Yasiin Bey (aka) Mos Def at The Greek Theatre

American rapper, singer, actor and activist Yasiin Bey is known by most under his stage name Mos Def. Beginning his music career in 1994, Bey briefly performed with the rap group Urban Thermo Dynamics (UTD) alongside his younger brother DCQ and younger sister Ces, going on to release his first and only album with the group, Manifest Destiny, ten years later. In 1996, Bey established himself as a solo artist under the Mos Def moniker, appearing on collaborations with De La Soul and Da Bush Babees, before he releasing his own debut solo single, "Universal Magnetic," in 1997. Bey formed Black Star with fellow rapper Talib Kweli in 1998, releasing the album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star that year. Having signed to Rawkus Records in 1998, Bey released his debut album, Black on Both Sides, in 1999, followed by The New Danger (2004), True Magic (2006) and The Ecstatic (2009). He has been ranked on several Top 50 MCs of All Time lists, and has influenced several subsequent artists, including Lupe Fiasco, Jay Electronica, Kid Cudi, Saigon and Kendrick Lamar.