Subliminal (rapper)
From Free net encyclopedia
Subliminal (In Hebrew: סאבלימינל), real name Kobi Shimoni, born on November 13, 1979 in Tel Aviv, Israel, is an Israeli rap artist and music producer. He and the stable of artists on his label, TACT Records, are the best-selling Israeli musical group of all time, with over 10 #1 hit singles in Israel and over 1 million records sold worldwide to date, and TACT Records is Israel's largest music label.
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 became fast 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 Al-Aqsa 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.
It should be noted that their lyrical content, though pro-Israel, is not militant or anti-Arab and has no specific political agenda, though it is sometimes described as right-wing. With occasional Arabic lyrics and songs like "Peace in the Middle East", they take a stance that can be described as desirous of a better future but unapologetic about the present.
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, Elan 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 plan to release a collection of singles in the United States.
There are rumors that they may sign Matisyahu to TACT records; it has been futher rumored that Subliminal may be signing to Def Jam or Warner Music, both owned by Israel-American Lyor Cohen.
Subliminal and TACT discography
Albums
- (2000) "Ha'Or MiTzion" ("The Light From Zion")
- (2002) "Ha'Or Ve'HaTzel" ("The Light and the Shadow")
- (2004) "TACT All-Stars"
- (2005) SHI 360's solo album - "Chai" ("Alive" or "18")
- (2006) "Bediuk Kshe'Chashavtem She'Hakol Nigmar" ("Just When You Thought It Was All Over")