Invincible (rapper)

Ilana Weaver also known by her stage name Invincible, was born in Champaign, Illinois. At the age of 1 she moved to Israel, returning to the United States at the age of 7 - first living in Ann Arbor, Michigan, then moving to Detroit, Michigan.[1] Invincible joined the Anomalies crew in 1997[2] and has collaborated with Finale, Suheir Hammad, and Waajeed of the Platinum Pied Pipers.[3]

Early Life and Career

Invincible learned English by listening to hip-hop albums, she has stated that she would write down the rhymes and use the dictionary to decipher the words. After two years, she started making her own songs in English and stopped speaking Hebrew by age ten.[2] At age 15, she started performing at open mic nights and getting into Detroit's battle scene in its late-1990’s heyday. Invincible's passion for activism was sparked when members of the Ku Klux Klan gathered and spoke atop of Ann Arbor's City Hall, which was down the street from her high school. She was disgusted with what she heard, yet she felt she couldn't do anything about it.[1]

Her music reflects her deeply held belief in social justice, but does so through narrative, powerful imagery, and a commitment to finding the perfect rhyme. She splits her time between youth organizing with Detroit Summer's Live Arts Media Project,[4] the US-Palestine Youth Solidarity Network,[5] and constant touring, she blurs the line between art and activism.

She released her debut album, "ShapeShifters," in 2008 on Emergence, a record label she co-founded.

In 2010, she performed at the Can A Sista Rock a Mic? festival in Washington, D.C..[6] That same year, she received attention after the music video for "Ropes" was banned on mtvU, MTV's college-targeted channel, after it was deemed "too problematic" because of its suicidal nature.[7] The ban was later lifted.[8]

She has been compared to rapper Eminem.[2] She has been positively reviewed by Washington Post,[6] Spin, being described as "a compelling and fiercely political artist"[9]

She identifies as gay and is Jewish.[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Invincible Interview". Rap Genius.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Swan, Rachel (2008-07-16). "Invincible in Two Worlds". eastbayexpress.com. Retrieved 2013-03-27.
  3. ↑ "Platinum Pied Pipers - Triple P". hiphopdx.com. 2005-08-17. Retrieved 2013-03-27.
  4. ↑ Lynden, Jacki (2008-12-08). "Reclaiming Detroit Means Reinventing A City". wbur.org. Retrieved 2013-03-27.
  5. ↑ Nagaraja, Tej (2008-07-18). "Outervisions: A Review of Invincible's "ShapeShifters"". indypendent.org. Retrieved 2013-03-27.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Merry, Stephanie (2010-06-01). "Nightlife Agenda: Capital Pride and Can A Sista Rock A Mic festivals kick off". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2013-03-27.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Clark, Anna (2010-05-04). "MTV bans female rapper’s "suicidal" video". salon.com. Retrieved 2013-03-27.
  8. ↑ Harling, Danielle (2010-09-20). "MTVU Lifts Ban On Invincible's "Ropes" Video". hiphopdx.com. Retrieved 2013-03-27.
  9. ↑ "Invincible - Shapeshifters". Spin. August 2008. Retrieved 2013-03-27.