Yasiin Bey / Mos Def discography | |
---|---|
Studio albums | 4 |
Compilation albums | 3 |
Music videos | 6 |
Collaboration albums | 2 |
Features singles | 6 |
The discography of Yasiin Bey , formerly known as Mos Def, an American rapper, consists of four solo albums, two compilation albums, and several singles. Bey began his hip hop career in 1994 in the underground rap group UTD (Urban Thermo Dynamics) alongside his sibling group members DCQ and Ces, after which he pursued a solo career. [1] In 1998, he made his mainstream debut on Rawkus Records in the duo Black Star with rapper Talib Kweli. "Definition", the lead single from Black Star's self-titled debut album, reached No. 60 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 on the Hot Rap Singles chart.
In 1999, Yasiin Bey released his solo debut album Black on Both Sides , which was certified Gold in the US and featured the singles "Ms. Fat Booty", which reached No. 20 on the US Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart, and "Umi Says", which reached No. 60 on the UK Singles Chart. Bey performed on several compilations from Rawkus Records and other independent compilation albums. Among them was the single "Oh No" with Pharaohe Monch and Nate Dogg which reached No. 83 on the Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Hot Rap Singles. In 2001, his single "Jam on It" from Underground Airplay Version 1.0 reached No. 23 on the Hot Rap Tracks. In 2002, he appeared on the track "Brown Sugar (Extra Sweet)" on the soundtrack to the film Brown Sugar . Featuring Faith Evans, "Brown Sugar (Extra Sweet)" reached No. 95 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
In 2004, Yasiin Bey released his second solo album The New Danger , in which he experimented with other genres such as rock and R&B. [2] The single "Sex, Love & Money" reached No. 90 on the R&B chart. Later the same year saw the release of UTD album Manifest Destiny under the independent label Illsion Media, run by Bey's brother and fellow group member DCQ. The album featured a compilation of previously unreleased and re-released tracks recorded during the original UTD run. [3] Bey's third solo album, Tru3 Magic , was released in 2006 to very little hype. Its single "Undeniable" charted only on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart but was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 2007.
Yasiin Bey's fourth solo album The Ecstatic was released in 2009 on Downtown Records with distribution by Universal Records. [4] His fifth album Negus was exclusively premiered during Art Basel in Hong Kong on March 29, 2019; and according to a press release, it will never receive a physical or digital release but will be displayed at sound installations around the world. [5]
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [6] | US R&B [7] | US Rap [8] | AUS [9] | CAN [10] | FRA [11] | SWI [12] | UK [13] | ||||||
Black on Both Sides | 25 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 110 |
| ||||
The New Danger |
| 5 | 2 | 1 | — | 12 | 103 | 50 | 56 |
|
| ||
True Magic |
| 77 | 25 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| |||
The Ecstatic |
| 9 | 5 | 2 | 91 | 24 | 172 | 90 | 167 |
| |||
Negus [A] |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Title | Details | Chart positions | |
---|---|---|---|
US [6] | US R&B [7] | ||
Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star (with Talib Kweli as Black Star) |
| 53 | 13 |
Manifest Destiny (with UTD) |
| — | — |
December 99th (with Ferrari Sheppard, as Dec 99th) |
| — | — |
No Fear of Time (with Talib Kweli as Black Star) | — | — |
Title | Details |
---|---|
We Are Hip-Hop: Me, You, Everybody |
|
Mos Definite |
|
We Are Hip-Hop: Me, You, Everybody, Pt. 2 |
|
Audio 3 |
|
Title | Year | Chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Bub. [18] | US R&B [19] | US Rap [20] | UK [13] | ||||
"Universal Magnetic" | 1997 | — | — [A] | — | — | Soundbombing | |
"Ms. Fat Booty" / "Mathematics" | 1999 | — | 54 | 20 | 85 | Black on Both Sides | |
"Umi Says" | — | — | — | 60 | |||
"Brown Sugar (Extra Sweet)" [featuring Faith Evans] | 2002 | — | 95 | — | — | Brown Sugar (soundtrack) | |
"Sex, Love & Money" | 2004 | — | 90 | — | — | The New Danger | |
"Close Edge" | — | 44 [B] | — | — | |||
"Ghetto Rock" | — | — | — | — | |||
"Sunshine" | 2005 | — | — | — | — | ||
"Undeniable" | 2006 | — | 31 [B] | — | — | True Magic | |
"Life in Marvelous Times" | 2008 | — | — | — | — | The Ecstatic | |
"Quiet Dog Bite Hard" | 2009 | — | — | — | — | ||
"Casa Bey" | — | — | — | — | |||
Title | Year | Chart positions | Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [21] | US R&B [19] | US Rap [20] | UK [13] | |||
"Body Rock" (with Tash & Q-Tip) | 1998 | — | 65 | 21 | — | Lyricist Lounge, Volume One |
"Definition" (with Talib Kweli) | 60 | 31 | 3 | — | Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star | |
"Respiration" (with Talib Kweli featuring Common) | 1999 | — | 54 | 6 | — | |
"Oh No" (with Pharoahe Monch featuring Nate Dogg) | 2000 | 83 | 22 | 1 | 24 | Lyricist Lounge 2 |
"Black Iz Back" (with Mau Maus) | Bamboozled (soundtrack) | |||||
"Sensei on the Block" (with Ski Beatz) | 2015 | — | — | — | — | Non-album single |
Title | Year | Chart positions | Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Bub. [18] | US R&B [19] | US Rap [20] | US Alt | |||
"The Love Song" (Da Bush Babees featuring Mos Def) | 1996 | 17 | 66 | 15 | — | Gravity |
"Bullshittin' (B.S.'n...)" (N'Dea Davenport featuring Mos Def) | 1998 | — | 101 | — | — | N'Dea Davenport |
"Travellin' Man" (DJ Honda featuring Mos Def) | 13 | 76 | 17 | — | h II | |
"B-Boy Document" (The High & Mighty featuring Mos Def and Skillz) | 1999 | — | 63 | 7 | — | Home Field Advantage / Soundbombing II |
"A Brighter Day" (Ronny Jordan featuring Mos Def) | — | 54 [A] | 20 | — | A Brighter Day | |
"Six Days (Remix)" (DJ Shadow featuring Mos Def) | 2002 | — | 38 [A] | — | — | Six Days 12" |
"Wylin' Out" (with Diverse and Prefuse 73) | — | 65 | — | — | Urban Renewal Program | |
"Wanna B Where U R (Thisizzaluvsong)" (Floetry featuring Mos Def) | 2003 | — | 116 | — | — | Barbershop 2: Back in Business (soundtrack) / Floacism "Live" |
"Bin Laden" (Immortal Technique featuring Mos Def) | 2005 | — | — | — | — | Non-album single |
"Magnetic Arts" (DJ Honda featuring Mos Def) | 2009 | — | — | — | — | DJ Honda IV |
"Stylo" (Gorillaz featuring Mos Def and Bobby Womack) | 2010 | 3 | — | — | 24 | Plastic Beach |
Year | Song | Artist(s) | Album |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | "Intro" | Da Bush Babees | Gravity |
"S.O.S." | |||
"Big Brother Beat" | De La Soul | "Stakes Is High" | |
"Stakes Is High (Remix)" [also featuring Truth Enola)] | "Itzsoweezee (HOT)" | ||
"Shinjiro" | DJ Krush | MiLight | |
1997 | "Light (Can You See It?)" | Holonic-The Self Megamix | |
"BMT" | Towa Tei, Biz Markie | Sound Museum | |
"If You Can Huh..." | — | Soundbombing | |
1998 | "Crying at Airports (Shawn J. Period Remix)" | Whale | "Four Big Speakers" |
"World Famous" | Funkmaster Flex | The Mixtape Volume 3: 60 Minutes of Funk, The Final Chapter | |
"Rock Rock Y'all" | A Tribe Called Quest, Punchline, Wordsworth and Jane Doe | The Love Movement | |
1999 | "Double Trouble" | The Roots | Things Fall Apart |
"Next Universe" | — | Soundbombing II | |
"Cross Town Beef" | Medina Green, DCQ | ||
"Tinseltown to the Boogiedown" | Scritti Politti | Anomie & Bonhomie | |
"If It's Alright Y'all" | Brixx | Superrappin: The Album | |
"Foundation" | DJ Honda | h 2000 | |
"All Praises Due" | A.D.L.I.B. | Urban Renewal: Word on the Street | |
2000 | "Saturday Nite" (J Dilla Remix) | Brand New Heavies | Delicious Vinyl Presents... Prime Cuts Vol. 1 |
"Hurricane" | Common, Black Thought, Dice Raw, Flo Brown, Jazzyfatnastees | The Hurricane (soundtrack) | |
"Eve" | Spacek | "Eve" | |
"You (Feel Good Remix)" | Samuel Christian | Black and White (soundtrack) | |
"On My Own" | The Black Eyed Peas, Les Nubians | Bridging the Gap | |
"A Tree Never Grown" | A.L., Fre, Grafh, Invincible, J-Live, Jane Doe, Kofi Taha, Rubix, Tame One & Wordsworth | Hip Hop for Respect | |
"One Four Love Pt. 2" | Cappadonna, Channel Live, Crunch Lo, Rock, Shyheim & Wise Intelligent | ||
"What's That? (¿Que Eso?)" | Tony Touch, De La Soul | The Piece Maker | |
"The Questions" | Common | Like Water for Chocolate | |
"I've Committed Murder (Gang Starr Remix)" | Macy Gray, Gang Starr | Lyricist Lounge 2 | |
"Ms. Fat Booty 2" | Ghostface Killah | ||
"Can U C the Pride in the Panther" (Male/Female Version) | 2Pac | The Rose That Grew from Concrete | |
"Love Rain (Remix)" | Jill Scott | Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds, Vol. 1 | |
2001 | "Do Your Best" | Femi Kuti | Fight to Win |
"Jam on It" | DJ Spinbad | Underground Airplay Version 1.0 | |
"Bounce" | DJ Hasebe | Hey World | |
"Reminisce" | Bilal, Common | 1st Born Second | |
"Get Ta Steppin'" | Hi-Tek, Vina Mojica | Hi-Teknology | |
"Street Sounds" | Charlie Hunter Quartet | Songs from the Analog Playground | |
"Creole" | |||
"My Nutmeg Phantasy" | Macy Gray, Angie Stone | The Id | |
2002 | "Seven Days (DJ Premier Remix)" | Craig David | "Seven Days" |
"Breakdown" | — | Brown Sugar (soundtrack) | |
"Brown Sugar (Fine)" | Adaritha | ||
"I Against I" | Massive Attack | Blade II (soundtrack) | |
"Freak Daddy" | — | Soundbombing III | |
"Mujuo" | Toshinobu Kubota | United Flow | |
2003 | "On the Run" | Mark Ronson, M.O.P. | Here Comes the Fuzz |
"Guess You Didn't Love Me" | Terri Walker | Untitled | |
2004 | "Two Words" | Kanye West, Freeway, Harlem Boys Choir | The College Dropout |
"Living for Today" | Toshinobu Kubota | Time to Share | |
"She Wants to Move (Native Tongues Remix)" | N*E*R*D, Common, De La Soul, Q-Tip | "Maybe" | |
"Beauty in the Dark (Groove with You)" | The Isley Brothers | Taken to the Next Phase (Reconstructions) | |
2005 | "T.I.M.E." | Scratch Perverts, Black Thought, Stephanie McKay | Fabric Big Issue CD |
"Victory" | K-Salaam, Sizzla | The World Is Ours | |
"Love It or Leave It Alone" | Alicia Keys, Common | Unplugged | |
"Yo-Yo-Yo (Street)" | Medina Green | "Yo-Yo-Yo (Street)" | |
2006 | "The Corner (Remix)" | Scarface, Common | My Homies Part 2 |
"Superstar" | Ge-ology | Facets | |
"Where We At" | Jurassic 5 | Feedback | |
"Here Comes the Champ" | Dan the Automator, Anwar Superstar | Dan the Automator Presents 2K7 | |
"We Get Down" | Hi-Tek, Bootsy Collins, Raphael Saadiq | Hi-Teknology²: The Chip | |
"Let It Go" | Little Brother & DJ Drama | Separate but Equal | |
2007 | "Hey Baby" | Stephen Marley | Mind Control |
"Drunk and Hot Girls" | Kanye West | Graduation | |
"Good Night" | |||
"Brooklyn in My Mind" | 9th Wonder, Jean Grae, Memphis Bleek | The Dream Merchant Vol. 2 | |
"D.A.N.C.E. (Benny Blanco Remix)" | Justice, Spank Rock | † | |
2008 | "No Particular Place to Go" | — | Cadillac Records: Music from the Motion Picture |
"Rising Down" | The Roots, Styles P, Dice Raw | Rising Down | |
2009 | "America" | K'naan, Chali 2na | Troubadour |
"Mountain Sunlight" | Jazz Liberatorz | Fruit of the Past | |
"On the Vista" | BlakRoc | BlakRoc | |
"Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo)" | |||
2010 | "Sweepstakes" | Gorillaz, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble | Plastic Beach |
"New York Is Killing Me (Remix)" | Gil Scott-Heron | ? | |
"Sweetest Fruit" | Baraka Blue | SoundHeart | |
"Breakfast" | Curren$y | Pilot Talk | |
"The Day" (also featuring Jay Electronica) | |||
"Prowler 2" (also featuring Jean Grae, Jay Electronica & Joell Ortiz) | Ski Beatz | — | |
"Arials" (also featuring Curren$y, Whosane, Terri Walker & Stalley) | |||
"Cream of the Planet" | |||
"Taxi" (also featuring Whosane) | |||
"Lord Lord Lord" (also featuring Swizz Beatz, Raekwon & Charlie Wilson) | Kanye West | G.O.O.D. Fridays | |
"Don't Look Down" (also featuring Lupe Fiasco & Big Sean) | |||
2012 | "Black Radio" | Robert Glasper | Black Radio |
"The Very Best" | Dee-1, Mannie Fresh | Save the Children | |
2013 | "Freedom Is Everyone's Job" | Preservation | Old Numbers |
"They Die By Dawn and Other Short Stories" | The Bullitts, Lucy Liu, Jay Electronica | They Die By Dawn (And Other Short Stories) | |
2015 | "Back Home" | ASAP Rocky, ASAP Yams, Acid | At. Long. Last. ASAP |
"Never Die" | Golden Rules | Golden Ticket | |
2016 | "R.E.D." | A Tribe Called Red | We Are the Halluci Nation |
2017 | "Buy My App" | Denmark Vessey & Azarias | Buy My Drugs |
2018 | "Kids See Ghosts" | Kids See Ghosts | Kids See Ghosts |
2019 | "Education" | MadGibbs, Black Thought | Bandana |
"Treal" | Robert Glasper | Fuc Yo Feelings | |
2020 | "Breathe" | Navy Blue | Song of Sage: Post Panic! |
2022 | ”Stars” | J.I.D | The Forever Story |
2024 | "Space" | Hypnotic Brass Ensemble | Hypnotic Joints, Vol. 2 |
Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, is an American rapper and actor. A prominent figure in conscious hip hop, he is recognized for his use of wordplay and commentary on social and political issues, such as police brutality, American exceptionalism, and the status of African Americans in the United States.
Black on Both Sides is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Mos Def, released on October 12, 1999, by Rawkus and Priority Records.
Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Black Star, composed of rappers Talib Kweli and Yasiin Bey. The album was released on September 29, 1998, to critical acclaim. The title is a reference to the Black Star Line, a shipping line founded by Pan-Africanist Marcus Garvey. The album deals with modern-day issues, philosophical ideas, and life in Brooklyn, New York City as the two artists know it.
The New Danger is the second studio album by American rapper Mos Def, released on October 12, 2004, by Rawkus and Geffen Records. It is the follow-up to his breakthrough solo effort Black on Both Sides (1999), after which he devoted more time into his film and stage career.
Quality is the first studio album by American rapper Talib Kweli. The album was released on November 19, 2002, by Rawkus Records. It received wide critical acclaim and had some commercial appeal from the song "Get By", produced by Kanye West. Kludge magazine included it on their list of best albums of 2002.
Black Star is an American hip hop duo formed in 1996, from Brooklyn, New York City. The duo is composed of rappers Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli. The duo is named after The Black Star Line, a shipping company founded by Marcus Garvey. Their critically acclaimed debut album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star was released on September 29, 1998. After decades of only releasing singles and appearing on compilations, Black Star released their sophomore studio album No Fear of Time May 3, 2022 on the podcasting platform Luminary.
"Frontin'" is the debut single by American singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams featuring American rapper Jay-Z. It was written by the artists alongside Chad Hugo, who produced it with Williams as the Neptunes. At the time of its release, Williams insisted the single was a one-off, and that he was purely a producer and not an artist in his own right. However, he released his own solo studio album, In My Mind, in 2006.
"Change Clothes" is the first official single from rapper Jay-Z's studio album The Black Album. It featured additional vocals by Pharrell Williams (uncredited) and was produced by The Neptunes. The song reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December, 2003.
Lyricist Lounge, Volume One is the second hip hop compilation album by American record label Rawkus Records. The double-disc was released on May 5, 1998, as the first installment of the Lyricist Lounge album series, based on New York's Lyricist Lounge showcases.
Soundbombing III is a compilation album by Rawkus Records, the third installment of their Soundbombing series. It was released on June 4, 2002, and was the first album released after Rawkus signed a distribution deal with MCA. The compilation was mixed by Cipha Sounds and Mr. Choc. Three songs from the album were released as singles: "The Life", "Crew Deep", and "Put It in the Air".
"The Blast" is a hip hop single from Reflection Eternal's debut album, Train of Thought. It features rapping from the duo's emcee, Talib Kweli, as well as from its producer, DJ Hi-Tek. It is the only Reflection Eternal song that Hi-Tek raps on, and like all Reflection Eternal songs, he produces it. The song has a somber and jazzy beat backed by vocals from Vinia Mojica. It has a music video directed by Little X in which Kweli and Hi-Tek are rapping in a rainstorm. Yasiin Bey aka Mos Def, Pharaohe Monch and Kweli's grandmother, Javotti Greene make cameo appearances. The music video version is extended in length, and gives Talib Kweli an extra verse. The song peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks and #49 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and was engineered by Guy Snider. The official remix features new verses by Talib Kweli as well as neo-soul singer Erykah Badu.
The Ecstatic is the fourth studio album by American rapper Mos Def, released on June 9, 2009, by the independent record label Downtown Records. After venturing further away from hip hop with an acting career and two poorly received albums, Mos Def signed a recording contract with Downtown and recorded The Ecstatic primarily at the Record Plant in Los Angeles. He worked with producers such as Preservation, Mr. Flash, Oh No, and Madlib, with the latter two reusing instrumentals they had produced on Stones Throw Records. The work of Stones Throw rapper MF DOOM was also cited by Mos Def as an influence, while singer Georgia Anne Muldrow, formerly of the record label, performed as one of the album's few guest vocalists, along with rappers Slick Rick and Talib Kweli.
"Shake dat Shit" often censored as Shake Dat S*** is the debut single by American rapper Shawnna featuring fellow American rapper Ludacris from the former's debut solo studio album Worth tha Weight. It was released on March 16, 2004 via Disturbing tha Peace/Def Jam Recordings. Produced by Timbaland, the song peaked at number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Ms. Fat Booty" is a song by American rapper Mos Def. It was released on August 2, 1999 through Rawkus Records, as the lead single from the musician's debut solo studio album Black on Both Sides. Production was handled by Ayatollah, who used multiple samples of Aretha Franklin's 1965 single "One Step Ahead".
Troy Donald Jamerson, better known by his stage name Pharoahe Monch, is an American rapper known for his complex lyrics, intricate delivery, and internal and multisyllabic rhyme schemes.
Amerigo Gazaway is an American producer, emcee and DJ known for remixes, original instrumentals and digital sampling. He is best known for his documentary style conceptual collaboration albums which have incorporated the music of A Tribe Called Quest, The Pharcyde, Fela Kuti, De La Soul, Marvin Gaye, Yasiin Bey, James Brown and others. In 2014, his Yasiin Bey/Marvin Gaye remix "You Are Undeniable" was used in an Apple iPad commercial. and charted on Billboard's best-selling singles.
Talib Kweli Greene is an American rapper. He earned recognition through his collaboration with fellow Brooklyn rapper Mos Def in 1997, when they formed the group Black Star. Kweli's musical career continued with solo success including collaborations with producers and rappers Kanye West, Just Blaze, and Pharrell Williams. In 2011, Kweli founded his own record label, Javotti Media.
"Kids See Ghosts" is a song by American hip hop duo Kids See Ghosts, composed of Kanye West and Kid Cudi, from their first album Kids See Ghosts (2018). The song features a guest appearance from Mos Def, who received credit under his real name of Yasiin Bey. It was produced by West, Kid Cudi, and Plain Pat, while additional production was handled by Andrew Dawson, Justin Vernon and Noah Goldstein. Apart from Plain Pat and Goldstein, the producers wrote the song alongside Bey. Making heavy use of synthesizers, the song draws inspiration from ambient music. Lyrically, the song reflects on the difficulties of fame and success.
"Oh No" is a song by American rappers Mos Def and Pharoahe Monch featuring American singer Nate Dogg. It was released in November 2000 by Rawkus Records, as a single from the compilation album Lyricist Lounge 2 (2000). The song was produced by Rockwilder.
No Fear of Time is the second studio album by American hip hop duo Black Star, composed of rappers Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli. It was released on May 3, 2022, via podcasting network Luminary. Entirely produced by Madlib, the album marks the duo's first full-length release in 24 years, following 1998's Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star.