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Ian David

(69,059 posts)
Tue May 15, 2012, 10:16 AM May 2012

Crossover Hasidic Jewish Hip-Hop Artist Comes Out



Crossover Hasidic Jewish Hip-Hop Artist Comes Out

Hip-hop artist Yitz “Y-Love” Jordan is known for crossing barriers. Born to a Puerto Rican mother and an Ethiopian father, Y-Love converted to Hasidic Judaism in 2000, subsequently studying at Jerusalem’s Ohr Somayach yeshiva. He straddles the worlds of hip-hop and Hasidic Judaism.

Y-Love is now prepared to add another dimension to his public identity. In an exclusive interview with Out.com that broke today, Y-Love has come out as a gay Jewish man of color.

“I feel like I have wasted years of my life worrying that my ‘public reputation’ will be negatively impacted by my identity. Now that I'm over 30, I simply can't care as much about what people think, despite the prospect of alienating the community I dedicated my life to as an artist and a man,” Y-Love said about the timing of his coming out. “My hope is it will open their eyes – and hearts. I’m ready to live authentically. I'm ready to find a husband. I'm ready to live without fear of being outed or the stress of keeping my whole self from people. And I've waited too long to do that.”

Y-Love is releasing his latest album “Focus on the Flair” today. The album will bring a new, authentic voice to the hip-hop world and the LGBT community. "If anything, I'd say that being closeted about my sexuality gave an edge of anger to my tracks, which, while couched in revolutionary terms, stemmed from a place of inner anguish and frustration,” Y-Love said. “‘Focus on the Flair’ is my first album where I feel like my music reflects an inner happiness and joy instead of primarily an inner conflict. And that is a reflection of what it means to come out and be true to oneself – the joy, the relief and the hope. I hope that is what people will see and focus on.”

More:
http://www.glaad.org/blog/crossover-hasidic-jewish-hip-hop-artist-comes-out

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Crossover Hasidic Jewish Hip-Hop Artist Comes Out (Original Post) Ian David May 2012 OP
I was afraid it might be Matisyahu. But either way, kestrel91316 May 2012 #1
That was who I thought of first, too... Ian David May 2012 #3
K & R for his bravery... WillParkinson May 2012 #2
 

kestrel91316

(51,666 posts)
1. I was afraid it might be Matisyahu. But either way,
Tue May 15, 2012, 11:37 AM
May 2012

it won't end well. There is zero tolerance for teh gay in Hasidism from what I hear.

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