Yasiin Bey Biography: Wife, Age, Children, Net Worth, Songs, Albums, Parents, Height, Ethnicity, Movies

Biography

Yasiin Bey (born Dante Terrell Smith on December 11, 1973, in Brooklyn, New York) is an acclaimed American rapper, singer, actor, and activist.

Formerly known as Mos Def (short for “most definitely“), he rose to prominence in the late 1990s as a leading voice in conscious hip-hop, celebrated for his intricate wordplay, social commentary, and Afrocentric influences.

He first gained widespread recognition with the influential duo Black Star alongside Talib Kweli (whose 1998 album, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, remains a classic), and with his solo debut, Black on Both Sides (1999), widely regarded as one of hip-hop’s most introspective and politically charged works.

In addition to music, Bey has built a notable acting career, appearing in films such as The Italian Job, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Be Kind Rewind, 16 Blocks, and Bamboozled, as well as TV series including Dexter and House.

He also hosted the acclaimed HBO series Def Poetry Jam from 2002 to 2007. A convert to Islam since his teens, he legally changed his name to Yasiin Bey in 2011 — a name drawn from the Qur’an — to reflect personal and spiritual growth, moving away from the “Mos Def” moniker he felt had become too commercialized.

Known for his multidisciplinary artistry and advocacy on issues such as racial justice, police brutality, and global awareness, Bey continues to perform, collaborate (including recent features with Gorillaz), and maintain a distinctive, thoughtful presence in music and culture.

American rapper and singer
Yasiin Bey
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Dante Terrell Smith
Stage Name:	Yasiin Bey
Born:	11 December 1973 (age 52 years old)
Place of Birth:	Brooklyn, New York, United States
Nationality:	American
Education:	Philippa Schuyler Middle School
Height:	177 cm
Parents:	Sheron Smith, Abdulrahman Smith
Siblings:	Ilias Bey (DCQ), Ces
Spouse:	Maria Yepes (m. 1996–2006), Alana Wyatt (div.)
Girlfriend • Partner:	Karrine Steffans (2002), Zoe Kravitz (2015)
Children:	Jauhara Smith, Laila!, Chandani Smith
Occupation:	Rapper • Singer • Actor
Net Worth:	$2.5 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Yasiin Bey, born Dante Terrell Smith on December 11, 1973, in Brooklyn, New York City—specifically in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood’s Roosevelt housing projects—grew up amid the challenges of the 1980s crack epidemic, including widespread gang violence, theft, and poverty.

He is African American by ethnicity. Raised primarily as the eldest of 12 children and stepchildren by his single mother, Sheron Smith (whom he affectionately calls Umi), a motivational speaker who later authored the book Shine Your Light: A Life Skills Workbook, while his father, Abdulrahman Smith (known as Abi), lived separately in New Jersey and had been involved with the Nation of Islam before following Imam Warith Deen Mohammed‘s mainstream Sunni Muslim teachings.

Bey was not exposed to Islam until age 13 and converted during his teenage years, later adopting the name Yasiin Bey in 2011, inspired by the Qur’an. One of his younger siblings, brother Denard Smith (later known as Ilias Bey or DCQ), was hit by a car at age five—an incident Bey witnessed—and became his early collaborator in the short-lived rap group Urban Thermo Dynamics.

To navigate the dangers of his environment, Bey immersed himself in theater, Off-Off-Broadway plays, and arts programs from a young age. He attended Philippa Schuyler Middle School in Bushwick, Brooklyn, where he discovered his passion for acting, but dropped out of high school during his sophomore year, influenced by early professional opportunities, such as filming the sitcom You Take the Kids in Los Angeles, and by a shift in focus toward his emerging career in acting and music.

Career

Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, began his career as a child actor in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He appeared in TV films like God Bless the Child and the CBS sitcom You Take the Kids.

In 1994, he entered the music industry by forming the underground rap group Urban Thermo Dynamics (UTD) with his siblings, DCQ and Ces, though the group saw limited commercial success. Using the stage name Mos Def, he gained attention with his 1997 single “Universal Magnetic.”

His big break came in 1998 when he teamed up with Talib Kweli to form Black Star. Their debut album, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, became a key release in conscious hip-hop, known for its strong lyrics and social themes. He followed this with his solo album Black on Both Sides in 1999, which went gold and included songs like “Ms. Fat Booty” and “Umi Says.”

This album helped establish him as a thoughtful and politically aware artist. Alongside his music, Bey acted in films such as Spike Lee‘s Bamboozled (2000), Monster’s Ball (2001), Brown Sugar (2002), which earned him an NAACP Image Award nomination, The Italian Job (2003), The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005), 16 Blocks (2006), and Be Kind Rewind (2008).

He also appeared in TV shows like Dexter and House, and hosted HBO’s Def Poetry Jam from 2002 to 2007, serving as host, music supervisor, and co-executive producer. He made his Broadway debut in 2002 with the play Topdog/Underdog, and later won an Obie Award for his theater work.

In music, he released The New Danger (2004), a mix of rock and R&B with his band Black Jack Johnson, followed by Tru3 Magic (2006) and The Ecstatic (2009), both of which were well-received by critics. In 2011, he announced he would stop using the name Mos Def, feeling it had become too commercial, and legally changed his name to Yasiin Bey, a reference to the Qur’an that reflects his Islamic faith and personal growth.

He later released the mixtape-style Negus in 2019 and worked with Talib Kweli again on Black Star’s No Fear of Time in 2022. Throughout his career, Bey has spoken out for social justice, racial equality, and global issues, often including activism in his work, such as benefit concerts for Gulf oil spill recovery.

Recently, he has performed less often, including tribute tours for artists like MF DOOM and anniversary shows for his albums. He announced a new album, Forensics, with producer The Alchemist, released in 2025, with a live premiere in Paris in January 2025, and released the live EP Money Christmas in late 2024 through Bandcamp.

Social Media

• Wikipedia: Yasiin Bey
• Instagram: Yasiin Bey (@yasiinbey)
• Facebook: Yasiin Bey (@yasiinbey)
• IMDb: Yasiin Bey
• Twitter: Yasiin Bey (@MosDefOfficial) / X

Personal Life

Yasiin Bey is 52 years old, having been born on December 11, 1973.

He stands approximately 5 feet 9½ inches (177 cm) tall. Bey has been married twice—first to Maria Yepes from 1996 until their divorce filing in 2006, with whom he shares two daughters (she later sued him over child support arrears)—and second to Canadian actress Alana Wyatt since August 2005, though the timing overlapped with his first marriage, leading to past bigamy allegations that were reportedly resolved.

He is the father of six children, including singer Laila Smith (known artistically as Laila!). His other children are Jauhara Smith and Chandani Smith.

His dating history includes a reported 2002 encounter with author Karrine Steffans and unconfirmed rumors of brief connections, such as with Zoe Kravitz around 2015, but he rarely discusses romantic matters, prioritizing discretion aligned with his faith and artistic focus.

Net Worth

Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) has an estimated net worth of around $2.5 million, according to recent reports.

This figure, consistently cited by sources such as Celebrity Net Worth and various entertainment outlets, reflects earnings accumulated over his decades-long career in music, acting, and related ventures.

His wealth stems primarily from album sales and royalties (including gold-certified projects like Black on Both Sides and The New Danger), film and TV roles in movies such as The Italian Job and Be Kind Rewind, hosting Def Poetry Jam, live performances, collaborations (e.g., with Gorillaz, Talib Kweli, and recent features), and occasional independent projects.

While he has prioritized artistic integrity and activism over mainstream commercial pursuits—often opting for niche or low-key work—some estimates vary slightly lower (around $1.5 million in older reports) or higher in speculative analyses, but $2.5 million remains the most commonly referenced amount.

Bey has faced occasional financial challenges, including publicized child support disputes, which may have impacted his net worth at times, though he continues to release music and perform selectively.

Discography

Singles

His discography includes five solo studio albums:

• Black on Both Sides (1999) – his critically acclaimed debut, certified gold, featuring classics like “Ms. Fat Booty” and “Umi Says.”
• The New Danger (2004) – genre-blending with rock and R&B elements, gold-certified.
• Tru3 Magic (2006) – more experimental and low-key.
• The Ecstatic (2009) – widely praised for global influences and political depth.
• ንጉሥ (Negus) (2019) – an experimental project premiered as a sound installation (no widespread release).

Key collaborative albums

• Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star (1998; with Talib Kweli as Black Star) – underground classic with hits “Definition” and “Respiration.”
• Manifest Destiny (2004; with siblings as Urban Thermo Dynamics/UTD).
• December 99th (2016; with Ferrari Sheppard as Dec 99th).
• No Fear of Time (2022; with Talib Kweli as Black Star, produced by Madlib; released via Luminary).
• Forensics (with The Alchemist; announced for 2025 release, with live premiere in Paris in January 2025).

Notable singles and features include “Universal Magnetic” (1997), “Oh No” (2000; with Pharoahe Monch), “Stylo” (2010; with Gorillaz), and contributions to projects by Kanye West, The Roots, Freddie Gibbs, and others. He also released the EP Money Christmas in 2024.

Filmography

Movies & TV Shows

Bey began as a child actor and has appeared in numerous films, including:

• Bamboozled (2000; Spike Lee).
• Brown Sugar (2002).
• The Italian Job (2003).
• The Woodsman (2004).
• Something the Lord Made (2004; HBO film, earning Emmy and Golden Globe nominations).
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005; as Ford Prefect).
• 16 Blocks (2006).
• Be Kind Rewind (2008).
• Cadillac Records (2008; as Chuck Berry).
• Begin Again (2013).
• Life of Crime (2014).

TV roles include guest spots on House (2009), Dexter (2011; as Brother Sam), My Wife and Kids, Chappelle’s Show, and voice work on The Boondocks. He hosted and produced Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam on HBO (2002–2007). Early credits include God Bless the Child (1988) and You Take the Kids (1990).

Theater and Other Works

• Broadway debut in Topdog/Underdog (2002; Pulitzer Prize-winning play).
• A Free Man of Color (2010).
  Other contributions: narration for documentaries like Prince Among Slaves (2007), podcast The Midnight Miracle (2021; with Dave Chappelle and Talib Kweli), fashion collaborations (limited-edition Converse, clothing line), and activism-focused performances and installations.

FAQ