Downtown Records is a record label owned and operated by Downtown Music LLC. Music on the Downtown label is distributed by Universal Music's Fontana Distribution and, for certain releases, as a joint venture with Atlantic Records. In addition to the sister label Mercer Street Records, Downtown has label partnerships with Dim Mak, Fool's Gold Records and Mad Decent.

Downtown Music Publishing is the sister publishing company of Downtown Records which publishes most of the Downtown artist/writer roster.

Current artists

Downtown Records:

Amanda Blank

Art Brut

Brett Dennen

Carla Bruni

Cold War Kids

Crookers

Cyndi Lauper

Eagles of Death Metal

Gnarls Barkley

Justice

Kid Sister

Lissy Trullie

Major Lazer

Mapei

Miike Snow

Scissor Sisters

Mos Def

MSTRKRFT

Santigold

Spank Rock

White Denim

Mercer Street Records:

Asa

The Candle Thieves

David Gray

Femi Kuti

Jessie Harris

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis

Meshell Ndegeocello

Ozomatli

William Fitzsimmons

Distributed Albums: Michael Johns

Former artists

Kevin Michael

Quintus

Wax on Radio

Soundtracks

Entourage

Masters of Horror II

See also

Downtown Music LLC

Downtown Music Publishing

RCRD LBL

References

External links

Downtown Music Publishing

Interview with Josh Deutsch, HitQuarters Sep 06

Category:American independent record labels Category:Record labels established in 2006 Category:Alternative rock record labels Category:Rock record labels Category:Pop record labels Category:Rhythm and blues record labels Category:Labels distributed by Universal Music Group

Coordinates	12°58′0″N77°34′0″N
Name	Mos Def
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Dante Terrell Smith
Born	December 11, 1973Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Origin	Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City
Genre	Alternative hip hop
Occupation	Rapper, actor, singer, activist
Years active	1994–present
Label	Rawkus, Priority, Geffen, Downtown, GOOD Music
Associated acts	Soulquarians, Black Star, Talib Kweli, Native Tongues Posse, Dave Chappelle, Kanye West, The Roots, Blakroc, Gorillaz, Common, Jay Electronica, Curren$y, Immortal Technique

Dante Terrell Smith (born December 11, 1973) is an American actor and MC known by the stage name Mos Def (). Mos Def started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, who released the album Black Star in 1998. He was a major force in the late 1990s underground hip hop explosion spearheaded by Rawkus Records. As a solo artist he has released the albums Black on Both Sides in 1999, The New Danger in 2004, True Magic in 2006, and The Ecstatic in 2009.

Initially recognized for his musical output, since the early 2000s, Mos Def's screen work has established him as one of only a handful of rappers who have garnered critical approval for their acting work. Mos Def has also been active in several social and political issues and was particularly vocal in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Music career

Mos Def began his music career in 1994 in the short-lived group Urban Thermo Dynamics with his younger brother D.c.Q and younger sister Ces. Despite their contract with Payday Records, the group only had two singles, and their debut album Manifest Destiny was not released until 2004, when it was distributed by Illson Media. In 1996, he emerged as a solo artist and worked with De La Soul and Da Bush Babees, before he released his own first single, "Universal Magnetic", which was a huge underground hit.

Mos Def signed with Rawkus Records and formed the group Black Star with Talib Kweli. They released an album, Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star, in 1998. Mostly produced by Hi-Tek, the album featured the hit singles, "Respiration" and "Definition", which would go on to be featured in VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip-Hop. Mos Def released his solo debut album Black on Both Sides in 1999, also through Rawkus. Around this time he also contributed to the Scritti Politti album Anomie & Bonhomie and Rawkus compilations Lyricist Lounge and Soundbombing.

After the collapse of Rawkus, he signed to Interscope/Geffen Records, which released his second solo album The New Danger in 2004. The New Danger contained a mix of several musical genres, including soul, blues, and rock and roll, performed with his rock band Black Jack Johnson, which contained members of the bands Bad Brains and Living Colour. The singles included "Sex, Love & Money" and the B-side "Ghetto Rock"; the latter went on to receive several Grammy Award nominations in 2004.

Mos Def has drawn some criticism from his fan base about "keeping it real" after he appeared in a commercial that endorsed the GMC Denali sport utility vehicle.

Mos Def's final solo album for Geffen Records, True Magic, was quietly released on December 29, 2006. True Magic features production from The Neptunes, Rich Harrison and Minnesota, among others. The album was released in a clear-case with no cover art. Neither Geffen nor Mos Def himself promoted the album at all, which is the main reason the album was received under the radar.

The song "Crime & Medicine" is essentially a cover of GZA's 1995 single "Liquid Swords", though it contains different verses. Also, the track "Undeniable" samples a version of the Barrett Strong/Norman Whitfield composition "Message from a Black Man". The song "Dollar Day" uses the same beat as Juvenile's "Nolia Clap".

MTV reported that this album isn't a full version, but a teaser/promotional debut. A new version of the album would be released spring 2007, with updated songs and cover art. However, on October 17, 2007, Okayplayer reported, through discussions with Mos Def's management, that these rumors were unsubstantiated. The CD was intended to be released without promotion or cover art, as per Mos Def's request. There would be no future re-release.

On November 7, 2007, Mos Def performed live in San Francisco at a venue called The Mezzanine. This performance was recorded for an upcoming "Live in Concert" DVD. During this performance Mos Def announced that he would be releasing a new album to be called The Ecstatic. He sang a number of new tracks; in later shows, Def previewed tracks produced by Madlib and was rumored to be going to Kanye West for new material. Producer and fellow Def Poet Al Be Back stated that he would be producing as well. The album was released on June 9, 2009; upon its release, only Madlib's production had made the cut, along with tracks by Preservation, The Neptunes, Mr. Flash, Madlib's brother Oh No, a song by J. Dilla, and Georgia Anne Muldrow.

Mos Def is also set to do a duo album with Jay Electronica titled Simpatico. It will contain nine songs.

Mos Def appears alongside Kanye West on the track "Two Words" from The College Dropout album, the track "Drunk And Hot Girls" and the bonus track "Good Night" off West's third major album, Graduation. In 2002, he released the 12" single Fine, which was featured in the Brown Sugar Motion Picture Soundtrack.

Mos Def also appears on the debut album from fellow New Yorkers Apollo Heights on a track titled, "Concern." In October, he signed a deal with Downtown Records and appeared on a remix to the song "D.A.N.C.E." by Justice. Mos Def appeared on Stephen Marley's album Mind Control on the song "Hey Baby." In 2009, Mos Def worked together with Somali rapper K'naan to produce the track "America" for K'naan's album Troubadour.

In April 2008 he appeared on the title track for a new album by The Roots entitled Rising Down. The new single, Life In Marvelous Times, was made officially available through iTunes on November 4, 2008, and is available for stream on the Roots' website Okayplayer.

April 2009 saw him traveling to South Africa for the first time where he performed accompanied by The Robert Glasper Experiment at the renowned Cape Town International Jazz Festival. He enticed his bemused African following with an encore introduced by his own rendition of John Coltrane's "Love Supreme" followed by a sneak preview of the track "M.D. (Doctor)", much to the delight of the fans.

Mos Def also designed two pairs of limited edition Converse shoes. The shoes were released to Foot Locker stores on August 1, 2009 in very limited amounts.

In late 2009, Mos Def created a brand of clothing line with UNDRCRWN called the "Mos Def Cut & Sew Collection." All clothing items will be sold in select stores located around the U.S. and almost exclusively on the UNDRCRWN website. 2009 also found Mos Def among the MCs collaborating with the Black Keys on the first Blakroc album, a project headed by the Black Keys and Damon Dash. Mos Def appeared with Jim Jones and the Black Keys on the Late Show with David Letterman to perform the Blakroc track "Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo)".

In March 2010, Mos Def's song Quiet Dog Bite Hard was featured in Palm's "Life moves fast. Don't miss a thing." campaign.

Mos Def features on the first single, "Stylo", from the third Gorillaz album, Plastic Beach, alongside soul legend Bobby Womack. He also appears on the track titled "Sweepstakes".

Mos Def has been an active contributor to the recovery of the oil spill in the Gulf, performing concerts and raising money towards the repair of the damages. In June 2010, he recorded a cover of the classic New Orleans song originally by Smokey Johnson, "" with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Lenny Kravitz and Trombone Shorty.

Influences

Slick Rick Gang Starr and Monster's Ball, Mos re-invigorated his acting career with his performance as a talented rapper who is reluctant to sign to a major label in Brown Sugar. He was nominated for an and a Teen Choice Award.

In 2001, he took a supporting role to Beyoncé Knowles and Mehki Phifer in the MTV movie as Lt. Miller, a crooked cop.

In 2002, he played the role of Booth in Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog, a Tony-nominated and Pulitzer-winning Broadway play. He and co-star Jeffrey Wright won a Special Award from the Outer Critics Circle Award for their joint performance. He also received positive notices as the quirky Left Ear in the blockbuster hit, The Italian Job in 2003.

In television, Mos Def has appeared on Comedy Central's Chappelle's Show, and has hosted the award-winning HBO spoken word show, Def Poetry since its inception. The show's sixth season aired in 2007. He also appeared on the sitcom My Wife And Kids as the disabled friend of Michael Kyle (Damon Wayans).

Mos Def won Best Actor, Independent Movie at the 2005 Black Reel Awards for his portrayal of Detective Sgt. Lucas in The Woodsman. For his portrayal of Vivien Thomas in HBO's film Something the Lord Made, he was nominated for an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe, and won the . He also played a bandleader in HBO's Lackawanna Blues. He then landed the role of Ford Prefect in the 2005 movie adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

In 2006, Mos Def appeared in Dave Chappelle's Block Party alongside fellow Black Star companion Talib Kweli, while also contributing to the film's soundtrack. Also, Mos Def was featured as the black banjo player in the infamous "Pixie Sketch" from Chappelle's Show: The Lost Episodes. He was later edited out of it on the DVD. Additionally, Mos Def starred in the action film 16 Blocks alongside Bruce Willis and David Morse. He has a recurring guest role on Boondocks, starring as "Gangstalicious". He is also set to be in Toussaint, a film about Haitian revolutionary Toussaint Louverture, opposite Don Cheadle and Wesley Snipes. He made a cameo appearance — playing himself — in the movie .

In 2008, Mos Def starred in the Michel Gondry movie Be Kind Rewind, playing a video rental store employee whose best friend is played by co-star Jack Black. He also portrayed Chuck Berry in the film Cadillac Records, for which he was nominated for a Black Reel Award and an .

In 2009, he appeared in the House episode entitled "Locked In" as a patient suffering from locked-in syndrome. His performance was well-received, with E! saying that Mos Def "delivers an Emmy-worthy performance." He was also in the 2009 film Next Day Air.

He also made an appearance on the children's show Yo Gabba Gabba! as Super Mr. Superhero.

Most recently, he appears in A Free Man of Color, John Guare's play at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre.

Social and political views

By the early 1990s, a brand of socially conscious hip hop that had been pioneered and popularized by Public Enemy, KRS-One, and De La Soul, among others, had been eclipsed in popularity by gangsta rap. Mos Def, as well as Talib Kweli, The Roots, Common, and others, helped socially aware rap music experience something of a comeback in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Mos Def's collaboration with Talib Kweli, Black Star, was released during the aftermath of the deaths of 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. and focused on violence and negativity in hip-hop, in collaboration with other acts that did the same. His music has also made reference to his Islamic faith, and his contention that black artists receive little credit for their role in the birth of rock and roll.

On Mos Def's 2004 album The New Danger, he took his penchant for experimentation to a new level. Most of the songs were more hip-hop flavored stylings of blues and rock, with fewer raps thrown in. This threw off fans who were expecting another full-blown rap album. The New Danger also featured the controversial song, "The Rape Over," a parody of Jay-Z's The Blueprint hit "Takeover". His label made him take the song off releases of the album, citing clearance issues with Jay-Z and The Doors, a band which the song samples. The song has garnered controversy over its veiled reference to Israeli-American record executive Lyor Cohen (the "tall Israeli" who then was head of The Island Def Jam Music Group).

Mos Def and Immortal Technique released a similarly controversial song, "Bin Laden" in 2004, which blamed the Reagan Doctrine and President George W. Bush for the September 11, 2001 attacks. A club remix song, featuring Eminem, was released the following year, in 2005.

In September 2005, Mos Def released the single "Katrina Clap," renamed "Dollar Day" for True Magic, (utilizing the instrumental for New Orleans rappers UTP's "Nolia Clap"). The song is a criticism of the Bush administration's response to Hurricane Katrina. On the night of the MTV Video Music Awards, Mos Def pulled up in front of Radio City Music Hall on a flatbed truck and began performing the "Katrina Clap" single in front of a crowd that quickly gathered around him. He was subsequently arrested despite having a public performance permit in his possession.

On September 7, 2007, Mos Def appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher where he spoke about racism against African Americans, citing the government response to Hurricane Katrina, the Jena Six and the murder conviction of Mumia Abu-Jamal. Mos Def also claimed that Al-Qaeda was not responsible for 9/11, and that Al-Qaeda is not responsible for as much terrorism as they are portrayed to be. He appeared on Real Time again on March 27, 2009, and spoke about the risk of nuclear weapons. Mos Def said that he did not listen to any of Osama Bin Laden's messages because he did not trust the translations.

Personal life

In 1996, Def married Maria Yepes. After having two daughters, Chandani and Jauhara Smith, he filed for divorce in 2005. The divorce became final in 2006. Two years later, Def's divorce lawyers Blank Rome sued Def for more than $60,000 in unpaid legal bills.

In October, 2006 Mos Def appeared on 4Real, a documentary television series. Appearing in the episode "City of God," he and the 4Real crew traveled to City of God, a slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to meet Brazilian MC MV Bill and discover the crime and social problems of the community.

He has recently taken up skateboarding and said he's looking to host a skateboarding event in the United Arab Emirates.

Nominations

Black Movie Awards

* 2006 Source Awards

Black Reel Awards

* 2008, Best Supporting Actor: Cadillac Records

* 2003, Best Actor- Independent: Civil Brand

* 2004, Best Supporting Actor: The Italian Job

* 2005, Best Actor TV Movie/Mini-Series: Something the Lord Made

* 2005, Best Indie Actor: The Woodsman (won)

Emmy Award

* 2004, Best Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series: Something the Lord Made

Golden Globes

* 2005, Best Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series: Something the Lord Made

Grammy Awards

* 2005, Best Urban/Alternative Performance: "Sex, Love & Money"

* 2006, Best Urban/Alternative Performance: "Ghetto Rock"

* 2007, Best Rap Solo Performance: "Undeniable"

* 2010, Best Rap Solo Performance: "Casa Bey"

* 2010, Best Rap Album: "The Ecstatic"

* 2011, Best Short Form Music Video: "Stylo" (with Bobby Womack and Gorillaz)

* 2009, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Cadillac Records

* 2003, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Brown Sugar

* 2005, Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series: Something the Lord Made

Discography

1994: Manifest Destiny (with DCQ and Ces as Urban Thermo Dynamics)

1998: Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star (with Talib Kweli as Black Star)

1999: Black on Both Sides

2004: The New Danger

2006: True Magic

2009: The Ecstatic

Filmography

Also appeared on "Yo Gabba Gabba", under the screen name "Super Mr.Super Hero"

References

External links

Mos Def / Dante Smith discographies at Discogs.

Mos Def at Geffen Records.

Mos Def Fan Message Board

Category:9/11 conspiracy theorists Category:African American actors Category:African American rappers Category:American vegetarians Category:African American Muslims Category:Living people Category:Rappers from New York City Category:People from Brooklyn Category:Slam poets Category:1973 births Category:Converts to Islam Category:African American converts to Islam

Coordinates	12°58′0″N77°34′0″N
Name	Talib Kweli
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Talib Kweli Greene
Alias	The Get By Man, Kweli Snitch, The Prince of Brooklyn
Born	October 03, 1974, South Jamaica, Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.
Origin	Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
Genre	Alternative hip hop
Occupation	Rapper, Singer
Years active	1995–present
Label	Rawkus RecordsGeffenBlacksmith Records / Warner Bros. Records (2005-Present)
Associated acts	Black Star, Reflection Eternal, Madlib, Mos Def, Kanye West, The Roots, Pharrell
Url	TalibKweli.com

Talib Kweli Greene (born October 3, 1974 ), and his father an administrator at Adelphi University. His younger brother, Jamal Greene, is a professor of Constitutional Law at Columbia Law School, and former clerk to Justice John Paul Stevens on the Supreme Court. As a youth, he was drawn to Afrocentric rappers, such as De La Soul and other members of the Native Tongues Posse whom he had met in high school. Talib Kweli was a student at Cheshire Academy, a boarding school in Connecticut. He was also a student at Brooklyn Technical High School, before being academically dismissed. He later studied experimental theater at New York University (NYU).

Early career (1995-2001)

Kweli made his underground debut in 1995, with featured appearances on "Doom", an album by Cincinnati, Ohio group Mood (Main Flow, Donte, Jahson). In Cincinnati, Kweli also met DJ Hi-Tek and the two collaborated on a few well received underground recordings as Reflection Eternal. Shortly afterwards, upon returning to New York, he reconnected with Mos Def and formed Black Star. Kweli brought along Hi-Tek to produce their first and only album, 1998's Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star. The album, released amidst a late '90s renaissance of conscious, Afrocentric hip hop, was immediately hailed by critics and achieved modest mainstream success. When Kweli and Mos Def parted ways shortly thereafter, Kweli and Hi-Tek continued their Reflection Eternal partnership on the 2000 album Train of Thought, which was likewise met with critical acclaim, but modest sales.

Start of solo career (2002-2003)

Following Train of Thought, Kweli and Hi-Tek split as well, and Kweli used his first truly solo debut to attempt a move toward a more mainstream sound. 2002's Quality accomplished this goal to some extent, featuring production by a host of different producers, including DJ Quik and Kanye West. The album was met with wide spread critical acclaim and received some mainstream attention thanks to the West-produced single "Get By."

In 2001, Kweli with Black Star partner Mos Def contributed to the Red Hot + Indigo compilation album created by the Red Hot Organization in tribute to Duke Ellington, that raised money for various charities devoted to increasing AIDS awareness and fighting the disease. Black Star collaborated with fellow artists John Patton and Ron Carter to record "Money Jungle." In 2002, Kweli contributed to the critically acclaimed Red Hot + Riot, a compilation CD created by the Red Hot Organization in tribute to the music and work of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. He collaborated with fellow hip-hop artists Dead Prez, Jorge Ben, and Bilal to remake the famous song by Fela Kuti, "Shuffering and Shmiling," for the CD.

Rise in cultural popularity

In 2004, Talib Kweli, along with Bob Moore's Amazing Mongrels, supported the Beastie Boys on their "Challah At Your Boy World Tour", and appeared in a few Dilated Peoples songs, including a live remix later featured on the video game NBA Street Vol. 2.

Along with Common and Questlove, he contributed to Zap Mama's Ancestry in Progress (2004) with "Yelling Away."

Kweli has used television appearances extensively to increase visibility, notably on MTV's Wild 'N Out, and several performances on Chappelle's Show with long-time collaborator Mos Def; these performances were a product of host Chappelle's friendship with Kweli. Chappelle in turn participated in a number of skits on Kweli's albums "Train of Thought" and "Quality"- impersonating several people including Nelson Mandela. Kweli also had a guest spot on Kanye West's widely successful debut album on the track "Get 'Em High". West has produced some of Kweli's songs, including his biggest commercial hit "Get By". West also includes a nod to Kweli on the song "Breathe in, Breathe Out" from his album "The College Dropout". The lyrics read: "Golly more of this bullshit ice rap/ I got to 'pologize to Mos and Kweli", an acknowledgement of Kweli's meaningful message spread while part of Blackstar. Kweli can be seen in a commercial for the NCAA's Big Ten Conference, rapping about the league's basketball teams. He also provided the voice of the protagonist in the graffiti-themed video game , released in 2006.

Talib and fellow rapper artist Mos Def purchased Nkiru, which is Brooklyn's oldest black-owned bookstore, and converted it into the Nkiru Center for Education and Culture.

Kweli's stature continued to grow, particularly fueled by a line from the track "Moment of Clarity" on Jay-Z's 2003 record, The Black Album: "If skills sold, truth be told/I'd probably be, lyrically, Talib Kweli." Kweli responded to this in his track "Ghetto Show" on his 2004 album The Beautiful Struggle by stating "If lyrics sold then truth be told/I'd probably be just as rich and famous as Jay Z."

Middle career (2004-2006)

In 2004, he released his second solo album and final Rawkus release, The Beautiful Struggle, which debuted at no.14 in the billboard top 100. The album featured much more commercial production, and although Kweli's lyrics retained their socio-political content, he affected a somewhat harder persona. The album failed to cross over into the mainstream and suffered a critical backlash.

In 2005, Kweli released a Mixtape-CD off of his newly formed Blacksmith Records. The project was called , a title which is considered likely a response to the criticism of The Beautiful Struggle.

On , Talib Kweli sampled Ben Kweller's "In Other Words" for his own song "Ms. Hill". In part 7 of Kweller's video podcast series "One Minute Pop Song," Kweller said he found Kweli's use of the song "a little fucked up" due to the fact that it was sampled without permission.

Recent career (2007-2010)

On December 31, 2006, Kweli released nine songs he recorded with acclaimed underground producer Madlib for free download in conjunction with the web site for Stones Throw Records, the label to which Madlib is signed. The album was entitled Liberation, of which Talib later was quoted by XXL magazine as stating releasing the album was liberating to him; "The idea that I could put out an album like that: record it in my house, put it out for free and get that type of response." In 2007, the album was made available for purchase.

For his newest release, Kweli formed his own record label, Blacksmith Records, and has recently signed acclaimed rapper Jean Grae and the group Strong Arm Steady. He also signed a new distribution deal with Warner Bros. Records for Blacksmith Records. His latest solo album is called Eardrum and was released on Aug 21, 2007. It debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200. The first single was Listen!!!.

Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek released a second Reflection Eternal album titled Revolutions Per Minute on May 18, 2010.

Talib Kweli has recently stated that he will be releasing a studio album, called Gutter Rainbows in January of 2011. kweli has said himself that this CD is the early beginnings/demos for "Prisoner Of Conscious" an album he still plans on releasing in the future. Not much is known about the album aside from a list of confirmed producers and that it will feature the song "Cold Rain"

Ongoing and Future projects

Kweli confirmed in a recent interview with VIBE magazine that the title of his next album will be Prisoner of Consciousness, a title derived from Talib's constant labeling as a "conscious rapper" and based on Nigerian reggae artist Majek Fashek's album "Prisoner of Conscience."

Talib recorded an album entitled Party Robot with R&B; singer Res and musician Graph Nobel under the group alias Idle Warship. The album was released as a free download on the website for Kweli's label Blacksmith with 2 different cover art options in late 2009. There were videos shot for two of the songs from the album "Bedroom Lights" and "Black Snake Moan".

In February 2009 it was announced that Talib would be featured in the graphic novel-turned-animated series Blokhedz on Missiong.com, voicing the lead part of the character Blak.

Personal life

Talib Kweli married DJ Eque on May 9, 2009 in Bel Air, California.

Talib has a daughter Diani Eshe and a son Amani Fela.

Talib Kweli is a spokesperson and mentor for P'Tones Records a non-profit after school music program that's mission is "to create constructive opportunities for urban youth through no-cost music programs"

Discography

Solo

Quality (2002)

The Beautiful Struggle (2004)

(2005)

Eardrum (2007)

Gutter Rainbows (2011) With Mos Def as Black Star

Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star (1998)

With Hi-Tek as Reflection Eternal

Train of Thought (2000)

Revolutions Per Minute (2010)

With Madlib

Liberation (2007)

References

External links

Interview Talib Kweli by Michael 'The Dood' Edwards for UK Vibe October 2010

Official site

Official blog

Talib Kweli at YouTube

Category:1975 births Category:African American rappers Category:Living people Category:New York University alumni Category:People from Brooklyn Category:Rappers from New York City

Coordinates	12°58′0″N77°34′0″N
Name	Lissy Trullie
Background	solo_singer
Born	Age 26Washington, D.C., U.S.
Died
Origin	New York City, U.S.
Instrument	Singing, guitar
Genre	Indie pop, Pop
Years active	2009–present
Label	American Myth, Makemine, Wichita, Downtown
Url	www.trullie.com
Current members	Lissy TrullieJosh ElrodEben D’AmicoIan Fenger

Elizabeth "Lizzy" McChesney, better known by the stage name Lissy Trullie, is an American singer-songwriter and former model. She also performs with a band named Lissy Trullie, and released her debut EP, Self-Taught Learner, in February 2009.

Biography

Trullie was born in Washington, D.C. and moved to New York City at the age of 16 with her mother. She attended Walnut Hill School, a boarding school in Natick, Massachusetts with a focus on performing arts, and then attended Parsons in Greenwich Village, New York City, where she studied graphic design. Trullie performed at art openings, but soon gravitated towards the downtown rock scene. Trullie spent time working as a model, a dishwasher, a janitor, and a disc jockey at the Beatrice Inn. She has appeared in the fashion magazines Elle, SOMA, and Jalouse, and was the face of actress Chloë Sevigny’s clothing line. She posed in one of photographer Ryan McGinley's early portraits in 2002. Trullie was the inspiration and model for the debut clothing line of Moses de la Renta, the son of fashion designer Oscar de la Renta. Trullie described her modeling as "just a way for me to make money during college" to Time Out New York. The cover of the EP features a woman's posterior clad in hot pants, taken from a 1970s pornographic magazine. She signed with the record label Wichita Recordings, which released her EP in Europe. Photographer Cass Bird directed the video for her single “Boy Boy”, which was partially filmed in the basement of the Lit Lounge on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Chloë Sevigny has a cameo appearance as a merchandise sales girl. The Observer grouped Trullie in with other singers gaining notice with their distinct fashion, 1980s references, and androgyny, including Lady Gaga, Little Boots, Ladyhawke, and Elly Jackson's synth duo La Roux.

Trullie fronts a four piece rock band, also named Lissy Trullie, which includes Trullie on vocals and guitar, Josh Elrod on drums, Eben D’Amico, formerly bassist with Saves the Day, on lead guitar, and Ian Fenger on bass. The group often performs a cover song in their live sets, including Biz Markie's "Just a Friend", Hot Chip's "Ready for the Floor", which is included on their debut EP, and Amy Winehouse’s "Rehab". The group toured the U.S. and Europe along with The Virgins and Anya Marina in May–June 2009, but the tour was cut short when bassist Fenger was hospitalized with swine influenza; the band and crew were quarantined in their hotel in Germany. The band made their U.S. television debut on Last Call with Carson Daly performing the single "Boy Boy" at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, California on June 3, 2009.

Trullie signed with Downtown Records and re-released her debut EP in October 2009, including four new songs. The band began working on their debut album in late-2009 with Bernard Butler producing, formerly of the band Suede. The song also appears on the soundtrack for the 2009 horror film Jennifer's Body. In October 2009, Trullie made a video for the title single from her EP, Self-Taught Learner. The video was directed by Gian Mazcour and John Pina. The Self-Taught Learner title track was also included preloaded on the Nexus One phone.

Discography

EPs

Self-Taught Learner (2009), American Myth – debut EP

Singles

"Boy Boy" (2009), Makemine – limited edition 7"

"Self Taught Learner" (2009)

References

External links

Fashion-Spotlight: New York Doll at Elle magazine

Category:Living people Category:American rock musicians Category:Musicians from Washington, D.C. Category:Musicians from New York City Category:American female models

Coordinates	12°58′0″N77°34′0″N
Name	Jack Black
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Thomas Jacob Black
Alias	Jables, JB
Birth date	August 28, 1969
Birth place	Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Instrument	Vocals, guitar, percussion, keyboard
Genre	Heavy metal, comedy rock, hard rock, acoustic rock
Occupation	Musician, songwriter, actor, comedian
Years active	1991–present
Label	Epic, Sony BMG
Associated acts	Tenacious D, Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal, Probot, Foo Fighters, Meat Loaf
Url	www.tenaciousd.com

Thomas Jacob "Jack" Black (born August 28, 1969) is an American comedian, actor and musician. He makes up one half of the comedy and satirical rock duo Tenacious D. The group has two albums and full-length films. His acting career is extensive, starring primarily as bumbling, cocky, but internally self-conscious outsiders in comedy films. He was a member of the Frat Pack, a group of comedians who have appeared together in several Hollywood films, and has been nominated for a Golden Globe award. He has also won an MTV Movie Award, and a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award.

Early life

Black was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of two satellite engineers, Judith (née Cohen), who worked on the Hubble Space Telescope, and Thomas William Black. Black's mother is Jewish and his father converted to Judaism. On The Tonight Show, he said his surname may have come from the occupational name Blacksmith. Black's parents divorced when he was 10; Black moved to Culver City with his father and frequently visited his mother’s home. As a child, Black appeared in a commercial for the Activision game Pitfall! in 1982, which was later shown during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live and again on The Tonight Show with Conan O' Brien. When Black entered high school, his parents suggested that he should transfer to the Poseidon School, a private secondary school engineered specifically for students struggling in the traditional school system. Black eagerly accepted the proposition, as he didn't like public school. He also attended the Crossroads School, where he excelled in drama. Black later attended UCLA but dropped out during his sophomore year to pursue a career in the entertainment business, at which point his father discontinued his financial support. Fellow UCLA veteran Tim Robbins later cast Black in Bob Roberts. He also had recurring roles on the HBO sketch comedy series Mr. Show.

Acting career

Black's Acting Career began with prime time TV. He played roles on several shows such as: The Golden Palace (Taxi Driver), Life Goes On (skinhead), Northern Exposure (Kevin Wilkins, prom king), HBO's Mr. Show, and Picket Fences (Curtis Williams). In a season 3 episode of The X-Files, titled "D.P.O.", Black played Bart 'Zero' Liquori, friend to Darren, a teen who could cause lightning strikes, played by Giovanni Ribisi. Black appeared in an un-aired pilot episode for a show directed by Ben Stiller called Heat Vision and Jack where he played an ex-astronaut pursued by actor Ron Silver. He was accompanied by his friend who had merged with a motorcycle, voiced by Owen Wilson.

Black later took on small roles in Airborne, Demolition Man, Waterworld, The Fan, The NeverEnding Story III, The Cable Guy, Bob Roberts, Mars Attacks!, The Jackal, Bye Bye Love, Jesus' Son, Dead Man Walking, Enemy of the State, and I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. In 2000, Black appeared in High Fidelity as a wild employee in John Cusack's record store, a role which Black himself considers his breakout.

His career soon led to leading roles in films such as Shallow Hal, Orange County, Saving Silverman, School of Rock, Envy, King Kong, Nacho Libre, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, Be Kind Rewind, Kung Fu Panda, Tropic Thunder, The Holiday, Year One and Gulliver's Travels.

He guest-starred on The Office along with Cloris Leachman and Jessica Alba in a movie within the show. He also guest-starred in iCarly, in the episode iStart a Fan War.

Jack Black has appeared numerous times on the "untelevised TV network" short film festival Channel101, starring in the shows Computerman, Timebelt, and Laserfart. He also provided an introduction for the un-aired sketch comedy, Awesometown, donning a Colonial-era military uniform. In the introduction, he claims to be George Washington (and takes credit for the accomplishments of other American Presidents such as Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln), and gives viewers a general idea as to what they should expect from the show. Black has also guest starred in the Adult Swim show Tom Goes to the Mayor as a bear trap store owner.

Black hosted the 2006 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards on April 1, 2006 and hosted it again on March 29, 2008. He also appeared on the MTV video music awards on August 31, 2006. He is a member of the Frat Pack, a group of comedy actors who frequently work together, which also includes Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, and Steve Carell. Jack Black has made five appearances on Saturday Night Live: three times as a host, once as a musical guest (with Kyle Gass as Tenacious D), and another appearance with Tenacious D, not as a host or musical guest. He produced and appeared on VH1's internet video show Acceptable.TV.

Black has voice acted for The Simpsons episode "Husbands and Knives", which aired 18 November 2007, voicing the friendly owner of the rival comic book store, Milo. Black appeared in a Who Wants To Be A Millionaire celebrity edition along with Denis Leary, Jimmy Kimmel and others and walked away with US$125,000 in October 2001. On December 14, Jack Black hosted the 2008 Spike Video Game Awards. He voiced the main character, roadie Eddie Riggs, in the rock-themed action-adventure video game, Brütal Legend. At the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards, he was awarded Best Voice for the voice of Eddie Riggs in Brütal Legend. In April 2009, Black also appeared in an episode of the children's show "Yo Gabba Gabba!" on Nick Jr. singing songs such as "It's Not Fun to Get Lost", "Friends" and "Goodbye Song".

Music career

of Tenacious D.]] Black, also known as JB or Jables, is the lead singer for the rock comedy band Tenacious D. Along with Kyle Gass, they have released two albums, a self-titled debut, and the follow up, The Pick of Destiny, from which one of their songs "The Metal" was used in the music video games "" and "Brütal Legend". "Rock Your Socks" from the album "Tenacious D" was played in the music videogame "Rock Band Unplugged", and "Master Exploder" from "The Pick Of Destiny" went on to be used in music video games "Guitar Hero Van Halen" and "Rock Band 2", along with their song "Tribute" from "Tenacious D". "Master Exploder" and "The Metal" featured in the film Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny. The film, directed by Tenacious D veteran Liam Lynch, features recurring characters such as Lee the superfan and Sasquatch. Tim Robbins cameos as does Dave Grohl as Satan. Ben Stiller also makes an appearance as a worker at Guitar Center, and also another appearance in the music video for "Tribute".

Tenacious D helped the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation to raise awareness and funds in San Diego on June 16, 2007. Tenacious D can be seen performing in the Pauly Shore film Bio-Dome where the duo are performing their song "The Five Needs" at a "Save the Environment" party. Black was also a guest star on an episode of The Ellen Degeneres Show entitled "Ellen the Musical", alongside Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth and teenage singer-actress Olivia Olson. On the show, besides singing, he discussed his then-upcoming film Nacho Libre with the host.

Black has also appeared on Dave Grohl's Probot album, providing vocals for the hidden song "I Am The Warlock", and Lynch's Fake Songs album, providing vocals for the song "Rock and Roll Whore". Black performed a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" in the last sequence of High Fidelity. He lent his musical abilities to the Queens of the Stone Age song "Burn the Witch" with rhythmic stomps and claps, some performed with his eyes closed. He also provided vocals for The Lonely Island's track "Sax Man" from the album Incredibad.

Black has also recorded a duet on Meat Loaf's new CD Hang Cool Teddy Bear. The song is called Like a Rose. Meat Loaf has also played Black's father in the Pick of Destiny movie. Hang Cool Teddy Bear also features Hugh Laurie, Kara Dioguardi, Brian May, Steve Vai & Patti Russo, produced by Rob Cavallo.

Black has appeared in music videos of Beck "Sexx Laws"; Foo Fighters "Learn To Fly", "Low", and "The One"; The Eagles of Death Metal's "I Want You So Hard (Boy's Bad News)"; Sum 41's "Things I Want"; Dio's "Push"; and Weezer's "Photograph."

In October 2010, Tenacious D appeared at Blizzcon, a convention hosted by the game designers, Blizzard Entertainment.

Internet

In December 2008, Black appeared in a video on funnyordie.com as Jesus in a musical on Prop 8 titled 8 The Musical". The video was shot in Santa Monica, CA, at Santa Monica Community College and was the brainchild of five time Oscar nominee Marc Shaiman and directed by Adam Shankman. The video features a host of other celebrities including Neil Patrick Harris, John C. Reilly, Allison Janney, Kathy Najimy, Craig Robinson, Andy Richter, , Maya Rudolph, Rashida Jones, Lake Bell, Sarah Chalke, Margaret Cho, Jenifer Lewis, and Nicole Parker.

Black also starred as Benjamin Franklin in two episodes of Drunk History on funnyordie.com.

Black voiced himself in an holiday-themed Collegehumor video, also featuring Jason Segel.

Comedic style

Black's comedic style combines many key elements from both sides of the traditional double act. Black typically begins a skit in which he presents an earnest introduction to a premise or subject that quickly reveals itself to be flawed or fundamentally ludicrous. Black then switches completely to a far-extreme caricature of human emotion.

His would-be straight-man Gass often functions to trigger these outbursts. Tenacious D’s subject matter illustrates this technique. In "Tribute," Tenacious D tells a story in which they claim to have performed "The Greatest Song in the World" for a "Shiny Demon" who would otherwise "EAT THEIR SOULS." In "Inward Singing," Black does not merely discover a new vocal technique, he discovers what he refers to as "the most powerful tool in singing technology since yodeling." Black's skits also use the catchphrase "more cushion for the pushin'," a self-mocking reference to his own girth.

Personal life

In January 2006, Black became engaged to Tanya Haden. She is the daughter of the jazz double bassist Charlie Haden, and sister of violinist and singer Petra Haden. Haden herself is an accomplished cellist. Both attended Crossroads school and met again 15 years after graduating, at a friend's birthday party. Black proposed marriage around Christmas 2005. They married on March 14, 2006, in Big Sur, California. Their son, Samuel Jason "Sammy" Black, was born on June 10, 2006, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. On May 23, 2008, Black and his wife had their second son, Thomas David Black.

Filmography

Film

{| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1992 | Bob Roberts | Roger Davis | |- | 1993 | Airborne | Augie | |- | 1993 | Demolition Man | Wasteland Scrap | |- | 1994 | The NeverEnding Story III | Slip, Leader of the Nasties | |- | 1995 | Bye Bye Love | DJ at Party | |- | 1995 | Dead Man Walking | Craig Poncelet | |- | 1995 | Waterworld | Pilot | |- | 1996 | Bio-Dome | Tenacious D | |- | 1996 | The Cable Guy | Rick | |- | 1996 | The Fan | Broadcast Technician | |- | 1996 | Mars Attacks! | Billy Glenn Norris | |- | 1997 | Bongwater | Devlin | |- | 1997 | Crossworlds | Steve | |- | 1997 | The Jackal | Ian Lamont | |- | 1998 | Enemy of the State | Fiedler | |- | 1998 | I Still Know What You Did Last Summer | Titus Telesco | |- | 1998 | Johnny Skidmarks | Jerry | |- | 1999 | Cradle Will Rock | Sid | |- | 1999 | Jesus' Son | Georgie | |- | 1999 | The Love Letter | Fisherman | uncredited |- | 2000 | High Fidelity | Barry | Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actor - Comedy/RomanceNominated — American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion PictureNominated — Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Music MomentNominated — MTV Movie Award for Breakthrough Male PerformanceNominated — Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor |- | 2001 | Frank's Book | Performance Hipster | Short Film |- | 2001 | Saving Silverman | J.D. McNugent | |- | 2001 |Shallow Hal | Hal Larson | Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Film- Choice Actor, Comedy |- | 2002 | Ice Age | Zeke | Voice only |- | 2002 | Orange County | Lance Brumder | |- | 2002 | Run Ronnie Run | Lead Chimney Sweep | DVD Exclusive Award for Best Original Song in a DVD Premiere |- | 2003 | Melvin Goes to Dinner | Mental Patient | uncreditedPhoenix Film Festival Award for Best Ensemble ActingNominated — DVD Exclusive Award for Best Supporting Actor in a DVD Premiere |- | 2003 | School of Rock | Dewey Finn |MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic PerformanceNominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or ComedyNominated — MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen TeamNominated — Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or ComedyNominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor- ComedyNominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Liar |- | 2004 | | Motorcyclist | uncredited (cameo) |- | 2004 | Envy | Nick Vanderpark | Nominated — People's Choice Award for Favorite Funny Male Star |- | 2004 | Laser Fart | The Elegant Hunter | Video |- | 2004 | Shark Tale | Lenny | Voice only |- | 2005 | King Kong | Carl Denham | Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Movies - Choice Sleazebag |- | 2005 | | Carl Denham | voiceVideo gameSpike Video Game Award - Best Leading Male Performance |- | 2006 | | Orson, Booker and Wolf | |- | 2006 | The Holiday | Miles | |- | 2006 | Nacho Libre | Nacho | Nominated — Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Male Movie StarNominated — MTV Movie Award for Best FightNominated — Teen Choice Award for Movies - Choice Actor: ComedyNominated — Teen Choice Award for Movies - Choice ChemistryNominated — Teen Choice Award for Movie - Choice Rumble |- | 2006 | Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny | Jack "Jables" Black (JB) | |- | 2007 | Margot at the Wedding | Malcolm | Nominated — Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast |- | 2007 | | Paul McCartney | Uncredited |- | 2008 | Be Kind Rewind | Jerry Gerber | |- | 2008 | Kung Fu Panda |rowspan="2" | Po | Voice onlyKids' Choice Award for Favorite Voice from an Animated MovieNominated — Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Animated Character in a Motion Picture |- | 2008 | The Secrets of the Furious Five | VoiceShort film |- | 2008 | Prop 8: The Musical | Jesus Christ | Viral videoshort |- | 2008 | Tropic Thunder | Jeff "Fats" Portnoy | Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cast |- | 2008 | Tropic Thunder: Rain of Madness | Jeff "Fats" Portnoy | Video |- | 2009 | Brütal Legend | Eddie Riggs | VoiceVideo gameSpike Video Game Award - Best Voice |- | 2009 | Year One | Zed | |- | 2010 | Gulliver's Travels | Gulliver | |- | 2010 | | Himself | |- | 2011 | Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil | Det. Bulldog R. Puppie | Voice only |- | 2011 | The Big Year | | |- | 2011 | The Muppets | Cameo Appearance/ along side Jason Segal | |- | 2011 | Kung Fu Panda 2 | Po | Voice only"post-production" |- | 2011 | Parker Redding's Big Movie | Sawyer Redding | In development |}

Television

{| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1991 | Our Shining Moments | Teenage Boy | TV Movie |- | 1993 | The Golden Palace | Taxi Driver | episode "Seems Like Old Times: Part 2" |- | 1993 | Life Goes On | Skinhead | episode "Incident on Main" |- | 1993 | Marked for Murder | Car Thief | television film |- | 1993 | Northern Exposure | Kevin Wilkins | episode "A River Doesn't Run Through It" |- | 1994 | Blind Justice | Private | television film |- | 1994 | The Innocent | Marty Prago | television film |- | 1995 | All-American Girl | Tommy | episode "A Night at the Oprah" |- | 1995 | Pride & Joy | Man | episode "Brenda's Secret" |- | 1995 | The Single Guy | Randy | episode "Sister" |- | 1995 | Touched By An Angel | Monte | episode "Angels on the Air" |- | 1995 | The X-Files | Bart 'Zero' Liqouri | episode "D.P.O." |- | 1995–1996 | Mr. Show with Bob and David | Various | 4 episodes |- | 1995–1996 | Picket Fences | Curtis Williams | 2 episodes |- | 1997–2000 | Tenacious D | JB | 6 |- | 1999 | Heat Vision and Jack | Jack | television pilot |- | 2001 | Space Ghost Coast to Coast | Himself | episode "Sweet for Brak" |- | 2002 | 2002 MTV Movie Awards | Host | |- | 2002 | The Andy Dick Show | J.D. | episode "Flipped" |- | 2002 | Clone High | Pusher/Larry Hardcore | episode "Raisin The Stakes" |- | 2002 | Crank Yankers | Tenacious D | episode "#1.3" |- | 2002 | Jack Black: Spider-Man | Spider-Man | MTV Movie Awards segment |- | 2002 | Lord of the Piercing | Jack the Elf | MTV Movie Awards segmentFellowship of the Ring: Extended Edition easter egg |- | 2002 | MADtv | Tenacious D | episode "#7.22" |- | 2002 | Panic Room with Will Ferrell | Himself | MTV Movie Awards segment |- | 2003 | Player$ | Tenacious D | episode "Tenacious D a la Mode" |- | 2003 | Will & Grace | Dr. Isaac Hershberg | episode "Nice in White Satin" |- | 2003–2004 | Computerman | Computerman | 6 episodes |- | 2003–2004 | Time Belt | Computerman | 2 episodes |- | 2004 | Cracking Up | Brian | episode "Scared Straight" |- | 2004 | Tom Goes to the Mayor | Trapper JB | episode "Bear Traps" |- | 2005 | Awesometown | George Washington | television film |- | 2007 | The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show | Jables | episode "Break-Up" |- | 2007 | The Simpsons | Milo | episode "Husbands and Knives" |- | 2008 | Sesame Street | Himself | episode "The Golden Triangle Of Destiny" |- | 2009 | The Office | Sam | episode "Stress Relief" |- | 2009 | Yo Gabba Gabba | Himself | episode "New Friends" |- | 2010 | Community | Buddy | episode "Investigative Journalism" |- | 2010 | iCarly | Aspartamay | episode iStart a Fanwar |- | 2010 | Metalocalypse | Rehab Doctor | episode "Rehabklok" |- | 2010 | Take Two with Phineas and Ferb | Himself | episode "Jack Black" |- | 2011 | Fish Hooks | Chief | episode "Labor Day" |- | 2011 | Big Time Rush | Cupid | episode "Big Time Valentine" |}

References

External links

Margot at the Wedding

Suicide Girls interview

The Observer interview (November 2005)

Jack Black in King Kong

CityBeat interview

Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:American comedians Category:American comedy musicians Category:American film actors Category:American Jews Category:American male singers Category:American heavy metal guitarists Category:American heavy metal singers Category:American rock guitarists Category:American rock singers Category:American singer-songwriters Category:American television actors Category:American television writers Category:Actors from California Category:Jewish actors Category:Jewish American musicians Category:Jewish comedians Category:Jewish writers Category:Musicians from California Category:People from the Greater Los Angeles Area Category:Tenacious D Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni