Nissim Black facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nissim Black
Black in 2016
Background information
Birth name	Damian Jamohl Black
Also known as	Nissim Danger D. Black
Born	(1986-12-09) December 9, 1986 (age 38) Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Genres	Jewish hip hop conscious hip hop hardcore hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper songwriter record producer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Sportn' Life Fin Nissim World

Nissim Baruch Black, born Damian Jamohl Black on December 9, 1986, is a rapper, songwriter, and music producer. He is from both America and Israel.

He first gained fame as D. Black. Under this name, he released albums like The Cause & Effect (2006) and Ali'yah (2009). He also appeared on producer Jake One's album White Van Music (2008). In 2011, he stopped making music to focus on becoming an Orthodox Jew.

Soon after, he returned to music using his new name, Nissim Black. He began creating Jewish hip hop. He was featured on Shtar's song "Rabbit Hole" (2012). Since then, he has released mixtapes such as Miracle Music (2013) and Love Notes (2020). His studio albums include Nissim (2013), Lemala (2017), and Gibor (2019).

Early Life and Background

Nissim Black was born Damian Jamohl Black in Seattle on December 9, 1986. His parents, Mia Black and James "Captain Crunch" Croone, were both rappers. They were part of early Seattle hip hop groups. His grandparents were also musicians, playing with famous artists like Ray Charles and Quincy Jones.

He grew up in Seattle's Seward Park neighborhood. He was raised in his grandfather's Sunni Islam faith. However, he did not practice it much. At age 14, he became a Christian after attending a summer camp. His parents divorced when he was two years old. His mother later passed away at age 37.

Music Career Journey

Early Recordings and First Album

Black started rapping when he was very young. He recorded music under the name Danger. When he was 13, a producer named Vitamin D helped him. Vitamin D moved his studio into Black's stepfather's basement. He became Black's mentor and produced some of his first songs.

In 2002, Sportn' Life Records released a special vinyl record. It featured Black and another group. The next year, Black appeared on a Sportn' Life collection album. In 2004, at 18, Black became a co-CEO of Sportn' Life. He worked with his father's partner, DeVon Manier.

He also released singles like "You Need a Thug" and "This Is Why." On May 24, 2005, he released his first mixtape, Behind the Dirt. This mixtape included songs with J Smooth and Darrius Willrich. In 2007, he released his first album, The Cause & Effect. This album sold over 4,500 copies in his region. Black also performed at the 2007 Capitol Hill Block Party.

Questioning Beliefs and a Break from Music

Black performing in May 2013

After The Cause and Effect album, Black became a husband and father. He started to question his Christian beliefs. He began exploring Messianic Judaism, and his wife joined him. He also started listening to artists like Common and Lauryn Hill. These changes greatly influenced his music.

In 2008, he contributed to Jake One's album, White Van Music. His song "God Like" was even played on MTV. In 2009, Black released his second album, Ali'yah. The album was popular on hip hop charts. The music video for "Yesterday" was also played regularly on MTV. He performed at major music festivals like Bumbershoot that year.

Six months after Ali'yah was released, Black decided he no longer believed in Christianity. He still had to promote the album because of his contract. However, he refused to take money from it, except for touring costs. He also refused to perform on Shabbat, a Jewish day of rest. He officially stopped making music in 2011. He released one last EP, The Blackest Brown, with his friend Bradley "B." Brown.

After this, he moved to a Jewish community in Seward Park. He began studying to convert to Judaism with Rabbi Simon Benzaquen. During this time, he stopped all connections to his music career. He left his position at Sportn' Life and even got rid of his own music collection.

Returning to Music with a New Name

Near the end of his conversion, Black's son became very ill. This was a difficult time for his family, who were struggling financially. While praying, Black found that a broken microphone had started working again. He saw this as a sign to return to music.

He announced his return in September 2012. In December, he appeared on the Shtar song "Rabbit Hole." On February 26, 2013, he released the mixtape Miracle Music. This was his first official recording as Nissim. He performed at the 2013 Sasquatch! Music Festival. On September 17, he released his first new album, Nissim. He ended the year with "The Black Miracle," a Hanukkah song.

In 2016, Nissim moved to Israel. He worked with Gad Elbaz on "Hashem Melech 2.0" and with Lipa Schmeltzer on "Bar Mitzvah Time." On March 10, 2017, he released his fourth album, Lemala. This album featured collaborations with Elbaz and other artists.

Recent Albums and Singles

Black returned in July 2018 with the single "King of the World." This song was the first from his fifth album, Gibor. In December, he performed at a charity Hanukkah concert in Brooklyn. Gibor was released on December 9, 2019. It included guest artists like Menachem Weinstein and Alex Clare. This was also the first album to officially credit him as Nissim Black.

In February 2020, Black released a new song, "Mothaland Bounce." The music video for the song was inspired by the movie Coming to America. The song talks about his Black and Jewish identities. He describes himself as "Hitler's worst nightmare." After two more singles, "Win" and "Best Friend," Black released a new mixtape called Love Notes on August 16, 2020.

Since Love Notes, Black has released many singles. He has worked with artists like Yosef Daniel and Kosha Dillz. "Mothaland Bounce" reached number 4 on the Israeli charts. "The Hanukkah Song 2.0" and "Adored" also did well.

Other Projects

In October 2020, Black was a guest on Ben Shapiro's podcast. He defended hip hop music during the show. In May 2021, Black started his own podcast, The Deal with Nissim Black. He has interviewed many interesting guests, including Fatman Scoop and Amar'e Stoudemire. That same month, Black launched his own whisky brand, Hava Whisky, based in Israel.

In April 2022, it was reported that HBO Max was creating a comedy series. The show, called Motherland Bounce, is based on Black's life. Comedian Moshe Kasher is the showrunner. Black is a story writer, and Salli Richardson is the director.

Personal Life and Family

Nissim Black and his wife Adina have seven children. They first married in 2008. In 2013, they had an Orthodox Jewish wedding ceremony. This happened after both of them converted to Judaism. The ceremony was shared with his childhood friend Yosef Brown and his wife Chana, who also converted.

Black and his family lived in Seward Park, Seattle, where he grew up. In 2016, they made aliyah (moved) to Israel. They settled in Jerusalem. He follows Breslov Hasidism. He makes a pilgrimage to Uman every Rosh Hashanah.

In August 2018, Black shared that his children faced racial discrimination. They were not allowed into some local Jewish schools because they are black. He sought advice from a respected rabbi, Rav Chaim Kanievsky. The rabbi told him, "Being black is your mayla (advantage) and not a chesaron (disadvantage)." Because of discrimination in Meah Shearim, Jerusalem, Black and his family moved to Beit Shemesh.

Black had COVID-19 in July 2020. He was hospitalized in Jerusalem. He and his family stayed in quarantine. After recovering, he changed his diet and reduced his coffee intake. He has spoken about his concerns with the government's response to the pandemic.

Black has also shared his views on the Black Lives Matter movement. He believes it promotes division. He has encouraged unity within the Jewish community.

Discography

Albums

• The Cause and Effect (2007; re-released 2009)
• Ali'yah (2009)
• Nissim (2013)
• Lemala (2017)
• Gibor (2019)

EPs

• The Blackest Brown EP (2011)

Mixtapes

• Behind the Dirt (2005; re-released 2010)
• Miracle Music (2013)
• Love Notes (2020)

Compilations

• The Sportn' Life Compilation Vol. 1 (2003)

Singles and Music Videos

Guest Appearances

• Jake One, White Van Music (as D. Black) (2008; Rhymesayers) - "God Like"
• Diwon, New Game (2013; Bancs Media) - "Try Stopping" ft. Mikhael, Open Mike Eagle
• Shtar, Boss EP (2012) - "Rabbit Hole"
• Lipa Schmeltzer, "Bar Mitzvah Time" (2016)
• Gad Elbaz, "WeR1" ft. Alliel, DeScribe, Refael Mirila (2016)
• Gad Elbaz, "L'Chaim" (2017)
• Six13, "Lo Avater" (2017)
• Otsar, "Hashem Shomer" (2018)
• Yoni Z, "Home" (2019)
• Avi Delanti, "Peace In The World" (2019)
• Chaim Dovid Berson, "Kulanu Nezamer" (2020)
• Aharon Wyne, "Born for This" (2020)
• L'Chaim OG, "Ani Po 2.0" (2020)
• Own3r, "Once in a Lifetime" (2021)
• R' Shua Bitton, "Upside Down" (2021)
• Shlomo Katz, "Chayot Hanohamot" (2021)
• Shuki Salomon, "Shir Hachatunot" (2021)
• New York Boys Choir, "Bring It On" (2021)

Production Credits

• L.V. and Prodeje, The Playground (2002)
• C-Blunt, Julius Ceasar (2002)
• South Central Cartel, South Central Hella (2003)
• Wicked, One Out of Many (2006)
• Lil Al, Hood Raised (2006)
• Fatal Lucciano, The Only Forgotten Son (2007)
• Brownside, 13 Reasons (2008)
• Brown King, Back to Jesus (2008)