Why did Yasiin Bey change his name?

Why did Yasiin Bey change his name?

During the interview (photo by Steven Pan/GQ), the rapper explained why he decided to switch his name and how it stemmed from materialistic pressures. “I began to fear that Mos Def was being treated as a product, not a person, so I’ve been going by Yasiin since ’99,” he said.

Is Yasiin Bey and Mos Def the same person?

Yasiin Bey (/jæˈsiːn ˈbeɪ/; born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973), previously and more commonly known by his stage name Mos Def (/ˌmoʊs ˈdɛf/), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor.

What completes real name?

1) Born and raised in Perth, with his unique sound and sometimes controversial subject matter, ‘The Psych Ward’ rapper ‘Sheldon Elvin’ known as ‘Complete’ has been an artist to watch out for since he arrived on the scene.

How much did Def Jam Pay Jay-Z?

Instead of signing with Def Jam, Jay-Z and his co-founders sold half of Roc-A-Fella to them in 1997 for a reported $1.5 million. Seven years later, Def Jam bought the other half of Roc-A-Fella for $10 million. In 2005, Jay-Z was named CEO of Def Jam in a deal that allowed him to continue to run Roc-A-Fella.