Yasiin Bey
Acting
77
Acting Credits
Biography
Yasiin Bey (/jæˈsiːn ˈbeɪ/; born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973), formerly known as Mos Def, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, and actor. Regarded as one of hip hop's most introspective and insightful artists, Mos Def, has shaped a career that transcends music genres and artistic medium. With the release of "Universal Magnetic" (1996), he became an underground favorite in the hip-hop world, leading to his legendary collaboration with Talib Kweli. The two formed Black Star whose ...
Known For
Filmography
Gorillaz: Live at Rock Werchter 2026
2026
Together for Palestine
2025
as Self
Part of Me
2023
as Himself
Gorillaz | MTV World Stage
2023
as Mos Def
Hargrove
2022
as Self
jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy
2022
as Self (archive footage)
You're Watching Video Music Box
2021
as Self (archive footage)
Peculiar Contrast, Perfect Light
2021
Gorillaz: Reject False Icons
2019
as Mos Def
French Tour
2016
as Focé
Amy
2015
as Self
Life of Crime
2013
as Ordell Robbie
Begin Again
2013
as Saul
Standard Operating Procedure
2013
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap
2012
as Self
Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest
2011
as Self
A Man's Story
2011
as Self
I'm Still Here
2010
as Mos Def
Bouncing Cats
2010
The Making of Plastic Beach
2010
as Mos Def
Gorillaz: Live at Roundhouse in London
2010
as Mos Def
Next Day Air
2009
as Eric
Be Kind Rewind
2008
as Mike
In Prison My Whole Life
2008
as Self
Cadillac Records
2008
as Chuck Berry
Prince Among Slaves
2008
as Narrator
Fats Waller Was Born Here
2008
as "Fats" Wallter/Mike (as Mos Def)
Yo Gabba Gabba!
2007
16 Blocks
2006
as Eddie Bunker
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
2006
as Mos Def
Journey to the End of the Night
2006
as Wemba
Rap Sheet: Hip-Hop and the Cops
2006
Coachella
2006
as Self - Interviewee
September in Brooklyn: The Making of Block Party
2006
as Self
Dexter
2006
as Brother Sam
Dave Chappelle's Block Party
2005
as Self - (as Mos Def)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
2005
as Ford Prefect
Lackawanna Blues
2005
as The Bandleader
Don't Crash: The Documentary of the Making of the Movie of the Book of the Radio Series of 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'
2005
as Self
Stranger: Bernie Worrell on Earth
2005
as Self (as Mos Def)
Alicia Keys: Unplugged
2005
as Self
The Boondocks
2005
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
2005
as Self
Something the Lord Made
2004
as Vivien Thomas
The Woodsman
2004
as Sgt. Lucas
House
2004
as Lee
The Italian Job
2003
as Left Ear
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
2003
as Self
Gil Scott-Heron: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
2003
as Himself
Chappelle's Show
2003
as Self - Black Star
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
as Self - Musical Guest
Real Time with Bill Maher
2003
as Self
Civil Brand
2002
as Michael Meadows
Brown Sugar
2002
as Chris Anton 'Cav' Vichon
Showtime
2002
as Lazy Boy
Monster's Ball
2001
as Ryrus Cooper
Carmen: A Hip Hopera
2001
as Lt. Miller
My Wife and Kids
2001
The Proud Family
2001
as Mos Def (voice)
Bamboozled
2000
as Mau Mau: Big Blak Afrika
Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme
2000
as Himself
Island of the Dead
2000
as Robbie J
Mark Twain Prize
1999
as Self - Musical Guest
Where's Marlowe?
1998
as Wilt Crawley
Ghosts
1997
as Dante
The View
1997
as Self
Brooklyn South
1997
as Darius
Spin City
1996
as Monty
The Cosby Mysteries
1994
Split Images
1992
as Curtis Roy
Here and Now
1992
as Alonzo
HBO First Look
1992
as Self
The Hard Way
1991
as Dead Romeos
You Take the Kids
1990
as Raymond Kirkland
God Bless the Child
1988
as Richard Watkins
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Musical Guest
Tony Awards
1956
as Self - Performer