Kool Moe Dee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kool Moe Dee
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| Birth name | Mohandas Dewese |
| Also known as | Moel Dewes |
| Born | August 8, 1962 Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1978–present |
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Mohandas Dewese (born August 8, 1962), known as Kool Moe Dee, is an American rapper, songwriter, and actor. He became famous in the 1980s as a member of the Treacherous Three. This was one of the first big groups in hip hop music. He also had a successful solo career.
Kool Moe Dee's 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". He was ranked among the 50 Greatest MCs of his time.
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Early life and education
Mohandas Dewese was born in Harlem, New York City. He went to the State University of New York at Old Westbury. In 1985, he earned a degree in communications.
Career
One of Kool Moe Dee's first big moments was being part of a major rap battle. In 1981, he challenged another rapper named Busy Bee. Busy Bee had claimed that no one could beat him in a rap contest. Moe Dee used his own rhymes and even some of Busy Bee's style to win the battle.
In 1985, the Treacherous Three group broke up. Kool Moe Dee then started his solo career in 1986. His first self-titled album reached number 83 on the Billboard charts. He later worked with young producers like Teddy Riley. This helped create the "new jack swing" sound, which became very popular.
Kool Moe Dee's second album, How Ya Like Me Now, was his most successful. It sold over a million copies, earning "platinum" status. His third album, Knowledge Is King (1989), sold over half a million copies, earning "gold" status.
In 1990, he performed on Quincy Jones' album Back on the Block. He was joined by other rappers like Melle Mel and Big Daddy Kane. This album was very successful and won a Grammy Award in 1991.
In 1991, his album Funke, Funke Wisdom was released. Kool Moe Dee himself has said this was his least favorite album. He left Jive Records in 1992. After a break, he released a greatest hits album. In 1994, his album Interlude was released. In 1993, he reunited with the Treacherous Three for an album called Old School Flava.
Behind The Rhyme talk show
In 2017, Kool Moe Dee started a digital talk show 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
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | "Wild Wild West" | Best Rap Performance | Nominated |
| 1991 | "Back on the Block" (with Quincy Jones) | Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group | Won |
Appeared on
- The Isley Brothers "Come Together" on the album Spend the Night (1988)
- Quincy Jones w/ Melle Mel & Big Daddy Kane & Ice-T "Back On the Block" from the album Back on the Block (1989)
- Stop the Violence Movement "Self Destruction" (1989)
- Will Smith w/ Dru Hill "Wild Wild West" from the album Willenium (1999)
- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "Downtown" with Eric Nally, Melle Mel, and Grandmaster Caz (2015)
See also
In Spanish: Kool Moe Dee para niños
