◇ image via WikipediaMos Def
Mos Def is an act on the Starverb influence map. Their sound grew out of Steve Spacek, Ski Beatz, Myka 9, Mystic and DJ Shadow. Those roots explain a lot about how Mos Def arrange songs and choose their tones. They run in the same orbit as Black Star, Talib Kweli, The Roots, A Tribe Called Quest and Common, sharing audiences, venues and reference points rather than a straight line of influence. Their influence carried into Lenny Kravitz, Rapsody, Blakroc, Tame One and Jared Evan, where the same ideas turn up rearranged for a later generation. Altogether the chart holds 99 connections around Mos Def, reaching back through Steve Spacek and forward to Lenny Kravitz. Follow any of those threads to keep travelling the influence between bands and genres on Starverb.
Background
Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, is an American rapper, singer, 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.
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Mos Def connections
Mos Def grew out of Steve Spacek, Ski Beatz, Myka 9 and Mystic, shares an orbit with Black Star, Talib Kweli, The Roots and A Tribe Called Quest, went on to shape Lenny Kravitz, Rapsody, Blakroc and Tame One. 99 connections mapped across roots, kindred and legacy.
Who influenced Mos Def
Sounds and acts that shaped Mos Def.
- Steve Spacekartist
- Ski Beatzartist
- Myka 9artist
- Mysticartist
- DJ Shadowartist
- K’naanartist
- Fugeesartist
- Immortal Techniqueartist
- The Rootsartist
- Bernie Worrellartist
- Mahavishnu Orchestraartist
- DJ Premierartist
- Priority Recordsartist
- Dan Auerbachartist
- Rootsartist
- Stephen Marleyartist
- Questloveartist
- Lucasartist
- The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Bookartist
- De La Soulartist
- Da Bush Babeesartist
- John Coltraneartist
- Ronnie Hudsonartist
- Goapeleartist
- 88-Keysartist
- Weldon Irvineartist
- Pharoahe Monchartist
- Erykah Baduartist
- Reflection Eternalartist
- Oh Noartist
- Georgia Anne Muldrowartist
- Les Nubiansartist
- Company Flowartist
- Charlie Hunterartist
- Chali 2naartist
- J. Rawlsartist
- Hi-Tekartist
Artists similar to Mos Def
Artists and scenes sharing an orbit with Mos Def.
- Black Starartist
- Talib Kweliartist
- The Rootsartist
- A Tribe Called Questartist
- Commonartist
- GZA/Geniusartist
- The Pharcydeartist
- Q-Tipartist
- Mobb Deepartist
- Little Brotherartist
- Joey Bada$$artist
- Dilated Peoplesartist
- Freddie Gibbs & Madlibartist
- OutKastartist
- Slum Villageartist
- Pete Rock & C.L. Smoothartist
- De La Soulartist
- Mach-Hommyartist
- Blu & Exileartist
- Clipseartist
- Digable Planetsartist
- Pusha Tartist
- JAY-Zartist
- Madvillainartist
- Big Lartist
- Jeru the Damajaartist
- Jay Electronicaartist
- Pete Rockartist
Bands Mos Def shaped
Where the influence of Mos Def travelled next.
- Lenny Kravitzartist
- Rapsodyartist
- Blakrocartist
- Tame Oneartist
- Jared Evanartist
- Jorja Smithartist
- Femi Kutiartist
- Nnekaartist
- Charlie Wilsonartist
- Emicidaartist
- Commonartist
- Pharoahe Monchartist
- Nate Doggartist
- Kanye Westartist
- Stephen Marleyartist
- Justiceartist
- The Rootsartist
- The Black Keysartist
- Jim Jonesartist
- Gorillazartist
- Bobby Womackartist
- Trombone Shortyartist
- A$AP Rockyartist
- Erykah Baduartist
- Sampa the Greatartist
- Curren$yartist
- Terri Walkerartist
- Pink Siifuartist
- Bishop Nehruartist
- Skyzooartist
- DJ Hondaartist
- Quinn XCIIartist
- Spank Rockartist
- Non Phixionartist
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