#MOS DEF THE ECSTATIC SPEECH DRIVER#

Bey has never compromised his street cred, nor has his lyrical potency diminished.

He can most recently be seen co-starring in the outrageous comedy Be Kind Rewind featuring Jack Black and in Toussaint, which unveils the real life story of the 18th century Haitian Revolutionary and military strategist who single handedly defeated an age of French colonialism.Īlthough many of hip hop's luminaries have produced a cross-pollination of their diverse talents through various creative mediums, few have remained culturally relevant to their grassroots origins.

#MOS DEF THE ECSTATIC SPEECH DRIVER#

He took on the role of a hearing impaired explosive expert in The Italian Job, an aspiring rapper turned cab driver in the hip-hop love story Brown Sugar, made an impressive turn as a second generation prison guard in the controversial drama Monster's Ball, and deftly portrayed a Nigerian immigrant with a distinct Yoruban accent, caught in the midst of the Brazilian drug game in Journey to the End of the Night. In 16 Blocks, he served as a timid witness to a dirty cop's crime opposite Bruce Willis. The Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominated street scholar has not only demonstrated his versatility but his fortitude and promise as a thespian, gracing the silver screen in a spectrum of blockbuster hits. Opting to remain esoteric regarding his personal life, we do know that the introspective father and devout Muslim has fashioned a career trajectory that has proven the rap community's talents can transcend its natural paradigm. His unique blend of humor and charismatic wit has not only given an intellectual voice to the very genre that birthed him, but has assisted with mastering the art of showmanship in music, TV, film and theater. Whether writing letters of encouragement to ostracized Black Panther member Assata Shakur or sounding of political anthems in opposition to Hurricane Katrina, the urban wordsmith has never been defeated by controversy.

The outspoken philanthropic MC has been embraced by academic intelligentsia, while addressing issues ranging from the plight of political prisoners to social injustices in Third World countries. Bey’s creative evolution has been a gradual development, from his humble beginning as a magnetic b-boy, delivering thought-provoking prose during organic street corner ciphers, creating a fertile training ground for his multiple talents and socio-economic/political awareness.

Mos def the ecstatic speech