Kool Moe Dee

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", "Wild Wild West" and "How Ya Like Me Now". Ranked No. Number 33 on About.com's list of the 50 Greatest MCs of Our Time (1987–2007).

• Name — Kool Moe Dee • Birth Name — Mohandas Dewese • Alias — Moel Dewes • Born — 8 August 1962 • Birthplace — Manhattan, New York City, U.S. • Genre — * Hip hop • Occupation — * Rapper • songwriter • record producer • actor • Instruments — Vocals • Years Active — 1978–present • Label — * Jive/RCA/BMG • Wrap/Ichiban • M.A.R.S. • Past Member Of — *Treacherous Three

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.

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, which became his most successful album commercially, achieving platinum status. He then went on to release his third album, Knowledge Is King 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 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.

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 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.

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.

• 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

He also worked under the name Kool Moe Dee. The authorities additionally record the headings Mohandas Dewese, Mohandes Dewese and Moe Dewese.

Kool Moe Dee is recorded as rapper, songwriter, record producer, actor and composer.