Mos Def, born Dante Smith in Brooklyn in 1973. One of the most respected voices in East Coast hip hop, first in the duo Black Star with Talib Kweli, then with his acclaimed solo debut Black on Both Sides (1999). The New Danger (2004), home to 'The Panties,' pushed into rock through his band Black Jack Johnson and went RIAA gold in 2017. Outside music he became an accomplished actor with Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, and he's used his platform for activism, including a 2013 film protesting force-feeding practices at Guantanamo Bay. He changed his name to Yasiin Bey in 2011 and announced his retirement in 2016, but he's performed since, including Black Star shows and No Fear of Time, a 2022 album with Kweli.
From the notes for EKHO Sonic Chill #6 · fact-checked Oct 4, 2026.
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