Subliminal (rapper)

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Subliminal
Birth name Ya'akov Shimoni
Born November 13, 1979 (1979-11-13) (age 28)

Flag of Israel Tel Aviv, Israel
Origin Flag of Israel Tel Aviv, Israel
Genre(s) Hip hop
Years active 1999–present
Label(s) TACT Records/Helicon
Associated acts TACT Family, Joe Budden
Website TACT-Records.com

Ya'akov "Kobi" Shimoni (Hebrew: יעקב "קובי" שמעוני, born November 13, 1979), generally known by his stage name Subliminal (Hebrew: סאבלימינל), is an Israeli rap artist and music producer.

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[edit] Background

Subliminal was born in Tel Aviv, Israel to a mother from Mashhad, Iran and a father from Tunisia. Subliminal started performing music at age 12, and at age 15 met Yoav Eliasi, who would later become his performing partner under the name "The Shadow" (Ha'tzel, In Hebrew: הצל). The two quickly became friends as a result of their mutual love of hip-hop.

In 1995 the two began performing in Israeli clubs geared toward a hip-hop audience, wearing baggy clothes and gold chains. They quickly developed a following among the nation's youth, and soon put out their first album, "The Light From Zion".

After the outbreak of the Second Intifada in 2000 the two began writing patriotic songs. They became known as creators of "Zionist hip-hop", a label still applied to them. In further contrast to the generally rebellious, "outlaw" nature of most hip-hop, they also praise army service and eschew drugs and smoking.

Subliminal's being the son of Jewish refugees is at the core of his hard-line politics. "In Tunisia, my father grew up with his family locking all the doors and windows whenever performing a Jewish ceremony -- out of fear of attacks." Both parents, he says, "ran for their lives" to Israel, where they spent decades recovering from the persecution they had faced.[1]

Subliminal and Ha'Tzel also helped discover the Arab Israeli rapper Tamer Nafar; they collaborated but eventually fell out over political differences. The bitter end of their musical relationship is chronicled in the documentary film, Channels of Rage.

The two currently release all their music under the record label they founded and own, TACT Records (which stands for Tel Aviv City Team). They also have a stable of artists that they produce, collaborate with and perform with: this "posse", known as the "TACT All-Stars", currently includes, in addition to Subliminal and Ha'Tzel, fellow rappers SHI 360, BooSkills, Ilan Babylon and Itzik Shamly, and singers Sivan and Gavriel Butler (a Black Hebrew who had previously performed in Israel's entry in the Eurovision song contest). [1] They have also collaborated with rappers from other countries, most notably Wyclef Jean, Joe Budden and two rappers associated with the Wu-Tang Clan, Killah Priest and Remedy; they have also collaborated with fellow Israeli Miri Ben-Ari, the "hip-hop violinist". They have opened once for 50 Cent when he performed in Israel. They plan to release a collection of singles in the United States. Subliminal has begun to pursue greater sales outside of Israel, promoting his work in foreign media. To this end, he has been a guest of Samuel Green on the Kol Cambridge radio show in the UK.

[edit] Social Impact

Through lyrics and concerts, Subliminal and his rap group aim to inspire and encourage a new generation to stand as a unified Israeli nation. At many of his concerts, Subliminal begins by calling to the audience, “Who is proud to be a Zionist in the state of Israel, put your hands in the air! Hell yeah!”[2] Subliminal can be seen at many of his concerts wearing American hip hop clothing and a large Star of David chain necklace. Journalist Joshua Mitnick writes that with Subliminal’s patriotic, 2002 chart-topping album “Ha’or v’Ha’tzel” (The Light and the Shadow), he

transformed the Star of David into a fashion statement and helped integrate the music of urban America into the fold of Israeli pop… For Subliminal, the music has generated tens of thousands of record sales. For Israeli teens, it has given voice to their outrage at the state of affairs in their country. Hip-hop, a quintessentially American art form, is helping bolster national morale in a country bruised by… years of fighting between Israelis and Palestinians.[3]

Subliminal uses hip hop to identify with and inspire Israeli teenagers through a new, global medium. Though the messages in his songs are not new, Israeli teenagers that listen to his music grew up in Israel decades after the establishment of the country. Subliminal and his group attempt to instill a new sense of Zionism to teenagers in the twenty-first century. He uses hip hop, writing lyrics and portraying images reflective of life in the country, to communicate with teenagers today.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

  • Ha'Or m'Zion (האור מציון, "The Light From Zion") (2000)
  • Ha'Or Ve'HaTzel with The Shadow (האור והצל, "The Light and the Shadow") 2002
  • TACT All-Stars with TACT (תאקט אול סטארז, "TACT All-Stars") (2004)
  • Bediuk Kshe'Chashavtem she'Hakol Nigmar (בדיוק כשחשבתם שהכל נגמר, "Just When You Thought It Was All Over") (2006)

[edit] Singles

[edit] With TACT

[edit] Non-album singles
  • Shir Shel Rega Eḥad (Hebrew: שיר של רגע אחד, "Song of One Moment") (2005)
  • Yoter mi'Zeh Anaḥnu lo Tzrikhim (Hebrew: יותר מזה אנחנו לא צריכים, "We don't need any more of this") featuring Itzik Shamley (2006)

[edit] From TACT All-Stars
  • Hineni/Viens Ici (Hebrew: הנני/VIENS ICI, "Here I am") (2004)
  • Lama (Hebrew: למה, "Why?") (2004)
  • Prahim ba'Kaneh (Hebrew: פרחים בקנה, "Flowers in the Gun Barrel") (2004)
  • Peace in the Middle East (Hebrew: שלום במזרח התיכון, "Peace in the Middle East") (2005)

[edit] Solo

[edit] From Bediuk Kshe'Hashavtem she'Hakol Nigmar
  • Hamakom Hamushlam (Hebrew: המקום המושלם, "The Perfect Place") (2006)
  • Classit u'Parsi (Hebrew: קלסית ופרסי, "Classic and Persian") featuring Joe Budden and Miri Ben-Ari (2006)
  • Toro (Hebrew: טורו, "Toro") featuring Alon de Loco (2006)
  • In Tel Aviv (Hebrew: אין תל אביב, "In Tel Aviv") featuring Wyclef Jean and The Shadow (2006)
  • Lifamim ani Margish (Hebrew: לפעמים אני מרגיש, "Sometimes I Feel") featuring David Broza (2006)

[edit] Non-album singles
  • Adon Olam Ad Matai? (Hebrew: אדון עולם עד מתי, "God Almighty, When Will It End?") featuring Miri Ben-Ari (2007)

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Israeli Rapper Takes U.S. : Rolling Stone
  2. ^ Joshua Mitnick, “Israeli Hip-Hop Takes on Mideast Politics,” USA Today, November 6, 2003. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2003-11-06-hiphop-usat_x.htm.
  3. ^ Joshua Mitnick, “Israeli Hip-Hop Takes on Mideast Politics,” USA Today, November 6, 2003. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2003-11-06-hiphop-usat_x.htm.