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| Y-Love To Be Featured In CBS DocumentaryJewish HipHop Artist and Activist Y-Love is featured in the CBS documentary "Faith, Music and Culture" airing Sunday June 7 nationally on CBS
By: RSTAR Publicity "Music is often a vehicle for expressing religious faith and belief," the network said in a news release. "This broadcast looks at some modern music inspired within the varied cultures of four religions." Y-Love, the monniker of Yitz Jordan, will be featured with Shemspeed brethren DeScribe (Schneur Hasofer) and Diwon (Erez Safar). The trio of observant or frum Jews from Brooklyn speak about their experiences and perform during the special. According to information from CBS, the show also features the Brooklyn Qawwali Party, an eclectic 11-piece orchestra based in New York that specializes in the sound of Qawwali -- the devotional music of Sufis, the mystical arm of Islam -- with a funky jazz sensibility; The special is produced with the cooperation of the National Council of Churches, The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, The Islamic Society of North America, The Union of Reform Judaism and the New York Board of Rabbis, CBS said. Y-Love was recently selected by The Jewish Week as one of its “36 Under 36” (a distinguished set of young Jews making strides in the community) and ranked #4 on JTA’s “Top 100 Most Influential Jewish Twitterers” list. Y-Love is embarking on a global tour in support of the May 12th, 2009 release of his EP “Change.” www.thisisbabylon.net For More Information Contact: Robyn Smith / RSTAR Publicity Robyn@rstarpublicity.com +1.516.236.0299 ABOUT YITZ JORDAN AKA Y-LOVE For a poor black child in East Baltimore, growing up with the idea of being involved in “the revolution” could be a foreign concept. Add some other variables, including losing his biological father when he was 15, then his stepfather 6 years later, both to cancer; and opposing his Baptist upbringing with an instinctive draw to Judaism (from viewing a television commercial at the age of 7) and the idea of being part of “the bigger picture” and ultimately a “religious mover and shaker” doesn’t seem too appealing. Unless that child is Yitz Jordan. Growing up during the turbulent and punk-infused ‘80s and ‘90s, social and political activism were second-nature to Jordan. His family instilled certain tenets upon him. His mother was very involved with the struggle for change – political, social, economical. His grandmother was also supportive of his research of Judaism, which began as the result of a public service announcement from a television station saying “Happy Passover from your friends at Channel 2.” This initial interest culminated ultimately in his conversion in 1999. During his high school years, Jordan found solidarity in the punk rock scene. Unlike some of his counterparts who simply acted and dressed the part, he went on to further his education by researching what the bands were singing about. Around this time, he also started “coming into his own” regarding Judaism. Certain political and social issues he cared about (and still does) included equality of people and cruelty toward animals. However over the years, Jordan realized he’s only one person and has to pick and choose his battles. “No one person can fix everything, except Moshiach,” he explains. “For me to be active in everything is impossible.” Following his conversion to Orthodox Judaism in 1999, his joining the Hasidic sect and then eventually leaving it, Jordan has dealt with much change and turmoil, spiritually, emotionally, physically and socially. From being a social pariah with the people he grew up with in Baltimore to dealing with anti-Semitism in Brooklyn. Hurricane Katrina, its aftermath and the way the government handled the devastation in Louisiana served as a catalyst for his growing inner conflict between his religious views and political views. Belonging to a community that is inclined to be reticent about social justice, recycling and minorities while caring about all those ideals caused stress on Jordan. This conflict came to a head in 2004. During the course of that year, Jordan lost his mother to cocaine addiction. “She had a drinking and drug problem virtually my entire life,” he explains. “It was the same recipe for failure that’s endemic to all cities and urban areas, but my life ended up drastically different.” True; he did not become a statistic. At the same time he was coping with this reality, the soon-to-become highly contested 2004 Presidential Election was drawing near. “Everything inside of me said ‘Democrat, Kerry, help minorities’,” This internal controversy has found its voice in many outlets. First, when Yitz takes on his persona as “Y-Love”, he’s the rapper who sings about religious, social and political issues, seamlessly moving between many languages (including English, Hebrew, Latin and Aramaic) his rhymes flowing like the Galilee. There is also Yitz Jordan the socio-political writer, whose blog ThisIsBabylon.net has quite the following in both religious and secular communities around the world. And, finally, there is Yitz Jordan the educational speaker, whose topics include “Judaism and Racial Identity” and “Analyzing Pop Culture From a Torah Perspective.” All three personas converge into the “un-silencing of myself,” Jordan says. “I’ve given myself a voice. This is not rebellion but a sense of self-reliance.” # # # About RSTAR Publicity: Music publicity firm which specializes in Jewish music, urban, electronic dance and world music. Previous and current clients include Y-Love, Miri Ben-Ari, Samson & Sejour, Erick Morillo, Roger Sanchez, Armand Van Helden, Ultra Records, Subliminal Records End
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