Y-Love
| Y-Love | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born |
January 5, 1978 Baltimore, Maryland |
| Genres | Jewish hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | Shemspeed |
| Associated acts |
Diwon DeScribe Yuri Lane Matisyahu Kosha Dillz Tj Di Hitmaker |
| Website | thisisylove.com |
Yitz Jordan (born January 5, 1978), better known by his stage name Y-Love, is a Los Angeles-based American hip-hop artist. An Orthodox Jew, Jordan was formerly Hasidic.[1] Jordan rhymes in a mixture of English, Hebrew, Yiddish, Arabic, Latin and Aramaic,[2] often covering social, political and religious themes.
Biography
Personal life
Jordan, an only child, was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland to a Christian Ethiopian father and Puerto Rican mother, occasionally attending a Baptist church.[3] As a youth, Jordan was a fan of the conscientious rhymes of KRS-ONE and Public Enemy’s Chuck D.[4]
Jordan first became interested in Judaism at the age of seven. "I saw a commercial that said, 'Happy Passover from your friends at Channel 2,'" he said, "and I went drawing six-pointed stars on everything at my mother’s house."[5] He started wearing a kippah and observing Shabbat at 14, and converted to Judaism around the turn of millennium.[6] He later spent time studying at a yeshiva in Jerusalem.[6] Jordan has also read the Quran, believing that familiarity with a variety of religious texts will help bring understanding.[7]
In May 2012, Jordan came out as gay.[1] He still identifies as an Orthodox Jew.[8]
Career
After moving to Brooklyn in 2001, Jordan began performing at open mics around the city as Y-Love. He received a measure of criticism from the local Jewish population for also being a member of the hip hop community.[4]
Y-Love released his first mixtape in 2005, DJ Handler Presents Y-Love: The Mixtape, leading to an award for Best Hip Hop Artist at Heeb’s 2006 Jewish Music Awards.[4] A few years later, he teamed up with beatboxer Yuri Lane to record the a capella album, Count It (Sefira). The vocals-only offering can be listened to by Orthodox Jews year-round, including the period between Passover and Shavuot, when it’s not permitted to listen to musical instruments.[9]
In the Fall of 2008, Y-Love released his first solo full-length album, This Is Babylon. XXL said the album "balances Jewish spirituality with party rhymes and political commentary in an effort to spread [Y-Love’s] message of global unity."[4] His 2011 EP See Me (produced by Diwon) debuted as a "New and Noteworthy Release" on the front page of the iTunes Hip Hop page. The music video for the EP’s single "This Is Unity" was called "awesome" by URB.[10]
Musical style
Y-Love generally comes up with his rhymes through extensive freestyling. "You freestyle and wait until something hot comes out," he says.[9]
The Jerusalem Post called Y-Love a “spiritual, rapping guru” who is “front and center in a trending hip-hop revolution."[5] He was named to The Jewish Week's 2009 36 Under 36, an annual list of 36 notable Jews under the age of 36. "I’m using hip hop to elevate," Y-Love stated. "That’s what I’m about."[11]
Discography
Albums
| Release date | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| April 14, 2008 | Count It (Sefira) (Y-Love & Yuri Lane) |
Modular Moods/Shemspeed |
| October 27, 2008 | This Is Babylon | Modular Moods/Shemspeed |
Extended Plays
| Release date | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| May 14, 2010 | Change (DeScribe & Y-Love) |
Modular Moods/Shemspeed |
| May 17, 2011 | See Me | Shemspeed |
Singles
- "Change" - DeScribe & Y-Love, prod. Prodezra. Released May 14, 2010.
- "Boom Selecta" - Shemspeed MCs vs. Electro Morocco (feat. Y-Love, DeScribe, Kosha Dillz & Eprhyme). Released July 12, 2010.
- "Move On" - Y-Love feat. DeScribe. Released August 10, 2010.
- "The Takeover" - Y-Love feat. TJ Di Hitmaker & Andy Milonakis. Released October 18, 2011.
- "Focus on the Flair" - Y-Love feat. Onili. Released May 15, 2012.
Mixtapes
- DJ Handler Presents Y-Love: The Mix Tape (2005)
TV Appearances
- London & Kirschenbaum - Israeli Channel 10 (July 2007)
- BBC World TV (September 2008)
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien - with Erran Baron Cohen (December 12, 2008)
- The Jewish Channel (multiple appearances since 2008)
- "Faith, Music and Culture" - CBS Special (June 7, 2009)
- Fox 2 Detroit (March 25, 2011)
References
- 1 2 Jerry Portwood, "Y-Love is Ready for Love," Out, May 15, 2012.
- ↑ Erin MacLeod, "Cool shul: Matisyahu and Y-Love on why rap, reggae and rabbinical teachings fit together naturally," Archived October 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Montreal Mirror, October 19, 2006.
- ↑ "Tale of Tragedy and Triumph For a Struggling Hasidic Black Convert Rap Star," VozIzNeias.com, September 14, 2008.
- 1 2 3 4 Jesse Serwer, “Walk Wit’ Me: Black Jewish MC Has Rhymes For You Little Yentas,” XXL, Issue #101, April 2008.
- 1 2 "Jewish hip hop artist Y-Love," Jerusalem Post, November 7, 2010.
- 1 2 Trymaine Lee, "Black and Jewish, and Seeing no Contradiction," New York Times, August 27, 2010.
- ↑ Rachel Breitman, "Rapping in the name of interfaith tolerance," USA Today, October 2, 2006.
- ↑ Danielle Berrin, "Self-Love for Y-Love," The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, May 23, 2012.
- 1 2 Ben Bresky, "Jewish Rapper Releases A Capella CD," Shiur Times, August 2008.
- ↑ "Videos against hate: Bekay and Y-Love release new videos," Archived January 28, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. URB.com, May 20, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
- ↑ Eric Herschthal, "36 Under 36 2009: Y-LOVE (Yitz Jordan), 31," The Jewish Week, April 24, 2009.