Mos Def is probably one of the most inaccessible MCs of all time. Despite getting consistent props as one of the nicest, he often spits rhymes in long chains of syllables, like Black Thought. In a way these are the rhythms of Rakim and Kool G. Rap, sanded for slickness and updated with melody. With stylistic jumps from boom bap to rock throughout his career, Mos Def’s legacy will probably never crystallize beyond being an abnormally talented wordsmith with a nonlinear trajectory. That doesn’t mean he won’t remain one of the genre’s unsung heroes. Recently Mos announced that he’ll be retiring this year with one last album, and though a rapper has yet to follow through with that promise, it’s got us looking back at Yasiin Bey’s vast, shadowy catalog. From his very first guest verse to legendary Kanye records, these are the 20 best Mos Def guest verses. 20. Mary J. Blige – Beautiful (Blackstar Remix) [Prod. by Hi-Tek] (1999) In late ’98, Mos Def and Talib Kweli touched down with Blackstar a year after Mos made his solo debut on Rawkus with “Universal Magnetic.” The album was met with wide praise, and in ’99 Mary J. Blige enlisted the duo for a remix. Here Mos is ...
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