Yitz Jordan (born January 5, 1978), better known by his stage name Y-Love, is an American hip hop artist. An Orthodox Jew, Jordan was formerly Hasidic.Jerry Portwood, "Y-Love is Ready for Love," Out, May 15, 2012. Jordan rhymes in a mixture of English, Hebrew, Yiddish, Arabic, Latin and Aramaic,Erin MacLeod, "Cool shul: Matisyahu and Y-Love on why rap, reggae and rabbinical teachings fit together naturally," Montreal Mirror, October 19, 2006. 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."Tale of Tragedy and Triumph For a Struggling Hasidic Black Convert Rap Star," VozIzNeias.com, September 14, 2008. As a youth, Jordan was a fan of the conscientious rhymes of KRS-One and Public Enemy's Chuck D.Jesse Serwer, "Walk Wit' Me: Black Jewish MC Has Rhymes For You Little Yentas," XXL, Issue #101, April 2008.
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.""Jewish hip hop artist Y-Love," The Jerusalem Post, November 7, 2010. He started wearing a kippah and observing Shabbat at 14, and converted to Judaism around the turn of millennium.Trymaine Lee, "Black and Jewish, and Seeing no Contradiction," The New York Times, August 27, 2010. He later spent time studying at a yeshiva in Jerusalem. In May 2012, Jordan came out as gay. As of 2012, he still identified as an Orthodox Jew.Danielle Berrin, "Self-Love for Y-Love," The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, May 23, 2012. However, by 2013 he proclaimed himself off the derech, which means, no longer observant of torah and mitzvos.
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.
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. A few years later, he teamed up with beatboxer Yuri Lane to record the acapella album, Count It (Sefira).Ben Bresky, "Jewish Rapper Releases A Capella CD," Shiur Times, August 2008.
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." 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."Videos against hate: Bekay and Y-Love release new videos," URB.com, May 20, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
In Fall of 2014, Y-Love appeared in a documentary called Punk Jews. Y-Love took a 7-year hiatus before returning to the stage in 2019.
In June 2020 he became the chief product officer at Tribe Herald, a news site for Jews of Color.
Musical style Y-Love generally comes up with his rhymes through freestyling. "You freestyle and wait until something hot comes out," he says.The Jerusalem Post called Y-Love a "spiritual, rapping guru" who is "front and center in a trending hip-hop revolution." 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."Eric Herschthal, "36 Under 36 2009: Y-LOVE (Yitz Jordan), 31," The Jewish Week, April 24, 2009.
Y-Love uses strong Jewish themes in his lyrics, saying "We know that the Book of Psalms was written using the types of musical instruments which were contemporary to King David's day. Today we have digital equipment."
Discography
Albums Release dateAlbumLabel 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 dateAlbumLabelMay 14, 2010Change (DeScribe & Y-Love)Modular Moods/ShemspeedMay 17, 2011See MeShemspeed
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
External links Official website