Grammy Nominated: Mos Def

dj omni - "mos def mix"

1. Mos Def - "Jay Electronica Tribute (Live @ Carnegie Hall)"
2. Mos Def - "Universal Magnetic"
3. Mos Def – “QuietDog (Letterman_060809)"
4. Black Star - "Hard Margin"
5. Mary J Blige - "Beautiful (Black Star Remix)"
6. Mos Def - "Auditorium (f. Slick Rick the Ruler)"
7. Mos Def - "Ms. Fat Booty"
8. Mos Def - "U R The One"
9. Mos Def - "Umi Says (Zero 7 Mix)"
10. Mos Def - "Brooklyn Go Hard (Live @ Highline Ballroom)
11. Mos Def - "Black Jack"
12. De La Soul - "Big Brother Beat"
13. Mos Def - "No Hay Nada Mas"
14. Black Star - "Respiration (Pete Rock Remix f. Black Thought)"
15. Mos Def - "May-December"
16. Mos Def x HYPNOTIC - "Make it Funky (Live)"
17. De La Soul - "Stakes Is High (Remix)"
18. BlakRoc - "Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo)(f. Jim Jones)
19. Black Star - "Bright as The Stars"
20. Mos Def - "Priority"
21. Reflection Eternal - "Just Begun (f. Jay Electronica and J. Cole)
22. Mos Def - "Champion Requiem"

Continuing the congratulatory theme, a long overdue Mos Def mix that barely scratches the surface of this man’s oeuvre. Mos has been nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance “Casa Bey” and for Best Rap Album “The Ecstatic”. The solo performance category has strong competition from Drake, Eminem, Jay-Z, and Kid Cudi. Big-up Q-Tip for getting a Grammy nod for his excellent album “The Renaissance” (he deserves a mix of his own).

Mos Def is the definition of multi-talented. Almost as well known for his acting as he is for his music he has been nominated for a variety of awards but has at this point only won a Black Reel Awards in 2005 as Best Actor Independent for “The Woodsman”. (He really should have won Best Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series in 2004 for “Something the Lord Made”)

Needless say we will be seeing more from Mos.

Grammy Nominated: Phonte

dj omni - "phonte mix"

1. Foreign Exchange - "Let's Move"
2. Phonte - "Like Dat"
3. The Foreign Exchange - "Daykeeper (feat. Muhsinah)"
4. Kev Brown, Oddisee & Phonte - "Beats N' Rhymes"
5. Dave Ghetto, Mystic & Phonte - "Hey Young World Pt. II"
6. Jake One - "Bless the Child (feat. Little Brother)"
7. Little Brother - "Phonte Exclusive"
8. Phonte & Eccentric - "Silky Tay's Theme"
9. Strong Arm Steady - "Best of Times ft. Phonte"
10. Royce da 5'9" & Phonte - "Something 2 Ride 2"
11. Foreign Exchange - "Be Alright"
12. Little Brother - "Breakin My Heart (feat. Lil' Wayne)"
13. Phonte - "Too Late"
14. Jazzanova - "Look What You're Doin' To Me Featuring Phonte"
15. The Foreign Exchange (Nicolay & Phonte) - "Hustle Hustle"
16. RJD2 - "The Shining Path (feat. Phonte Coleman)"
17. Zo! - "My Flame feat. Phonte"
18. Little Brother - "Home"
19. Phonte & Eccentric - "The Time Has Come"

The above mix is a special request from the homegirl, Kemba. And I’m really happy to see the fam Phonte getting the shine he deserves. The Foreign Exchange has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Urban/Alternative Performance category (with stiff competition from Robert Glasper & Bilal and Eric Roberson respectively).

Phonte Coleman has been everywhere since his debut on Little Brother’s “The Listening” in 2003. He’s a little bit Weezy and a little bit Drake, popping up on other people’s projects as lyricist and/or as singer. He addresses this on the song “Too Late”: “I got a Masters in freestyle (rhyming), and a hook-singing baccalaureate.”

Creatively, Phonte resembles Cee-lo. Former member of a fan-favorite group, talented lyricist and vocalist, and has found Grammy success partnering with a talented producer. The only difference is that Phonte has not released solo albums, but he has hinted on his Gordon Gartrell podcast that a solo album is in the works.

Foreign Exchange has a good chance of winning the Grammy, and it would be well deserved. But it’s only the beginning for Phonte.