Invincible (rapper)
Invincible | |
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Born | Champaign, Illinois, US |
Origin | Detroit, Michigan. US |
Genres | Hip hop |
Labels | EMERGENCE Media |
Associated acts |
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ill Weaver, also known by the stage name Invincible, is a rapper born in Champaign, Illinois. They use the they/them pronoun, identify as gender-nonconforming,[1] and are Jewish. They are an anti-Zionist Jew, and have frequently been involved in activism in support of and solidarity with Palestinian refugees and the Palestinian people.[2]
At the age of 1, Invincible moved to Israel, returning to the United States at the age of 7. Upon their return to the USA, they first lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan, then moved to Detroit, Michigan.[3] Invincible has been a member of the Anomalies crew since 1997.[4] They have collaborated with Finale, Suheir Hammad, Marco Polo, Tunde Olaniran, and Waajeed of the Platinum Pied Pipers.[5]
Life and career[]
Invincible's mother is Israeli, and their father is from St. Louis. Their first language was Hebrew; they learned English from hip-hop music as a child and stopped speaking Hebrew by age ten.[4][6]
At 15, Invincible started performing at open mic nights and getting into Detroit's battle scene in its late-1990s heyday. Invincible's passion for activism was sparked when members of the Ku Klux Klan gathered and spoke at Ann Arbor's City Hall, which was down the street from their high school. Invincible was disgusted with what they heard, but felt they couldn't do anything about it.[3]
In 2008, Invincible released their debut album, ShapeShifters, on Emergence, a record label they co-founded.
In 2010, Invincible performed at the Can A Sista Rock a Mic? festival in Washington, D.C..[7] That same year, Invincible received attention after the music video for "Ropes" was banned on mtvU, MTV's college-targeted channel, after it was deemed "too problematic" because of its theme of suicide.[2] The ban was later lifted.[8]
Invincible's music reflects a deeply held belief in social justice expressed through narrative.[citation needed] Invincible 's time is split between youth organizing with Detroit Summer's Live Arts Media Project,[9] the US-Palestine Youth Solidarity Network,[10] and touring.
References[]
- ^ Weaver, ill (December 7, 2015). "THEY: Statement of Nonconformity". EMERGENCE Media. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Clark, Anna (May 4, 2010). "MTV bans female rapper's "suicidal" video". Salon. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Invincible Interview". Rap Genius.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Swan, Rachel (July 16, 2008). "Invincible in Two Worlds". East Bay Express. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
- ^ J-23 (August 17, 2005). "Platinum Pied Pipers - Triple P". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
- ^ Smith, Brian (August 6, 2008). "Invincibility". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
- ^ Merry, Stephanie (June 1, 2010). "Nightlife Agenda: Capital Pride and Can A Sista Rock A Mic festivals kick off". Washington Post. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
- ^ Harling, Danielle (September 20, 2010). "MTVU Lifts Ban On Invincible's "Ropes" Video". HipHopDX. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
- ^ Lyden, Jacki (December 8, 2008). "Reclaiming Detroit Means Reinventing A City". NPR. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
- ^ Nagaraja, Tej (July 18, 2008). "Outervisions: A Review of Invincible's "ShapeShifters"". The Indypendent. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
- Jewish American musicians
- Jewish rappers
- Genderqueer people
- LGBT Jews
- Living people
- 21st-century American rappers
- LGBT rappers
- LGBT people from Illinois
- Non-binary musicians
- Transgender and transsexual Jews
- People from Champaign, Illinois
- Anti-Zionist Jews