Kool Moe Dee facts for kids

Mohandas Dewese (born August 8, 1962), known as Kool Moe Dee, is an American rapper, songwriter, and actor. He became famous in the 1980s. He was part of an early hip hop group called the Treacherous Three. Later, he had a successful solo career.

Kool Moe Dee helped create the "new jack swing" sound in hip hop. This style mixes hip hop beats with R&B singing. He released seven studio albums during his career. His last album, Interlude, came out in 1994.

His fast and strong rap style influenced many famous rappers. These include Big Daddy Kane, Beastie Boys, KRS-One, Rakim, Will Smith, N.W.A, Tupac Shakur, Nas, and Jay-Z. Some of his most popular songs are "Go See the Doctor", "Wild Wild West", and "How Ya Like Me Now".

Kool Moe Dee was ranked number 33 on About.com's list. This list featured the 50 Greatest MCs of their time (1987–2007).

Early Life and Education

Mohandas Dewese was born in Harlem, New York. He later attended the State University of New York at Old Westbury. In 1985, he earned a degree in communications.

Music Career Highlights

One of Kool Moe Dee's first big moments was in 1981. He took part in one of the first major rap battles. He challenged another rapper, Busy Bee, who claimed no one could beat him. Moe Dee used his own rhymes and even some of Busy Bee's style.

In 1985, the Treacherous Three group broke up. Kool Moe Dee started his solo career in 1986. His first self-titled album reached number 83 on the Billboard charts. He then joined a new record label called ROOFTOP records. There, he worked with young producers like Teddy Riley. Their work helped create the popular new jack swing music style.

Successful Albums and Collaborations

Kool Moe Dee's second album, How Ya Like Me Now, was a huge success. It sold over a million copies, earning "platinum" status. His third album, Knowledge Is King, released in 1989, also did very well. It sold over 500,000 copies, earning "gold" status.

In 1990, he performed on Quincy Jones' album Back on the Block. Other rappers like Melle Mel, Big Daddy Kane, and Ice-T were also on the album. This album was very popular and won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1991.

His album Funke, Funke Wisdom came out in 1991. After this, Kool Moe Dee left Jive Records in 1992. Two years later, he released a "greatest hits" album. In 1994, his album Interlude was released. In 1993, he reunited with the Treacherous Three to release the album Old School Flava. He also appeared in the 2002 movie Crossroads as a bartender.

Rap Rivalry with LL Cool J

Kool Moe Dee had a long-running friendly competition with fellow New York rapper LL Cool J. Kool Moe Dee and other rappers felt that LL Cool J was using their rap styles. He also believed LL was not showing enough respect to older rap pioneers.

Kool Moe Dee challenged LL Cool J on his platinum album How Ya Like Me Now. He even showed a picture on his album cover. It featured a jeep crushing one of LL Cool J's famous red hats. This was a symbolic way to show his challenge.

Behind The Rhyme Talk Show

In 2017, Kool Moe Dee started a digital talk show series. It is called Behind The Rhyme. He is the host and an executive producer. The show features interviews with famous hip-hop artists. The first episode came out in June 2020. It featured Chuck D, the lead singer of Public Enemy.

Discography

• Kool Moe Dee (1986)
• How Ya Like Me Now (1987)
• Knowledge Is King (1989)
• Funke, Funke Wisdom (1991)
• Interlude (1994)

Awards and Nominations

Grammy Awards

Appeared On

Kool Moe Dee has appeared on many other artists' songs and albums:

• The Isley Brothers "Come Together" on Spend the Night (1988)
• Quincy Jones with Melle Mel, Big Daddy Kane, & Ice-T "Back On the Block" from Back on the Block (1989)
• Stop the Violence Movement "Self Destruction" (1989)
• Zebrahead "Good Time" from Zebrahead Soundtrack (1992)
• Regina Belle "Tango In Paris" from Passion (1993)
• The Spinners "I'll Be Around" from At Their Best (1999)
• Will Smith with Dru Hill "Wild Wild West" from Willenium (1999)
• Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "Downtown" with Eric Nally, Melle Mel, and Grandmaster Caz (2015)

See also

In Spanish: Kool Moe Dee para niños