Regarded as one of hip-hop's most insightful artists, Mos Def has shaped a career that transcends genres. His groundbreaking collaboration with fellow rapper Talib Kweli in Black Star; his distinctive and daring solo work, and his acting, both in film and theater, have earned him Grammy, Emmy, Golden Globe and NAACP Image Award nominations. Add to that his activism, most recently in the Jena 6 case, and you have a portrait of an artist fully engaged with the issues of his times. Mos Def discuss his music, his acting, his social and political perspective, and his vision of the role that artists must play in the public world. Anthony DeCurtis is a contributing editor for Rolling Stone and the author of In Other Words: Artists Talk About Life and Work.