2K Beats

Initially regarded as one of hip-hop's most promising newcomers in the late '90s, Mos Def expanded his reach in the years to come, establishing himself as a serious actor and also making a bid to reshape the rap-rock genre. By the mid-'90s though, Mos Def turned to rap music: based in Brooklyn, he began affiliating himself with the local hip-hop scene, appearing on tracks by such esteemed groups as De La Soul and da Bush Babees. Following these guest appearances and some singles, Mos Def began recording for the upstart Rawkus label. His first full-length album, Black Star (1998), collaborating with Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek, shook the hip-hop community, which embraced the album. His solo debut, Black on Both Sides (1999), did much the same a year later. For the most part though, Mos Def maintained a low profile in successive years, rediscovering his passion for acting and forming the rap-rock supergroup Black Jack Johnson. Listeners, critics, and everyone else who had heard Mos Def's work for Rawkus championed him as a sort of savior, a genuine and important MC. He has acted in several Hollywood films and even spent some time on Broadway. He has also been working on his Black Jack Johnson project which aims to reclaim the rap-rock genre. In 2004, he delivered a second solo album The New Danger, which involved Black Jack Johnson on a few tracks.

Here Comes The Champ
Performed by Mos Def (w/Anwar Supastar)
Decon Records (©2006)
Courtesy of Geffen Records
www.deconmedia.com