Mos Def

The Profile

American rapper and actor from Brooklyn, known as one half of Black Star and for his solo debut Black on Both Sides (1999). Later adopted the name Yasiin Bey.

Stage name of Yasiin Bey; American rapper and actor; member of Black Star with Talib Kweli; acclaimed for Black on Both Sides (1999) and the single Mathematics, produced by DJ Premier.

DeBaser’s two reviews hail Mos Def’s sharp lyricism, Brooklyn attitude, and DJ Premier’s steel-cut beats on Mathematics. Black on Both Sides is praised as head‑nodding and smart, with an anti-bling stance and social critique. Verdict: dense rhymes, essential cuts.