Y-Love facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Y-Love
Yitz 'Y-Love' Jordan
Background information
Born	(1978-01-05) January 5, 1978 (age 47) Baltimore, Maryland
Genres	Jewish hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper
Years active	2005–present
Labels	Shemspeed

Yitz Jordan (born January 5, 1978), known as Y-Love, is an American hip hop artist. He is also a web developer and activist. Y-Love is known for mixing different languages in his rhymes. These languages include English, Hebrew, Yiddish, Arabic, Latin, and Aramaic. His songs often talk about social issues, politics, and religion.

About Y-Love's Life

Early Life and Interests

Yitz Jordan grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the only child of an Ethiopian father and a Puerto Rican mother. As a kid, he enjoyed the music of rappers like KRS-One and Chuck D from Public Enemy.

Y-Love became interested in Judaism when he was seven. He started wearing a kippah (a small cap) and observing Shabbat (the day of rest) at 14. He later converted to Judaism. He also spent time studying at a yeshiva in Jerusalem, which is a Jewish school.

Y-Love's Career Journey

After moving to Brooklyn in 2001, Y-Love started performing at open mic nights. He released his first mixtape in 2005. It was called DJ Handler Presents Y-Love: The Mixtape. This mixtape helped him win an award for Best Hip Hop Artist in 2006.

A few years later, he worked with beatboxer Yuri Lane. They recorded an a cappella album called Count It (Sefira). This album only used voices, no instruments. This meant Orthodox Jews could listen to it all year. This included times when listening to musical instruments is not allowed.

In 2008, Y-Love released his first full album, This Is Babylon. The magazine XXL said the album mixed Jewish spirituality with party songs. It also had political messages. The goal was to share Y-Love's idea of global unity.

His 2011 EP (Extended Play) called See Me was very popular. It was featured on the front page of the iTunes Hip Hop section. The music video for its song "This Is Unity" was called "awesome."

In 2014, Y-Love appeared in a documentary film. In June 2020, he became a chief product officer at Tribe Herald. This is a news website for Jews of Color.

Y-Love's Music Style

Y-Love often creates his rhymes by freestyling. This means he makes up lyrics on the spot. He says he freestyles until he finds something great.

The Jerusalem Post newspaper called Y-Love a "spiritual, rapping guru." They said he was a leader in a new hip-hop movement. Y-Love was also named one of The Jewish Week's "36 Under 36" in 2009. This list highlights 36 notable Jewish people under 36 years old. Y-Love stated that he uses hip hop to inspire and uplift people.

Y-Love includes strong Jewish themes in his songs. He believes that just as ancient music used instruments of its time, modern music can use digital tools.

Y-Love's Music Releases

Albums

Extended Plays (EPs)

Singles

• "Change" - DeScribe & Y-Love, produced by Prodezra. Released May 14, 2010.
• "Boom Selecta" - Shemspeed MCs vs. Electro Morocco (featuring Y-Love, DeScribe, Kosha Dillz & Eprhyme). Released July 12, 2010.
• "Move On" - Y-Love featuring DeScribe. Released August 10, 2010.
• "The Takeover" - Y-Love featuring TJ Di Hitmaker & Andy Milonakis. Released October 18, 2011.
• "Focus on the Flair" - Y-Love featuring Onili. Released May 15, 2012.

Mixtapes

• DJ Handler Presents Y-Love: The Mix Tape (2005)

TV Appearances

• London & Kirschenbaum - Israeli Channel 10 (July 2007)
• BBC World TV (September 2008)
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien - with Erran Baron Cohen (December 12, 2008)
• The Jewish Channel (multiple appearances since 2008)
• "Faith, Music and Culture" - CBS Special (June 7, 2009)
• Fox 2 Detroit (March 25, 2011)