famous as Yasiin Bey. Smith is one of the successful recording artists of hip-hop genre and a fantastic actor. His “Universal Magnetic” which happens to be his debut single had announced the arrival of a fabulous performer in the music world. The integral part of Black Star with Talib Kweli had swapped extensive popularity with the release of ‘Black on Both Sides.’

‘The New Danger’ in 2006 and ‘True Magic’ in 2006 were marvelous, and the world accepted the creations as truly majestic. On the other hand, the immaculate singer has opened up his acting career with a television film titled ‘God Bless the Child,’ and the God blessed. His detective role in ‘The Cosby Mysteries’ convinced the viewers of his acting prudence. He has acted in movies like “Be Kind Rewind” and “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” It is no more a wonder to understand that this popular musician and actor had not only gained popularity but also had achieved immense pecuniary strength through dedication and hard work schedules. His estimated net worth comes around in the range of not less than 2 million dollars.

Early life

The successful hip-hop performer was born as Dante Terrell Smith on 11th December 1973 in Brooklyn, New York City, United States of America. He was born to and Abdul Rahman and Sheron Smith. He was born a family of many children who are his siblings and also some step brothers and sisters. He grew up with some siblings and mother in his native place Brooklyn, but his father stayed at Ney Jersey, where he maintained another part of the family. While growing, he had witnessed the great disturbance in New York, and during his teens, he was always surrounded by the crime, violence and various addictions.

Proper education was far from the reach what was possible that the child who had stayed in such notorious conditions would easily move towards unsocial activities where people can always apprehend that something or the other is wrong. But from the very early stage of his life, Smith had other intentions. He always remained away from such environment which is not proper for his upbringing. He was very cautious and determined to build a successful life. When he was just seven, he realized that he needs to earn money as they were good people. Some indomitable superhuman effort was required to resist the surrounding unsocial activities and at the same time go beyond the vicious circle and build a happy life. It was a real challenge for young Smith.

A very keen interest towards music and culture had enabled Smith to come out of such perilous condition and positively take his life to be a successful individual. As recollected by him when he was just nine he had already cultivated great adherence to hip-hop genre of music and theater. In 1982 at that age, he watched a movie “Wild Style” with his mother. At the same time, he started writing rhymes. In the summertime, he used to stay in the Bronx with all the difficulties. While in New York he could experience the community music, local hip hops, and other public entertainments.

While studying at some local school, he played for the first time in one school drama when he was reading in the fifth standard. He then moved to Philippa Schuyler Middle School which is an art performing magnet school. He has enrolled himself in Talent Unlimited High School from where he got an opportunity to appear in one television films “God Blass the Child.”

Career

He started getting occasional roles for television programs and shows during his high school days. His performance was observed by the creators and the producers, and he was chosen to appear in “The Cosby Mysteries.” His performance was highly appreciated by the audience. During this period he started practicing hip-hop music with his associates and soon takes on the stage name Mos Def. With DQ who was his brother and female rapper called Ces, he formed a band under the name Urban Thermo Dynamics. Gradually the group started tuning themselves to perfection while appearing in several local programs. The band was finding a way to break through the small venues to prestigious little auditoriums.

His life started taking a higher momentum in 1996 when he appeared for some singles with Da Bush Babees and De La Soul who are quite popular rappers. He got an opportunity to record his first solo “Universal Magnetic” which earned the faith of the audience and very shortly he was selected for a record deal by the Rawkus Records. Soon he became quite popular in the New York rap scene as an individual. He formed a band with Talib Kweli which they named Black Star. In 1998 the duo released their debut album “Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star” which was highly acclaimed by the critics as most innovative. Many prominent figures like P. Diddy, Kevin Powell of Rolling Stone commented on the success of their album. Next year with the total enthusiasm he recorded his solo debut album titled “Black on Both Sides” with “Mathematics,” “Ms. Fat Booty” and few more hit singles. After the release, his reputation started growing with more acceleration, and he became one of the most popular rappers. With a quite not so high acclaimed label, the album got the gold certification which is a great success for an independent rapper.

Along with his natural talent for rapping, he is also a good actor, and for this, instead of much-awaited success in music, his focus shifted towards acting. He appeared in several movies, for instance, “Bamboozled,” “Monster’s Ball,” “Carmen: A Hip Hopera,” “The Italian Job,” “Showtime” and some more in the early 2000s. In 2004 Mos appeared in “Something the Lord Make” in which he played the role of Vivien Thomas. The performance earned him a nomination for Best Actor in Golden Globe and Emmy. He was seen in “Tapdog/Underdog” in 2002, a famous play. He appeared in “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” in 2005 and the next year he played a role in one Bruce Will’s movie “16 Blocks”. His role was highly appreciated by the audience and critics. In 2008 his appreciable performance in “Be Kind Rewind” and “Cadillac Records” enhanced his popularity. In five episodes he played the role of Brother Sam in the 6th season of the serial “Dexter.” His appearance in one television series “Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry” gathered high appreciation from the innumerable viewers.

In 2004 he reinitiated his musical journey and came out with “The New Danger” which was his sophomore album. The Kanye West production was a huge commercial success and a single “Sex, Love and Money” earned Grammy nomination. In 2006 he came out with his third album “True Magic” which does not meet the expectation of the music world and Ryan Dombal stated that the artist is perhaps more inclined toward Oscar instead of Grammy. This might have urged an immediate urgency in the rapper who produced “The Ecstatic” in 2009 and got back his lost prestige. The songs “History,” “Life in Marvellous Times” and others claimed huge acknowledgment for the artist and the album got the Grammy nomination as the Best Rap Album in 2010. He then started calling him Yasiin Bey and much later in 2016 released “Dec 99th” with Ferrari Shephard.

Personal life

In 1996 he married Maria Yepes and couple was blessed with two daughters. Unfortunately even staying together for a decade they failed to honor their wedlock and separated. Soon Alana Wyatt appeared in his life, but the marriage failed after two years. In 2013 he went to South Africa, Cape Town with his family. The destiny brought him under undesirable list after he outstayed with a tourist visa.

The most appreciable achievements of his life are five nominations for Grammy, 3 for NAACP and the ‘Best Indie Actor’ in Black Reel Award.

Quick summary:

Full Name: Dante Terrell Smith

Date of Birth: 11th December 1973

Birth Place: Brooklyn, New York City, United States of America

Age: 45 Years Old

Profession: Hip Hop Artist, Songwriter, and Actor

Height: 5 Feet 9 Inches / 1.77 m

Weight: NA

Net worth: $2 Million