Yahkeem Ben Israel is a Cultural Hip Hop artist, South African Hip Hop Award winner 2013 an activist born and raised in the streets of Port Elizabeth. He is a last born of a family of three. Growing up he had no exceptional abilities that could set him apart from typical kids in the township in fact he mastered none of these ghetto games that could exalt one to a status of a hero in the hood. This disadvantage in later years would prove an advantage as he spent most of his life creating images in his head, reading and cultivating his insight.
It was very late in his adult life that Yahkeem started taking music serious and perusing it as a career. He started rapping with one of Eastern Cape most celebrated rap Trio Khululekani; this group opened a lot of doors not only for the group members but for the entire Eastern Cape Hip Hop. Amongst their achievements is releasing a self- titled EP, being the first rap group to be interviewed and their music aired in Mhlobo Wenene FM breakfast show which was the hosted by Sizwe Slyso Saliso, and toured with Mhlobo Wenene on woman’s month anti women abuse campaign in The Eastern Cape College among other achievements. Due to individual explorations the group had to dissolve this vacuum set a platform for The Mastabilda as he is affectionately known to his supporters to explore music as a soloist.
It was in 2009 that his debut album was released entitled The Spirit Level this 14 track album was distributed for free digitally and by hand and can still be downloaded at http://www.reverbnation.com/TheMastabilda . The spirit level although recorded in a rudimental bedroom set up shook South Africa in a unique way and launched him as a national player in the industry. It was launched on Jaivah Mzantsi hosted by Luckeez Mfowethu at Mhlobo Wenene FM One hour of performances, interviews and interactions with the listeners. Over 200 CD’s were distributed nationally and over 100 downloads were captured on sendspace. This album reached abroad getting play listed in UK and Israel respectively. It was also reviewed on Hype magazine, a review that caused traffic on social networks.
Yahkeem Ben Israel – Heavenly Approved Productions – Truth Music( Hip Hop)
Concrete Thought 2013
In 2010 he released The One Who Builds Ep which saw him tour around the Eastern Cape, Joburg, and Cape Town Representing in most respectable Hip Hop venues. The project was a teaser for the much anticipated Concrete Thought album that is dedicated to one of Eastern Cape’s stalwarts Livingstone Mqotsi an activist from East London. This 20 track album is conceptual and highly political. It is designed to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable with very provocative content. The production is world class featuring national independent artists, and producers. Before even the album drop the first single was enjoying prime time spins on Mhlobo Wenene FM. The album is available on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/concrete-thought/id813686742
To date the album has been has been written about on the daily dispatch, Motherwell Sun and http://www.thesamark.co.za, http://www.headpage.co.za, The Herald, e.t.c
Achievements:
 Crowned King Of the Eastern Cape 2013 at The South African Hip Hop Awards
 Nominated by Daily Dispatch amongst five entertainers from the Eastern Cape who flew the flag for the province in 2013
 South African Hip Hop Awards Nominee 2012
 Eastern Cape Representative and panellist at Splash Jam Conference(JHB)
 Being listed on the Top 23 Hip Hop Artists in south Africa by http://www.phreshmagazine.co.za
Apart from being a rapper Yahkeem is the brains behind the grassroots arts festival, a festival that celebrates and exhibits raw street arts. He also champions the books for life an initiative geared to provide reading material for inmates. Yahkeem also does marketing and event coordination when he is not holding workshops artists and engaging community on the power and role of music as an agent for change.
Yahkeem Ben Israel – Heavenly Approved Productions – Truth Music( Hip Hop)
Concrete Thought 2013
Discography:
The Yard of spittaz- 2013(JHB), The Beat Bending Session- 2013(JHB), Concrete Thought- 2013(Own album), The One Who Builds EP(2010), The Spirit Level(2009), Truth Music For The Listening(2010), officially Offside Mix tape(2010), Formal Slang(2010), Conscious Bling(2006), Khululekani EP(2007), Jigg City-American mix tape(2006), Intsimi Mix tape 2004
Online Presence:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/themastablida 5000
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/yahkeem360 608 followers
Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/yahkeem
Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/TheMastabilda
BlogSpot: http://www.yahkeembenisrael.blogspot.com
www.yahkeembenisrael.co.za :Official Website.
Contact Details -Makhi Concept Artist Management
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