The Shadow (rapper)

Yoav Eliasi (Hebrew: יואב אליאסי; born November 22, 1977), commonly known by his stage name The Shadow (Hebrew: הצל, Ha-Tzel), is an Israeli rapper, blogger, and right-wing political activist. He was part of the roster of artists on the label TACT Records.

The Shadow
Eliasi in 2009
Background information
Birth name	Yoav Eliasi
Born	(1977-11-22) November 22, 1977 (age 46)
Origin	Safed, Israel
Genres	Hip hop Israeli hip hop political hip hop
Years active	1994–present
Labels	Unicell

According to Haaretz, "His amped up nationalistic message and his glorification of common soldiers — and this, along with his vitriolic rants against the left and the mainstream media, not to mention against the Arabs, garnered him a massive following, relative to this small country."^[1]

Background

Yoav Eliasi was born in Safed, Israel. His parents are of both Ashkenazi Jewish (Romanian-Jewish) and Mizrahi Jewish (Persian-Jewish) descent.^[2] His family relocated to Tel Aviv two years later. By his teenage years he had formed a deep bond with Kobi "Subliminal" Shimoni, and the two began performing together at hip-hop shows.

After finishing his mandatory military service in the IDF, he decided to stay on. This is where his rap name allegedly derives from. The official TACT Records profile says that Yoav Eliasi was in an elite undercover unit where he could not show his face, though in an interview with Yehoram Gaon on Channel 1, Eliasi claims that he was a M'faked Mishma'at ("Discipline Officer").

In July 2014, Eliasi was a central organiser of a right-wing confrontation on a demonstration by Israeli left-wing anti-war protesters opposing Operation Protective Edge against Gaza.^[3][4] An editorial in the left-leaning Haaretz described him as "the dangerous product of incessant incitement by extreme right-wing elements."^[5][6]

Aliasi in confrontation with leftist activists in Tel Aviv, Israel

Discography

Studio albums

Solo

• Lo Sam Zain (Hebrew: לא שם זין, "Doesn't put a dick" Non-literal translations: "Don't give a shit" or "Don't give a fuck" or "Don't give a damn" [official translation by TACT] ) (2008)

With Subliminal

• Ha'Or Ve'HaTzel (Hebrew: האור והצל, "The Light and the Shadow") 2002

With TACT (Tel Aviv City Team)

• TACT All-Stars (Hebrew: תאקט אול סטארז, "TACT All-Stars") (2004)

Singles

Solo

From Lo Sam Zain

• Meantezet 2007 (Hebrew: מענטזת 2007, "Moves Her Ass 2007") (2007)

With TACT

Non-album singles

• Shir Shel Rega Ehad (Hebrew: שיר של רגע אחד, "Song of One Moment") (2005)

From TACT All-Stars

• Hineni/Viens Ici (Hebrew: הנני/VIENS ICI, "Here I am") (2004)
• Lama (Hebrew: למה, "Why?") (2004)
• Prahim ba'Kaneh (Hebrew: פרחים בקנה, "Flowers in the Turrets") (2004)
• Peace in the Middle East (Hebrew: שלום במזרח התיכון, "Peace in the Middle East") (2004)

Collaborations

Ha'Tzel has worked with Israel house duo "Knob" on a re-work of Haddaway's song "What Is Love".^[7]

References

1. "How an Incendiary Rapper Became a Symbol for Israel's Angry Far Right". Haaretz. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
2. "מילים לשיר לא שם זין - הצל".
3. Skop, Yarden (13 July 2014). "Right-wingers attack leftists in Tel Aviv demonstration". Haaretz. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
4. Hartman, Ben (13 July 2014). "Following assaults on anti-war protesters in Tel Aviv, parties on Left demand answers". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
5. "Police are obliged to protect every Israeli citizen". Haaretz. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
6. "Israelis celebrate Rafah massacre as Jewish holiday bonfire". Middle East Eye.
7. Dvir André Tzanua (9 September 2009). "Niv & Meital (knob) Vs. הצל - What Is Love". Archived from the original on 2021-12-19 – via YouTube.

External links

• TACT Records site