Name: Mos Def
Birth Name: Dante Terrell Smith
Birthdate: Dec. 11, 1973
Birthplace: Brooklyn, N.Y.
1-MINUTE RESUME FOR MOS DEF
Despite what you might first think, Mos Def started out as an actor
some 10-plus years before the release of his critically acclaimed 1998
album Black Star (with rapper Talib Kweli). He worked under the name
Dante Bezé in TV shows like
Brooklyn South,
Spin City and
NYPD Blue.
He grew up middle-class, acting in high school and local theaters
before a scouting TV exec discovered him. He received regular stage
work and TV jobs, all the while working on a burgeoning
music career
that received big-time help when De La Soul's Maseo signed Mos to his
label. Eventually he transitioned to movies, taking minor, but
recognized, roles in
Monster's Ball,
The Italian Job and
16 Blocks.
5 Things:
1. His nickname means "most definitely," thanks to his most common reply when friends would ask if he wanted to hang out.
2. He is an accomplished poet and owns a bookstore in Brooklyn.
3. His mother Umi was his long-time manager.
4. He has hosted HBO's Def Poetry since 2000.
5. His ad for a GMC Denali SUV was regarded by some as a "sellout."
Quote:
"I'm a hustler. And my hustle is trying to figure out the best ways to do what I like without having to do much else."
—
Interview, June 2002
Awards:
2005: Golden Globe nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television, Something the Lord Made
FILMS
Be Kind Rewind - (2008 ) - Actor
16 Blocks - (2006) - Actor
Dave Chappelle's Block Party - (2006) - Featured
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby - (2006) - Featured
Lackawanna Blues - (2005) - Actor
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - (2005) - Actor
The Devil's Music - (2004) - Voice
Something the Lord Made - (2004) - Actor
The Woodsman - (2004) - Actor
The Italian Job - (2003) - Actor
Civil Brand - (2003) - Actor
Showtime - (2002) - Featured
Brown Sugar - (2002) - Actor
Carmen: A Hip Hopera - (2002) - Actor
Monster's Ball - (2001) - Featured
Bamboozled - (2000) - Featured
Where's Marlowe? - (1998) - Actor
