Yasiin Bey: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Dante Smith came up in Brooklyn's Bed-Stuy as a child actor turned MC, adopted into the Native Tongues orbit by De La Soul before Rawkus made him the voice of late-'90s conscious rap. This mix traces the jazz, Black radical poetry and Brooklyn lineage behind Mos Def, the Black Star axis, and the acting career that ran parallel to it all.

The Kynda mix for Yasiin Bey

• Key Influence · 3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul (1989). Mos Def's recorded breakthrough came through De La Soul: he guested on their 1996 album Stakes Is High ('Big Brother Beat') and was folded into the Native Tongues collective, listed among its associated acts. De La's debut rewrote what a rap record could sound like — skits, left-field samples, humor over menace — and that playful, bohemian Long Island/Brooklyn template shaped his loose, conversational delivery and refusal of gangsta orthodoxy.','
• Influencia Obscura · Pieces of a Man by Gil Scott-Heron (1971). Scott-Heron's fusion of spoken polemic ('The Revolution Will Not Be Televised') with Brian Jackson's jazz-soul is the direct ancestor of Mos Def's protest writing — 'New World Water' and 'Mathematics' are Scott-Heron's method applied to late-capitalist Brooklyn. Bey has repeatedly honored him in performance and interviews as a model for how a Black artist can sing, speak and agitate within one record without sloganeering.
• Local Roots · Long Live the Kane by Big Daddy Kane (1988). Bed-Stuy's own, and the Brooklyn MC template Bey grew up under: Kane's elastic breath control, dapper showmanship and Juice Crew battle pedigree set the local standard for how a Brooklyn rapper carried himself. Bey has cited Kane among the hometown giants, and Black Star's reverence for borough lineage — naming streets, naming elders — is unintelligible without Kane's Fort Greene/Bed-Stuy era as the baseline.
• Beyond the Medium · Do the Right Thing by Spike Lee (1989). Lee shot it in Bed-Stuy, blocks from where Bey was a teenager, and its vision of the neighborhood as both idyll and tinderbox — police killing a Black man on a summer street — prefigures 'Mathematics' and his protest work on police brutality. The film also modeled the Brooklyn artist as auteur-activist, a template Bey followed into his own parallel acting career in film and on Broadway.
• Peer · Things Fall Apart by The Roots (1999). Released the same year as Black on Both Sides and from the same live-band, Soulquarian-adjacent wing of hip-hop; Bey appeared with The Roots repeatedly, including on 'Double Trouble' from their 1999 album. Both records argued that rap's future lay in played instruments and essayistic writing rather than loops, and both were recorded amid the Electric Lady sessions scene that bound Philadelphia and New York together at the decade's end.
• From the Canon · Black on Both Sides by Yasiin Bey (1999). His Rawkus solo debut as Mos Def and the fullest statement of his method: live bass and guitar, hardcore punk on 'Rock N Roll', environmental politics on 'New World Water', and 'Mathematics' turning statistics on Black American life into a DJ Premier-produced sermon. It establishes everything the later career argues with — the genre-crossing band instincts, the Islamic framing, the refusal to be only a rapper.
• Key Collaborator · Quality by Talib Kweli (2002). Kweli is the defining partner of Bey's career — Black Star in 1998, intermittent reunions and tours for twenty-five years after, and a shared Brooklyn political education around Nkiru Books. Quality is his solo peak and shows what he brought to the pairing: dense, breathless, argumentative writing that Bey's cooler, more melodic phrasing answered. The two voices only make full sense heard against each other.
• Legacy · good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar (2012). Lamar has named Black on Both Sides and Black Star among his formative records, and the two have shared stages. The lineage is structural: a narrative album about a specific Black neighborhood, voiced in multiple registers, moral without being preachy, built on live players as much as samples. Bey's proof that commercial rap could carry theology and statistics is the precondition for Lamar's career.

What influenced Yasiin Bey

• 3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul (1989). 3 Feet High and Rising (De La Soul) — titan for Yasiin Bey “After embarking on his career in 1994, he joined his siblings in the short-lived rap group Urban Thermo Dynamics (UTD) and guest appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Do the Right Thing by Spike Lee (1989). Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee) — culture for Yasiin Bey (themoviedb.org)
• The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X with Alex Haley (1965). The Autobiography of Malcolm X (Malcolm X with Alex Haley) — culture for Yasiin Bey (wikidata.org)
• The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest (1991). The Low End Theory (A Tribe Called Quest) — titan for Yasiin Bey (musicbrainz.org)
• This Is Madness by The Last Poets (1971). This Is Madness (The Last Poets) — ghost for Yasiin Bey (musicbrainz.org)
• Paid in Full by Eric B. & Rakim. Paid in Full (Eric B. & Rakim) — titan for Yasiin Bey (musicbrainz.org)
• Pieces of a Man by Gil Scott-Heron (1971). Pieces of a Man (Gil Scott-Heron) — ghost for Yasiin Bey

Peers and kindred spirits

• Talib Kweli (1975). Bey launched The Midnight Miracle with Talib Kweli. (also via Reflection Eternal, Quality) “We would record, go out, see the city, eat good food, come back and listen to the recordings and we would think 'yeah, I like that,'” (Okayplayer)
• Dave Chappelle (1973). Bey launched The Midnight Miracle with Dave Chappelle. (also via Black on Both Sides) “Black Star performs "What's Beef" for the season one finale of Chappelle's Show . Both Bey and Talib had performed separately prior to this performance on the show, with Bey and Talib serving as Dave Chappelle 's first and second musical…” (Okayplayer)
• A Love Supreme by John Coltrane (1965). Bey performed his rendition of A Love Supreme. “He treated the South African audience with an encore, introduced by his own rendition of John Coltrane 's A Love Supreme , followed by a sneak preview of the track "M.D. (Doctor)".” (Wikipedia)
• The Black Keys. Bey collaborated with the Black Keys on Blakroc. “Mos Def , Q-Tip , Wu Tang Clan ‘s RZA and Raekwon , Ludacris and Pharoahe Monch are among the hip-hop acts who have collaborated with The Black Keys for a new project, BLAKROC .” (NME)
• Black Star. Identifies Bey and Kweli as the members of Black Star. “As you might've heard, Black Star , the rap duo made up of lyrical heavyweights Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli , is finally releasing their highly-anticipated sophomore album, No Fear of Time .” (Okayplayer)
• Gorillaz. Bey featured on Gorillaz’s single Stylo. “I based the lyrics on a character who runs the arcades on Plastic Beach. Bobby Womack (who also contributes to 'Stylo') listened to it while I was there.” (Songfacts)
• It Ain't My Fault by Smokey Johnson. Bey recorded a cover of Smokey Johnson’s song. “In June 2010, he recorded a cover of the classic New Orleans song originally by Smokey Johnson , " It Ain't My Fault " with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band , Lenny Kravitz and Trombone Shorty .” (Wikipedia)
• Things Fall Apart by The Roots (1999). Things Fall Apart (The Roots) — peer for Yasiin Bey “In April 2008, he appeared on the title track for a new album by The Roots titled Rising Down.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Reflection Eternal by Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek (2000). Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek) — geography for Yasiin Bey “In Cincinnati, Kweli met Hi-Tek and the two collaborated on a few underground recordings as Reflection Eternal, including "Fortified Live" (1997), and "B-Boy Document 99/Chaos" (1999, featuring The High & Mighty).” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Madlib. Reports that Madlib recorded tracks with Bey and Kweli. “Madlib shares that he, Bey, and Kweli have recorded eight tracks together .” (Okayplayer)
• Quality by Talib Kweli (2002). Quality (Talib Kweli) — collaborator for Yasiin Bey “In 1996, he and fellow Brooklyn-based rapper Talib Kweli formed the duo Black Star, whose debut album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star (1998) spawned the singles "Definition" and "Respiration" (featuring Common).” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Urban Thermo Dynamics. Bey formed Urban Thermo Dynamics with DCQ and Ces. “Bey began his music career in 1994, forming the group UTD (or Urban Thermo Dynamics) along with younger brother DCQ and high-school friend Ces.” (Wikipedia)
• Crooklyn Dodgers. The article lists Bey as a former member of Crooklyn Dodgers. “Member of Black Star Formerly of Crooklyn Dodgers Dec 99th Soulquarians Children 6, including Laila Signature Musical artist Yasiin Bey” (Wikipedia)
• K'naan. Bey worked with K’naan on America. “In 2009, he worked with Somali-Canadian rapper K'naan to produce the track "America" for K'naan's album Troubadour .” (Wikipedia)
• Soulquarians. The article lists Bey as a former member of Soulquarians. “Member of Black Star Formerly of Crooklyn Dodgers Dec 99th Soulquarians Children 6, including Laila Signature Musical artist Yasiin Bey” (Wikipedia)
• Mama's Gun by Erykah Badu (2000). Mama's Gun (Erykah Badu) — peer for Yasiin Bey “Hyundai's RE:GENERATION music documentary series partnered with producer Mark Ronson in 2012 to create the jazz track "A La Modeliste." The song featured guest vocals from Erykah Badu and Mos Def (Yasiin Bey), along with legendary New Or…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Black Thought. Identifies Black Thought as a featured artist on a Black Star single. “Teasing the album, the duo also releases its lead single " Mineral Mountain " via Luminary. The song features fellow revered MC Black Thought.” (Okayplayer)
• Like Water for Chocolate by Common (2000). Like Water for Chocolate (Common) — peer for Yasiin Bey “In 1996, he and fellow Brooklyn-based rapper Talib Kweli formed the duo Black Star, whose debut album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star (1998) spawned the singles "Definition" and "Respiration" (featuring Common).” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Dec 99th. The article lists Bey as a former member of Dec 99th. “Member of Black Star Formerly of Crooklyn Dodgers Dec 99th Soulquarians Children 6, including Laila Signature Musical artist Yasiin Bey” (Wikipedia)
• Kanye West. Bey appears alongside Kanye West on Two Words. “Bey appears alongside Kanye West on the track " Two Words " from The College Dropout album, the track "Drunk and Hot Girls" and the bonus track "Good Night" off West's third major album, Graduation .” (Wikipedia)
• The Sun Rises in the East by Jeru the Damaja (1994). The Sun Rises in the East (Jeru the Damaja) — geography for Yasiin Bey (musicbrainz.org)
• Hi-Teknology by Hi-Tek (2001). Hi-Teknology (Hi-Tek) — collaborator for Yasiin Bey “Mostly produced by Hi-Tek, the album featured the singles "Respiration" and "Definition", which both reached in the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Donuts by J Dilla (2006). Donuts (J Dilla) — collaborator for Yasiin Bey (musicbrainz.org)
• Long Live the Kane by Big Daddy Kane (1988). Long Live the Kane (Big Daddy Kane) — geography for Yasiin Bey (musicbrainz.org)

Who Yasiin Bey influenced

• Kendrick Lamar (1987). The article reports that Lamar named Bey as an early inspiration. (also via good kid, m.A.A.d city) “Kendrick Lamar once mentioned Bey as a very early inspiration as a young rapper, though Lamar denied being a part of the conscious rap movement.” (Wikipedia)
• Amy Winehouse. The article identifies Bey as an influence on Amy Winehouse. “He has also directly influenced artists outside of hip-hop, including English singer-songwriters Adele and Amy Winehouse .” (Wikipedia)
• Adele (2006). The article identifies Bey as an influence on Adele. “He has also directly influenced artists outside of hip-hop, including English singer-songwriters Adele and Amy Winehouse .” (Wikipedia)
• Kid Cudi. The article identifies Bey as an influence on Kid Cudi. “Bey has influenced numerous hip-hop artists throughout his career, including Lupe Fiasco , Jay Electronica , Kid Cudi , Saigon , and Logic .” (Wikipedia)
• Jay Electronica. The article identifies Bey as an influence on Jay Electronica. “Bey has influenced numerous hip-hop artists throughout his career, including Lupe Fiasco , Jay Electronica , Kid Cudi , Saigon , and Logic .” (Wikipedia)
• Lupe Fiasco. The article identifies Bey as an influence on Lupe Fiasco. “Bey has influenced numerous hip-hop artists throughout his career, including Lupe Fiasco , Jay Electronica , Kid Cudi , Saigon , and Logic .” (Wikipedia)
• good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar (2012). good kid, m.A.A.d city (Kendrick Lamar) — legacy for Yasiin Bey “Kendrick Lamar once mentioned Bey as a very early inspiration as a young rapper, though Lamar denied being a part of the conscious rap movement.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Logic. The article identifies Bey as an influence on Logic. “Bey has influenced numerous hip-hop artists throughout his career, including Lupe Fiasco , Jay Electronica , Kid Cudi , Saigon , and Logic .” (Wikipedia)
• Saigon. The article identifies Bey as an influence on Saigon. “Bey has influenced numerous hip-hop artists throughout his career, including Lupe Fiasco , Jay Electronica , Kid Cudi , Saigon , and Logic .” (Wikipedia)
• Telefone by Noname (2016). Telefone (Noname) — legacy for Yasiin Bey (musicbrainz.org)
• 1999 by Joey Bada$$ (2012). 1999 (Joey Bada$$) — legacy for Yasiin Bey (musicbrainz.org)