Not many people have heard of Dante Terrell Smith. And judging by his quiet disposition I think he would like it to stay that way.

He is, in fact, an urban icon, perhaps even a legend in the hip-hop underground circle. His music is a fusion of fluid verses about a higher cultural consciousness.

After converting to Islam 14 years ago, his lyrics are saturated with "truth".

Verses like, "My umi said shine you're light on the world/ Shine your light for the world to see/ My abu said shine you're light on the world … I ain't no perfect man/ I'm trying to do the best that I can/ With what it is I have … Put my heart and soul into this song/ I hope you feel me/ From where I am, to wherever you are/ I mean that sincerely," feature on the 1999 Grammy nominated album, Black on Both Sides.

Dante Terrell Smith is rapper/producer-/actor Mos Def. The 33-year-old artiste with an album selling in millions is besides, not a stranger to the silver screen having starred in box-office hits alongside Bruce Willis, Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron and Danny Glover, to name a few.

Mos Def, in a recent interview at Madinat Jumeirah, was adamant about taking on a new role as a roving ambassador for the UAE. His vision is to bridge the gap between the East and the West, Christian and Muslim as well as young and old.

"It's my first time to Dubai. It's a good atmosphere. I've always wanted to come to the UAE," said Mos Def.

Destined path

Looking back at his humble beginnings, it seems his path was always destined to lead him to the Middle East. In fact, his rap lyrics contain the odd Arabic word. "I've been rapping and acting simultaneously since I was 9 or 10 years old. In the beginning I was doing what I enjoyed."

Mos Def began his music career with the short-lived group Urban Thermo Dynamics with his younger brother DCQ and his younger sister Ces. In 1996, he emerged as a solo artiste and worked with De La Soul and da Bush Babees before he released his own first single, Universal Magnetic. He then released his hugely successful solo debut, Black on Both Sides, in 1999.

Mos Def won the Best Actor award for his role as a sceptical detective, Sergeant Lucas, in an independent movie The Woodsman at the 2005 Black Reel Awards. More recently, he starred in films like The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Italian Job and 16 Blocks.

As a spiritually-conscious artiste, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to remain true to one's self in a soulless and superficial environment like Hollywood. However, Mos Def is unfazed by all its glitz and glamour. "I just do what really speaks to me — stories and characters. Working on films is a lot of work, so it would be false to say that career ambitions don't affect me, but they don't take the highest priority."

Swivelling a bottle of Evian on the table and peering intently into the bottom of a jar of assorted nuts, he said: "Even if a film doesn't succeed I always look at it from the point of view of what is the story and think that it's something that'll be worthwhile, something I'll enjoy and be able to live with after it's done. My intentions are always the best … to do the best work that I can with the best people."

He has received some flak for his hard-edged, no-nonsense lyrics, but Mos Def stands his ground. "If I receive any criticism for being pro-black or whatever, then it's not important. Race doesn't really matter to me. It's a big issue to a lot of people. For me, as an artiste, I'm simply making observations about the world around me; observations about reality."

"Ultimately, my art is about truth," he continued. "Truth about the human condition. And also about the expression of joy and the appreciation of beauty.

"Artistic expressions are very personal. Nonetheless, my greatest hope is that something particular to me will have universal resonance," he said.

Going east

Having conquered the underground rap/hip hop scene and Hollywood's movie industry, the New Yorker has his sights on a new challenge. "We've been talking about hosting a music and arts festival here in the UAE similar to the Oman Jazz Festival. The festival will host good music from around the globe including folk, blues etc."

"We're also looking to host a skateboarding rally event in this region. Something like a race in the desert — not so much about tricks but a tour for about a hundred kilometres or more," he said.

I pointed out the black skateboard perched on the side of the wall in his hotel suite and, his eyes light up.

"Personally, I've recently just taken up skateboarding. It's a beautiful thing: a good form of exercise and a great meditative vehicle. It's also an interesting way to see a city."

Mos Def's new album True Magic will be released this month on Geffen Records.

By Olu-Kemi Komolafe, Staff Writer

Articles from the author

Universal resonance