Kool Moe Dee

Biography

Mohandas Dewese (born August 8, 1962), better known by his stage name Kool Moe Dee, is an American rapper, songwriter, and actor. Considered one of the forerunners of the New Jack Swing sound in hip hop, he gained fame in the 1980s as a member of one of the pioneering groups in hip hop music, the Treacherous Three, and for his later solo career. During his career he released a total of seven studio albums (five of them solo), with 1994's Interlude×Interlude8 November 1994 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Interlude2:052Oh Yea4:353Deez Nutz4:094Catch the Moe4:055Get ’em Up4:236Candy4:227Doin’ My Thang4:578Bang Bang3:569Yes, Yes, Y’all4:3210Soul to Soul4:1811It’s Alright Here4:3812Are You Wit It4:3013Interlude2:05 being the last to date.
His fast and aggressive rap style influenced rap figures such as Big Daddy Kane, Beastie Boys, KRS-One, Rakim, Will Smith, N.W.A, Tupac Shakur, Nas, Jay-Z, among others. Among his most famous songs are "Go See the Doctor×Go See the Doctor1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Go See the Doctor (uncensored)3:57A2Go See the Doctor (almost clean)3:57B1Go See the Doctor (clean version)4:00B2Go See the Doctor (instrumental)4:00", "Wild Wild West" and "How Ya Like Me Now×How Ya Like Me Now3 November 1987 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1How Ya Like Me Now5:382Suckers4:443Stupid4:264I’m a Player3:575Rock You3:576Get Paid3:187Don’t Dance4:25850 Ways5:029Wild Wild West4:4110Way Way Back4:3311No Respect5:25".
Kool Moe Dee was ranked No. 33 on About.com's list of the 50 Greatest MCs of Our Time (1987–2007).

Early life

Mohandas Dewese was born in Harlem. He attended the State University of New York at Old Westbury, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications in 1985.

Career

Kool Moe Dee participated in one of the first major rap battles, facing Busy Bee after one of his performances in 1981. After the Treacherous Three disbanded, he went solo, releasing a self-titled album that ranked 83 on Billboard. After meeting Lavaba Mallison, who would later become his manager, Kool Moe Dee left Sugar Hill Records for the newly-founded ROOFTOP Records. He co-operated with the young producers Teddy Riley and Mallison, which contributed to the New Jack Swing movement.
Kool Moe Dee released his second album, How Ya Like Me Now×How Ya Like Me Now3 November 1987 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1How Ya Like Me Now5:382Suckers4:443Stupid4:264I’m a Player3:575Rock You3:576Get Paid3:187Don’t Dance4:25850 Ways5:029Wild Wild West4:4110Way Way Back4:3311No Respect5:25, which became his most successful album commercially, achieving platinum status. He then went on to release his third album, Knowledge Is King×Knowledge Is King25 May 1989 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1They Want Money3:542The Avenue3:513I Go to Work4:434All Night Long4:165Knowledge Is King3:416I’m Hittin’ Hard4:367Get the Picture5:238I’m Blowin’ Up4:569The Don5:0310Pump Your Fist4:2811Let’s Go5:25 in 1989, which went gold. In 1990, he performed on Quincy Jones' album Back on the Block along with Melle Mel, Big Daddy Kane, and Ice-T. The album gained critical and financial success and won the 1991 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. In 1991, the release of his album Funke, Funke Wisdom signaled Kool Moe Dee's decline. Moe Dee himself has stated that this was his worst album. He induced his release from Jive Records in 1992. After a two-year hiatus, he released a greatest hits album. In 1994, his album Interlude×Interlude8 November 1994 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Interlude2:052Oh Yea4:353Deez Nutz4:094Catch the Moe4:055Get ’em Up4:236Candy4:227Doin’ My Thang4:578Bang Bang3:569Yes, Yes, Y’all4:3210Soul to Soul4:1811It’s Alright Here4:3812Are You Wit It4:3013Interlude2:05 was released and failed to gain traction. In 1993, he reunited with his fellow ex members of the Treacherous Three to release the album Old School Flava on Ichiban. His last commercial release was the single "Love Love/What You Wanna Do" which was released on Spoiled Brat Entertainment Inc. Moe Dee appeared in the MTV box office bomb Crossroads as a bartender.

Feud with LL Cool J

Kool Moe Dee conducted a long-running rivalry with fellow New York rapper LL Cool J. Along with other rappers such as MC Shan, Kool Moe Dee claimed that LL had stolen their rap styles. He also felt that LL was disrespecting rap pioneers such as Melle Mel and Grandmaster Caz by proclaiming that he was "rap's new grandmaster" without paying due respect to those who came before him. He challenged LL on his platinum selling album How Ya Like Me Now×How Ya Like Me Now3 November 1987 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1How Ya Like Me Now5:382Suckers4:443Stupid4:264I’m a Player3:575Rock You3:576Get Paid3:187Don’t Dance4:25850 Ways5:029Wild Wild West4:4110Way Way Back4:3311No Respect5:25 on the single of the same name. He also took a shot at LL by appearing on the album cover with a jeep in the background with the wheel crushing one of LL's trademark red Kangol hats.

Behind The Rhyme talk show

In 2017, he launched as executive producer and host of Behind The Rhyme, a digital talk show series featuring an interview with a hip-hop legend or current star. The premiere episode was released in June 2020, featuring Chuck D, front man of Public Enemy and supergroup Prophets of Rage. The show is executive produced by industry veterans Ann Carli and Devin DeHaven, who also directs the series.

Legacy

In 1989, Kool Moe Dee was the first rapper to perform at a Grammy Awards show, where he also presented an award with Karyn White for Best R&B Instrumental and Song. In 1991, he was the first solo rapper to win a Grammy Award (with Quincy Jones). His song, "Wild, Wild West×Wild, Wild West3 November 1987 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Wild Wild West (special extended re‐mix)5:342Wild Wild West (single edit)4:113Dumb Dick (Richard) (single edit)3:384Dumb Dick (Richard) (instrumental)3:38" was nominated in 1988 for a Grammy for Best Rap Performance. Kool was nominated for an MTV Music Video "Best Rap Video" award in 1989 for "How Ya Like Me Now×How Ya Like Me Now3 November 1987 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1How Ya Like Me Now5:382Suckers4:443Stupid4:264I’m a Player3:575Rock You3:576Get Paid3:187Don’t Dance4:25850 Ways5:029Wild Wild West4:4110Way Way Back4:3311No Respect5:25." Nominated for two Soul Train Awards, the rapper free-styled on stage at the 1988 show before presenting an award.
In 2024, he was honored at the annual Hip Hop Grandmaster Awards.

Appeared on

The Isley Brothers "Come Together" on the album Spend the Night (Warner Bros – 1988)
Quincy Jones w/ Melle Mel & Big Daddy Kane & Ice-T "Back On the Block" from the album Back on the Block (Qwest Records – 1989)
Quincy Jones w/ Ice T, Big Daddy Kane "Jazz Corner of the World" from the album Back on the Block (Qwest Records – 1989)
Stop the Violence Movement "Self Destruction" (Jive/ RCA Records – 1989)
HEAL w/ various artists Civilization Vs. Technology (Elektra – 1991)
Zebrahead "Good Time" from the album Zebrahead Soundtrack (Ruffhouse – 1992)
CB4 w/ Daddy-O & Hi-C "Rapper's Delight" CB4 Soundtrack (MCA – 1993)
Regina Belle "Tango In Paris" from the album Passion (Columbia – 1993)
Babydol "I Want You Back" (Miracle – 1993)
Animaniacs Hip-Opera Christmas (Rhino – 1997)
“Panther” Movie - 1995
The Spinners "I'll Be Around" from the album At Their Best (Intersound – 1999)
"I Go To Work" from the album Bad Boy Bill's Vocal Mix" (Jive – 1999)
Will Smith w/ Dru Hill "Wild Wild West" from the album Willenium (Columbia – 1999)
Pablo "Next Level" (Howlin – 2003)
Pat Boone "Backbone" from the album R&B Duet Hits (Goldenlane Records – 2006)
Nas w/ various artists "Where Are They Now (80's Remix)" (Ill Will Records – 2007)
Ice-T "Darc Fight Club" EP also features "Revolution" 2009
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "Downtown" with Eric Nally, Melle Mel, and Grandmaster Caz – 2015