Yasiin Bey, 1973
Actors · December 11, 1973
Yasiin Bey
★ HOW OLD IS YASIIN BEY?
Yasiin Bey is 52 years old, born December 11, 1973 in United States · Sagittarius.
#31676of 35,276 Actors on HotBirthdays
★ LEDE
About
Yasiin Bey built conscious hip-hop into a vehicle for wordplay and political commentary—police brutality, American exceptionalism, the lived experience of Black Americans. Born Dante Terrell Smith in 1973, he emerged from Brooklyn's rap underground as Mos Def, co-founding Black Star with Talib Kweli and releasing the critically acclaimed solo albums Black on Both Sides (1999) and The Ecstatic (2009). His 2000 single "Oh No" (with Pharoahe Monch featuring Nate Dogg) charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sagittarius-born, he pivots between music and film—Dexter, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Be Kind Rewind—and hosted Def Poetry Jam (2002–2007).
★ FEATURE
Biography
Yasiin Bey (born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973) is an American rapper, singer, and actor. A foundational voice in conscious hip-hop, he weaponizes wordplay against police brutality, American exceptionalism, and systemic racism. He began rapping in 1994, joining siblings in Urban Thermo Dynamics before guest spots on Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. In 1996, he and Brooklyn-based Talib Kweli formed Black Star; their 1998 debut Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star produced "Definition" and "Respiration" (featuring Common), both landmark tracks in '90s underground hip-hop. His solo breakthrough, Black on Both Sides (1999), earned critical acclaim and established him as a lyricist of substance. The Ecstatic (2009) cemented that reputation. Charting once on the Billboard Hot 100—the 2000 single "Oh No" with Pharoahe Monch (featuring Nate Dogg)—he remained a streaming and critical force rather than a pop commodity. About.com ranked him 14th among the greatest rappers of all time in 2014. Beyond music, he navigated film and television steadily: 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; TV roles in Dexter and House; and hosted Def Poetry Jam from 2002 to 2007, amplifying spoken-word artists. Sagittarius-born, Bey embodies life-path 7 energy—the seeker, the truth-teller.
★ SIDEBAR
Trivia
- Born Dante Terrell Smith; adopted the stage name Mos Def early in his career before later rebranding to Yasiin Bey.
- Black Star's 1998 debut is considered a landmark of '90s conscious hip-hop; "Definition" and "Respiration" remain foundational tracks.
- Hosted Def Poetry Jam, a televised spoken-word platform, for five years (2002–2007), helping elevate emerging poets.
★ SIDEBAR
Numerology
LIFE-PATH NUMBER
The Seeker
Analytical and private. Yasiin Bey release rarely but deeply, and tend to reward fans with unusual artistic depth rather than constant output.
★ ALL LIFE-PATH 7 CELEBS →★ ASTROLOGY
Birthday compatibility
By Chinese zodiac — san-he trine for best matches, opposing pair for the most friction-prone.
HIGHLY COMPATIBLE
- Taylor SwiftSnake · 1989
- PinkPantheressSnake · 2001
- Khvicha KvaratskheliaSnake · 2001
- Milo ManheimSnake · 2001
- Josie TotahSnake · 2001
CHALLENGING
- Brian GutiérrezGoat · 2003
- An Yu-jin
★ FAQ
Frequently asked
- How old is Yasiin Bey?
- Yasiin Bey is 52 years old (born December 11, 1973).
- When is Yasiin Bey's birthday?
- Yasiin Bey was born on December 11, 1973.
- What is Yasiin Bey's zodiac sign?
- Yasiin Bey is a Sagittarius, born December 11, 1973.
- What is Yasiin Bey's Chinese zodiac sign?
- Yasiin Bey was born in 1973, the year of the Water Ox.
- Where is Yasiin Bey from?
- Yasiin Bey is from United States.
- What does Yasiin Bey do?
- Yasiin Bey is a actor.
- Is Yasiin Bey still alive?
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