Subliminal (rapper)
Encyclopedia
Ya'akov "Kobi" Shimoni (Hebrew
: יעקב "קובי" שמעוני, born November 13, 1979), generally known by his stage name
Subliminal , is an Israel
i hip hop artist
and music producer.
, Israel
to a mother and father from Persia. Subliminal started performing music at age 12, and at age 15 met Yoav Eliasi. 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.
Subliminal and Ha'Tzel also helped discover the Arab Israeli rapper Tamer Nafar
; they collaborated but eventually fell out over Subliminal and Nafar's political disagreement. The bitter end of their musical relationship is chronicled in the documentary film
, Channels of Rage
.
In 2006 Subliminal collaborated with contratenor David D'Or
for the song "Ten Koah" ("Give Me Strength") on Subliminal's hip hop
album, Just When You Thought it Was Over. Subliminal was married to woman named Ines in 2010
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.
From TACT All-Stars
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: יעקב "קובי" שמעוני, born November 13, 1979), generally known by his stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Subliminal , is an Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i hip hop artist
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
and music producer.
Background
Subliminal was born in Tel AvivTel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
to a mother and father from Persia. Subliminal started performing music at age 12, and at age 15 met Yoav Eliasi. The two quickly became friends as a result of their mutual love of hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
.
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
Jewish refugees
In the course of history, Jewish populations have been expelled or ostracised by various local authorities and have sought asylum from antisemitism numerous times...
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.
Subliminal and Ha'Tzel also helped discover the Arab Israeli rapper Tamer Nafar
Tamer Nafar
Tamer Nafar , is a Palestinian and Arab-Israeli rap artist.Tamer was born on June 6, 1979 in the city of Lod, Israel. He began writing and making rap music in 1998 and in 2000 his brother Suhell and their friend Mahmoud Jrere joined him to start the first Palestinian-Arab or Arab Israeli rap group,...
; they collaborated but eventually fell out over Subliminal and Nafar's political disagreement. The bitter end of their musical relationship is chronicled in the documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
, Channels of Rage
Channels of Rage
Channels of Rage is a 2003 documentary film by Anat Halachmi.- Plot :The film focuses on two young Israeli rap artists, Subliminal, an Israeli Jew, and Tamer Nafar, an Israeli Arab, and focuses on their music, friendship, and their politicization as public figures...
.
In 2006 Subliminal collaborated with contratenor David D'Or
David D'Or
David D'Or is an Israeli singer, composer, and songwriter. A countertenor with a vocal range of more than four octaves, he is a three-time winner of the Israeli "Singer of the Year" and "Best Vocal Performer" awards. He was also chosen to represent Israel in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest, at...
for the song "Ten Koah" ("Give Me Strength") on Subliminal's hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
album, Just When You Thought it Was Over. Subliminal was married to woman named Ines in 2010
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!” 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.
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.
Studio albums
- Ha'Or m'ZionHa'Or m'ZionHa'Or m'Zion is the debut album by an Israeli hip-hop band Subliminal. It was released in 2000.-Track listing:...
(האור מציון, "The Light From Zion") (2000) - Ha'Or Ve'HaTzelHa'Or Ve'HaTzelHa'Or Ve'HaTzel is the second album by the Israeli rapper Subliminal, in collaboration with another Israeli rapper - The Shadow. It was released in 2002.-Track listing:...
with HaTzelThe Shadow (rapper)Yoav Eliasi , commonly known by his stage name The Shadow , is an Israeli rap artist. He is part of the stable of artists on the label, TACT Records.-Background:...
(האור והצל, "The Light and the Shadow") 2002 - TACT All-Stars with Mishpacha 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)
- Jew-niversal (2011)
With TACT
Non-album singles- Shir Shel Rega Eḥad (HebrewHebrew languageHebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: שיר של רגע אחד, "Song of One Moment") (2005) - Yoter mi'Zeh Anaḥnu lo Tzrikhim (HebrewHebrew languageHebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: יותר מזה אנחנו לא צריכים, "We don't need more than this") featuring Itzik Shamli (2006)
From TACT All-Stars
- Hineni/Viens Ici (HebrewHebrew languageHebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: הנני/Viens Ici, "Here I am") featuring Francky Perez (2004) - Lama (HebrewHebrew languageHebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: למה, "Why?") (2004) - Prahim ba'Kaneh (HebrewHebrew languageHebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: פרחים בקנה, "Flowers in the Turrets") (2004) - Peace in the Middle East (HebrewHebrew languageHebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: שלום במזרח התיכון, "Peace in the Middle East") (2005)
Solo
From Bediuk Kshe'Hashavtem she'Hakol Nigmar- Hamakom Hamushlam (HebrewHebrew languageHebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: המקום המושלם, "The Perfect Place") (2006) - Classit u'Parsi (HebrewHebrew languageHebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: קלסית ופרסי, "Classic and Persian") featuring Joe BuddenJoe Budden-Early life:Budden was born in Spanish Harlem, but lived in Queens until he was 12 and from there moved to Jersey City, New Jersey. He is one of five boys...
and Miri Ben-AriMiri Ben-AriMiri Ben-Ari is an Israeli violinist, who currently resides in the United States.Ben-Ari grew up playing classical music; she started training at age 5 and at age 12, she was presented with a violin by Isaac Stern. During her mandatory Israeli military service, she was chosen to play for the...
(2006) - Toro (HebrewHebrew languageHebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: טורו, "Toro") featuring Alon de LocoAlon De LocoAlon Cohen better known by his stage name Alon de Loco is a leading Israeli hip hop artist with styles in R&B, dancehall and reggaeton. He is also a music producer, a breakdancer, a dance teacher and a DJ...
(2006) - In Tel Aviv (HebrewHebrew languageHebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: אין תל אביב, "In Tel Aviv") featuring Wyclef JeanWyclef JeanWyclef Jean is a Haitian musician, record producer, and politician. At age nine, Jean moved to the United States with his family and has spent much of his life in the country...
and The ShadowThe Shadow (rapper)Yoav Eliasi , commonly known by his stage name The Shadow , is an Israeli rap artist. He is part of the stable of artists on the label, TACT Records.-Background:...
(2006) - Lifamim ani Margish (HebrewHebrew languageHebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: לפעמים אני מרגיש, "Sometimes I Feel") featuring David BrozaDavid BrozaDavid Broza is a multi-platinum Israeli singer-songwriter and guitarist.-Personal life:The son of an Israeli–British businessman and a folk singer, Broza was born in Haifa, Israel. He was raised and educated in England and Spain, where he was schooled at Runnymede College, in Madrid...
(2006)
Non-album singles
- Adon Olam Ad Matai? (HebrewHebrew languageHebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: אדון עולם עד מתי, "God Almighty, When Will It End?") featuring Miri Ben-AriMiri Ben-AriMiri Ben-Ari is an Israeli violinist, who currently resides in the United States.Ben-Ari grew up playing classical music; she started training at age 5 and at age 12, she was presented with a violin by Isaac Stern. During her mandatory Israeli military service, she was chosen to play for the...
(2007) - Bat Shishim HebrewHebrew languageHebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: "60 Years Old" - A Song that was sung on the 60th year anniversary of Israel. It is a remake of the original song recorded by HaGevatron, which recorded it again with Subliminal. It reached the top of the Israeli music charts for 5 weeks in a row. (2008) - Alay (HebrewHebrew languageHebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: עלי, "On me") featuring Dana InternationalDana InternationalSharon Cohen , professionally known as Dana International is an Israeli pop singer of Yemenite Jewish ancestry. She has released eight albums and three additional compilation albums, positioning herself as one of Israel's most successful musical acts ever...
(2009) - International (HebrewHebrew languageHebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: אינטרנשיונל, "International") (2010) - Fuego (EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
) featuring Tony TouchTony TouchTony Touch is an American hip hop break dancer, rapper, DJ, producer and actor of Puerto Rican descent.Tony Touch began as a B-boy during the rap music renaissance era of the early 1980s...
(2010)