Subliminal (stage name of Kobi Shimoni) is an Israeli rapper and music producer. While there are many Israeli rappers and hip-hop artists, Subliminal is often referred to as the National Rapper, due to his strong Zionist agenda.
Subliminal was born in Tel Aviv, Israel to a Persian Jewish mother and Tunisian Jewish father. He started performing music at age 12, and at age 15 met Yoav Eliasi, also known as “Hatzel” (The Shadow). The two became good friends, and started making hip-hop music together. After the outbreak of the Second Intifada in 2000, the two began writing patriotic songs. They became known as the creators of “Zionist hip-hop”. In contrast to the generally rebellious nature of most hip-hop music, their music praised army service, encourage love for our homeland, and went against drugs and violence.
Along the way, Subliminal collaborated with many well known Israeli artists, and also “discovered” new rappers and hip-hop artists, such as the Arab Israeli rapper Tamer Nafar. Many of his songs, as a part of the “Subliminal ve Hatzel” (Subliminal and the Shadow), and as a solo artist, became an inseparable part of the Israeli music and culture.
Tikva (Hope)
International