Yas
Biography
Referred to as the “Persian Tupac”, YAS is the first rapper to have been granted permission by the Iranian government to record and release some of his music to the general public. He is widely known for his powerful and socially-conscious lyrics.
Born in Tehran, Iran, YAS first began listening to rap music at the age of 16. His father would often return from his business trips to Germany with the latest hip-hop CDs and YAS quickly developed a particular interest in American rapper, Tupac Shakur. After the sudden and untimely death of his father, YAS was faced with the responsibility of becoming the primary caretaker of his household. With his father’s debts mounting and the struggle to make ends meet looming, YAS was forced to leave his college ambitions behind. At the youthful age of 17, YAS began to work in order to support his mother, younger brother and triplet sisters. It was at this time that he began to write poetry, which soon turned into lyrics for his music and allowed him to stay close to his father’s memory.
After the 2003 earthquake that claimed nearly 50,000 people in Bam, Iran’s exquisite city of ancient citadels, YAS was overcome by the devastation. Sensing his countrymen’s need for solidarity and hope, he wrote his first song: “Bam”. This marked the beginning of his musical career. He soon realized that through the lyrical style of rap music he had the ability to reach people by telling full stories – an opportunity that is often absent in forms of music that feature short verses and a commercial chorus. Recognizing this opportunity, he decided to present his songs to the government and request permission to release an album – which would provide him access to millions of young Iranians in need of inspiration. The many years of being denied the right to release his music to the public and being ridiculed for his musical genre – rap – his efforts finally paid off: Several of his songs have been granted permission to be released in the country, an unprecedented move in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“I don’t use profanity in my music or sing about sex and violence. I want to be able to proudly sing my music in front of my family. My music usually begins with a complaint or the social ills of my society — but it always ends with hope. It’s important to inspire the younger generations to be their best potential. We need this.” -YAS
YAS’ popularity increased infinitely and soon t
