Roots of Mos Def
The artists and genres Mos Def came out of — one hop back on the influence tree.
De La Soulartist
Da Bush Babeesartist
John Coltraneartist
Ronnie Hudsonartist
GoapeleartistGoapele Mohlabane is an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter. Her name means to move forward in Setswana, a Southern African language.
88-KeysartistCharles Misodi Njapa, known professionally as 88-Keys, is an American record producer and rapper.
Weldon Irvineartist
Pharoahe MonchartistTroy Donald Jamerson, better known by his stage name Pharoahe Monch, is an American rapper known for his complex lyrics, intricate delivery, and internal and multisyllabic rhyme schemes.
Erykah Baduartist- Reflection Eternalartist
Oh NoartistMichael Woodrow Jackson, known professionally as Oh No, is an American rapper and record producer who has released several albums on Stones Throw Records. He is half of the hip-hop duo Gangrene along with The Alchemist. He is also half of the hip-hop duo The Professionals with his brother Madlib.
Georgia Anne MuldrowartistGeorgia Anne Muldrow is an American soul and hip hop singer, producer, and songwriter from Los Angeles. In 2008, she co-founded the SomeOthaShip Connect record label with fellow artist and former husband Dudley Perkins.
Les NubiansartistLes Nubians is a French musical duo, composed of sisters Hélène and Célia Faussart from Paris, France. In 1985, the sisters moved with their parents to Chad. Seven years later, they returned to Bordeaux, France, and began singing a cappella, producing poetry slams in Bordeaux and Paris, and singing background vocals for various artists worldwide. The duo's debut album Princesses Nubiennes was released by Virgin Records, France, in 1998.
Company FlowartistCompany Flow was an American hip hop trio from Brooklyn, New York City, consisting of Bigg Jus, El-P and Mr. Len.
Charlie HunterartistCharlie Hunter is an American guitarist, composer, producer and bandleader. First coming to prominence in the early 1990s, Hunter plays custom-made seven - and eight-string guitars on which he simultaneously plays bass lines, chords, and melodies. Critic Sean Westergaard described Hunter's technique as "mind-boggling...he's an agile improviser with an ear for great tone, and always has excellent players alongside him in order to make great music, not to show off." Hunter's technique is rooted in the styles of jazz guitarists Joe Pass and Tuck Andress, two of his biggest influences, who blended bass notes with melody in a way that created the illusion of two guitars.
Chali 2naartistCharles Stewart, better known as Chali 2na, is an American painter and rapper, associated with the groups Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli. He is known for his bass-baritone voice and quick-delivery rapping style.
J. RawlsartistJason Daniel Rawls, known professionally as J. Rawls, is an American hip-hop musician, producer, DJ, educator, and speaker based in Columbus, Ohio. He emerged in the late 1990s underground hip-hop scene, contributing to projects such as Black Star's's debut album, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Stars. He is the producer of the group Lone Catalysts with rapper J Sands. Rawls has collaborated with various artists, including Grand Agent. Rawls runs a Columbus-based production company and record label named Polar Entertainment, and performs as a DJ.
Hi-Tekartist
Steve Spacekartist
Ski Beatzartist
Myka 9artist
Mysticartist
DJ Shadowartist
K’naanartist