Yasiin Bey (Mos Def)

After making cameo appearances on tacks by well known hip hop acts like De La Soul and Talib Kweli, New York-based rapper Mos Def struck out on his own to pursue a solo career in the late 90s. The musician's first solo album, 1999's Black on Both Sides, was a landmark album and helped lift Mos Def into a prominent spot in the cultural zeitgeist.