There are far more prolific artists on the hip-hop scene than Mos Def, but not many in his league when it comes to diversification and political outspokenness. Musically, he sealed the deal with his first two albums — 1998’s Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star and the following year’s Black on Both Sides — which are arguably two of the most highly regarded records in rap history. But by 2004’s The New Danger, Mos Def (born Dante Terrell Smith in Brooklyn) proved he had no intention to be wholly defined as a rapper. On top of The New Danger’s genre-blending aesthetic (the album featured as much soul, blues and rock as hip-hop), by that point in his career, Mos Def was starting to seem more like a critically lauded actor who occasionally dabbled in music than a musician who acted on the side. His films to date have included Bamboozled, Monster’s Ball, Brown Sugar, The Italian Job, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Be Kind Rewind and Cadillac Records (in which he played Chuck Berry). Fortunately for fans of smart, socially aware hip-hop, though, there’s more than enough Mos Def to go around for both film and music. In addition to noteworthy collaborations with Kanye West (“Drunk and Hot Girls”) and the Roots (this year’s “Life in Marvelous Times”), he released True Magic in 2006 and Mos Definite in 2007, and returns full force this summer with the much anticipated The Ecstatic.
14559 people added Mos Def to their ACL schedule.
Share:
Facebook
Myspace
Twitter
Share
AddThis
Add to schedule
You must login to comment.
COMMENTS
His worst sin was running ten minutes over into the STS9 set. Rude and ameteur. I would guess he won’t be asked back. Too many professionals bring their best. Show some respect. How about earn some.
3 months agoHe cover of Radiohead’s “All I Need” was AWESOME! Come on people respect!
4 months agoThis was the most disappointing show of the festival.
4 months agoI was bored out of my mind. The only part of his set I enjoyed was his Radiohead cover. I love music like no other, but he let me down.
4 months agoI agree, he’s why I came on Saturday. He was a mess, no energy, late and none of his many many great songs. 1 messed up verse of Ms. Fat Booty…so disappointing. He broke my heart.
4 months agoi was so disappointed by his show. he was well over 20 minutes late. the show was a hot mess w/ him rambling about. he does not do big venues well. it was not worth being in the rain for this show. sad.
4 months agoCan’t wait!! Awesome music weekend!!!!!
4 months agoPLEEEASE let Talib Kweli come out and do some Blackstar songs. at least one. cross fingers.
4 months agoMOS DEF the best of the best
5 months agoHey everybody,
My name is Joseph Alvarez, and I write for an online magazine called Examiner.com.
I’ve been covering the Austin City Limits Music Festival for a while now, and I’m doing a countdown of the most anticipated artists of the festival. I actually ranked it according to this website, based on the number of fans that schedule each artist.
Mos Def clocks in at #9. If you’d like to read it, check it out here:
http://www.examiner.com/x-10249-Austin-Local-Music-Examiner~y2009m8d2-ACLs-Most-Anticipated-9-Mos-Def
Comments are always welcome, even if you hate the article.
6 months agoHells yea. I saw Kanye last year at Lolla and was hoping he’d do “Two Words” but he didn’t. I hope Mos busts it out
6 months agoI’m excited too!!!
7 months agoSo excited to see Mos Def live!
7 months agoclose edge live!!
8 months agothe mighty mos!!! woohoo!!
8 months agoJammin at bball listen to mos as I lived in Northen Minnesota. His lyrics will shock, uplift and proactivate. And a nod to his performance in “Be Kind Rewind” Thanks!!!
9 months agoAwesome! Totally psyched to see him.
9 months agoI love his albums! I recommend blackstar!!!
9 months agoI first learned of mos def while in school on East Coast. Around the same time I learned the difference between rap and Hip Hop. Mos is Hip Hop. Now go purchase his his debut Black on Both Sides and duo project Blackstar, hit repeat and wait til October. Austin is in for a TREAT!
9 months agoFirst time I have had a chance to see Mos
9 months ago