Black on Both Sides is the debut album of American rapper Mos Def, now known as Yasiin Bey, released October 12, 1999 on Rawkus Records. Prior to the album's recording, Mos Def had collaborated with rapper Talib Kweli for the duo's studio album, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star (1998), which raised high expectations for a solo effort. Black on Both Sides features an emphasis on live instrumentation and socially conscious lyrics. On February 2, 2000, the album was certified Gold in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), following sales in excess of 500,000 copies. Black on Both Sides is the debut album of American rapper Mos Def, now known as Yasiin Bey, released October 12, 1999 on Rawkus Records. Prior to the album's recording, Mos Def had collaborated with rapper Talib Kweli for the duo's studio album, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star (1998), which raised high expectations for a solo effort. Black on Both Sides features an emphasis on live instrumentation and socially conscious lyrics. On February 2, 2000, the album was certified Gold in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), following sales in excess of 500,000 copies. false 2022-11-02 13:18:22 Black on Both Sides 8.5 2002 2002-06-04 2002-06-04 72 Conscious Hip Hop East Coast Hip Hop Hip Hop 117368 2148627 3636d9b6-13e3-3b00-975b-9cf95a0ac21a 9f4551c6-1324-4ac5-b3fe-a5c5cfacd54d d6658b47-463a-390e-9417-99c818aea004 Mos Def AlbumArtist Mos Def Artist Mos Def Mos Def 1 Fear Not of Man 04:29 2 Hip Hop 03:15 3 Love 04:23 4 Ms. Fat Booty 03:43 5 Speed Law 04:16 6 Do It Now 03:49 7 Got 03:27 8 Umi Says 05:10 9 New World Water 03:11 10 Rock n Roll 05:02 11 Know That 04:03 12 Climb 04:02 13 Brooklyn 05:09 14 Habitat 04:39 15 Mr. Nigga 05:12 16 Mathematics 04:06 17 May‐December 03:31 Yasiin Bey ( yass-EEN BAY; born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973), formerly known as Mos Def ( MOHSS DEF), is an American rapper 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 social status of African Americans. He launched his hip hop recording career in 1994 and 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. 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) contained the singles "Definition" and "Respiration". He released his solo debut, Black on Both Sides, in 1999, which was followed by The New Danger (2004), True Magic (2006), and The Ecstatic (2009). His 2000 single "Oh No" remains his sole entry on the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo act. In 2014, About.com listed him 14th on its "50 Greatest Rappers of All Time". A former child actor in television films, sitcoms, and theater, Bey has appeared in the films Something the Lord Made, Next Day Air, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 16 Blocks, Be Kind Rewind, The Italian Job, The Woodsman, Bamboozled, and Brown Sugar and in television series such as Dexter and House. He hosted Def Poetry Jam from 2002 to 2007.