"I am not only the pioneer of the hip-hop scene in Israel, I am the architect. I built the foundations"
The pride in his position in the scene ("Check out hip-hop, you'll see that it says me there"), the long-standing conflict with the shadow ("I waived a debt of half a million to him and he continues to pour crap on me in the media"), the claims he traded in the past ("I was ahead of my time in -20 years") and the longing for the father: Subliminal shoots everywhere in a revealing interview
Nir Yahav and Saghi Ben Nun
09/15/2022
Thursday, September 15, 2022, 9:26 p.m. Updated: 9:40 p.m.
Share on Facebook
Share on WhatsApp
Share on Twitter
Share by email
Share in general
Comments
Comments
Listen to the interview with Subliminal on Walla's "Culture Committee" podcast!
culture
"I made a song with Amir Banyon. We could have made a song in ten minutes that would meet Spotify's algorithm and become the dumbest hit that everyone would hear, but we chose to make a song about Shabbat, a five-minute song. We chose to do something with meaning."
There are sources for Raviv Drucker, and there are sources for Ravid, Tuna and the hip-hop scene in Israel - and one of those important sources is Kobi Shimoni, better known to you as Subliminal, who is now returning with a new mini-album called "Sources".
This month he launched the album in a concert at Barbie where he hosted his partners from the past Sivan and Itzik Shamli and in the notable absence of Hetel.
Following the success of the performance, a sale was opened for another performance, "Mekorot 2", which will take place in Barbie on October 25.
In the album "Mekorot" there are four new hip-hop songs, in which he collaborates with Izzy, Gal Joe Cohen, Eyal Yishai, Zvika Brand and Oren Emmanuel (DEGO).
"It's funny to insist on releasing an album these days," says Subliminal in an interview for Walla's "Culture Committee" podcast!
culture.
"Imagine now I will release an album with 22 songs, like before. After all, out of the 22 songs - 20 will be thrown in the trash. It's sad but that's the way it is. Today's generation doesn't know what it's like to dive into an album.
In one of the songs on the new album, "YEYE" in which the rapper Izzy is a guest, you poke a bit at the music industry in Israel which is mainly driven by money, campaigns, connections and marketing and less concerned with the real talent.
Some of these accusations have been directed at yourself in the past - when they said that you are driven by commercialism, money and campaigns.
"But I released an album. The maximum that could be put on a disc is 73 minutes, and I would release albums of 73 minutes. There was no lack of content of the truth of subliminal inside. Along with this, there was this hit that you need for everyone to hear and for everyone to love, both the grandmother and The child, both Ashkenazi and Mizrahi, both religious and secular. Today all you hear is a campaign. Every hit you hear on the radio is a commercial campaign by a commercial company. The commercial entity pays 300, 400 or 500 thousand shekels for promotion on YouTube, and you will know him well Good. This thing puts talent aside. The artists you most appreciate in Israeli music can't or won't play this game.
"For example, I did a song with Amir Banyon. We could have made a song in ten minutes that would meet Spotify's algorithm and become a dumb hit that everyone would hear, but we chose to do a song about Shabbat, a five-minute song. We chose to do something with meaning. Instead of making happy - that It's totally fine - I chose to reach those who need it, who will hear this song and be moved by it."
I was 20 years ahead of my time.
Subliminal (Photo: Reuven Castro)
"I try to separate myself a little from the shadow. He keeps talking only about politics, politics, politics. I don't want people to confuse us. There is him and there is me. Politically, our thoughts are quite similar and maybe even identical"
In the album "Mekorot" there is a song protesting the pursuit of industrial money, and a song criticizing the touch generation.
What we didn't hear on your mini-album was a political protest song, despite your identification with the right.
Are you tired of politics or do you want to reach a new audience?
"Why, not at all. I'm still very right-wing. If you ask me, I'll still say my opinion on everything. Everyone knows what my opinions are. There's a lot of protest in this mini-album. As for protest in the political matter - it's all a matter of dosage. I think I want to put emphasis on other things and not only on this. What's more, I think so many are doing it today, and if we talk for a moment about Yoav - the shadow - I try to differentiate myself from him a little. He always talks only about politics , politics, politics. I don't want people to confuse us. There's him and there's me. Politically, our thoughts are quite similar and maybe even the same. It's also a bit funny, because I think the right and the left are only about one issue - a security issue. Get it out And we're all the same. We're all liberals. No one here is in favor of establishing a Halacha state. Right-left is expressed in how you deal with the Palestinian issue. Bring it out and we're all the same."
More in Walla!
Adam Doritz: "I had a lot of mental problems and music was the one that took care of them"
To the full article
Trying to distinguish myself from the shadow.
Subliminal (Photo: Reuven Castro)
"If we decided that by tomorrow morning all of Israel would have graffiti of Subliminal's character, then all of Israel would have graffiti of this character in one day. The first article I ever read about me in my life was about this character. I don't boast about embracing the scene, it's something I was born with him"
Your relationship with hip-hop was complex.
At the beginning you received a warm hug, support and appreciation.
Your status has suffered somewhat over the years as you've moved closer to the mainstream—from a chocolate commercial to a song with Dana International—to the point where you seemed to ignore hip-hop at some point.
Then, during the scene's comeback with Ravid Plotnik and Tuna's breakout, you made it clear that you were "the father of the scene."
"I, with your permission, will not be shy. I did not receive a hug - I created a hug. I am not one of the pioneers - I am the pioneer of this scene. I am not only the pioneer, I am also the architect and the one who built the foundations of this scene. ' There was no hip-hop in the name of form.
There was rap, but the music varied between rock, funk and reggae, and there were no elements of hip hop.
No one enters the texts of the 'banana bender'.
As far as I am concerned, I had to fight the stigma that Shabak S left in the scene so that people would listen to my words and take me seriously. And it was a war. Hedg Nasheh who worked in those days also did amazing work, especially in Jerusalem, but their vibe was not that of hip-hop, but that of Funk, quality music, they are musicians. I didn't come from a musical place, Kfar, I came from a traditional eastern house with a chain and found refuge in a microphone. Then I discovered that I was a musician. When I founded Tacket it was like an army, with commanders, each in charge of a different city.
We worked with a street team long before there was Facebook and Instagram.
We were an entire army."
Literally Subliminal's army of truth?
"Listen, it's not funny, it's a street team, and if we decided that by tomorrow morning all of Israel would have graffiti of Subliminal's character, then all of Israel would have graffiti of this character in one day. The first article I ever wrote about me in my life was about this character. I I don't flaunt the embrace of the scene, it's something I was born with."
I am the architect.
Subliminal (Photo: Reuven Castro)
"I think I was 20 years ahead of my time. These things that made the scene speak against me, about commercialization, that's what people do today everywhere, all the biggest singers do commercials - for washing powder, washing machines and fabric softener"
"I said I wouldn't be shy - I think I was 20 years ahead of my time. These things that caused the scene to speak against me, about commercialization, that's what people do today everywhere, all the biggest singers do commercials - for washing powder, washing machines and fabric softener. Bara too "B.
Everyone wants a campaign, not to mention that every song that comes out today is a campaign in itself.
When I did the commercial for chocolate in 2003, they started telling me that I had commercialized, and I was very angry.
They also said: 'How can you manage artists? It's not ethical, you're an artist.'
Today every successful artist manages artists, even Eden Ben Zakan and Eden Hasson and Omar Adam who manages half of the industry without anyone knowing and Eyal Golan.
When I did that they looked at me as if I came to make money off the young people, as if I came to profit from them instead of giving them.
And I was hurt by it.
Because all in all I did everything myself, I just gave and I didn't gain anything from anyone.
I just invested."
You talk about how you were hurt by the criticism in the industry, among other things, for participating in a chocolate commercial, but you yourself said: "It did me great harm, because I sold my soul."
"Do you think I would say such a thing?"
It was published in Globes in 2004.
Didn't you say that?
"Unequivocally, brother. If you go to my Wikipedia, you will read so much nonsense about me. I have never said such a sentence in my life. It is against my line of thought. Of course I did not sell my soul. I made an advertisement, and in the same breath I said that I would make ten more advertisements. With this advertisement, I released an album for Sivan and Shadow."
Was there a moment when you regretted the advertisement for the chocolate or another step that was perceived as commercialization?
"Absolutely not. I went through the process I went through in front of what grew to be the hip-hop scene - and I'm at peace with it. It also made me discover other things. Where I felt like these were ungrateful people, I didn't feel like singing to them anymore at all. They're constantly looking for something bad on stage that I'm doing, instead of admiring and being enthusiastic about it. All in all, what am I doing with this money, going to buy me a villa? At that time my guys (the Tackett family - NY, SB) drove around in Mercedes Jeeps and rented apartments with a pool And the whole day they threw parties, I was still working like a donkey in the studio and I bought a 94 draft. So during this time I said - 'Let's look for another scene' and I went to the electronic music scene in Israel, which was also in its infancy at the time, and I put half of that scene into the UNC."
More in Walla!
The storm of Ilan Peled's song proves: he touched a sore point this time
To the full article
Subliminal and the singer Sivan at the launch of the mini-album "Mekorot" at Barbie (Photo: Albert Lelamiav)
"In 2012 I had a son, and I realized that this was really my family and not the Tackett family, and that I needed to restart the system. So I went into silence for three years and wanted to put my life in order. That today would be day, and tonight would be night, and that first of all I would be a father"
"When my eldest son Or was born in 2012, the second he opened his eyes changed my life from end to end," Subliminal recalled.
"All the tokens fell to me. I realized that I actually treated artists, my friends, like family. I developed them as artists, I invested all my money in them. You would ask me how you were doing, and I would only talk about the one who does this, and the one who does that. And all the time I became dim my light, so that it won't overpower them, so that they won't feel that they are less. Then I had a son, and I realized that this is really my family, and the system needs to be restarted. So I went into silence for three years and wanted to put my life in order. That today would be day, and night would be night, and that the previous I will be a father. I remember thinking that if I die, what is more important to be written on my grave - 'was the greatest rapper who invented hip-hop in Hebrew' or 'was a good father'?"
There is also an option for nothing to be written, like on the tombstone of Zvika Pick.
"I realized that what I want to be written is that I was a good father, that is the most important role in my life. And of course a husband and then everything else, like music, and things that have a huge, important and significant place in my life and soul, but that came later. I returned from those three years With the songs 'A Man's Dream', which was the most played song in 2015, 'Shrouti' which was the most played song in 2016, at the same time the Allstars gave the lead - that this is our project, including 'Party in Haifa' which launched Itai Levy's career. Voila, I gave my head, and a lot of the return of hip-hop is there. Eliad, atonement for him, a huge artist, grew up in our house. I have to give a lot of respect to Lenchi, Tuna, Peled, Izzy, guys who do a very impressive job and deserve full respect" .
Subliminal and Eliad Nahum at the launch of the mini-album "Mekorot" at Barbie (Photo: Albert Lelamiav)
"They said to me, 'We want you to be in the song Mangalis,' I heard it and I said - 'No.' Also for other, musical reasons"
In 2020, Subliminal participated in the television series "Manaich" in Khan 11, where he played the head of the crime organization Tamir Shemaya.
"I had a dream for many years to produce an action film and maybe be an actor in it. We talked to all kinds of producers, and I realized that in Israel the production would be poor. And here in Menaich, working opposite Kan and Yoav Gross, I never cease to be impressed by the level of production. It excites me to be a part of this experience."
Comedian Nadav Aboksis tweeted: "I feel the most pain for the 'Shadow'. For years he fought everything, left, right, articles, fights, in the end the role of the head of a crime family was taken by his nemesis - Subliminal."
"I don't think I'm the shadow's nemesis. We have some kind of media flirtation. I see it as a feminine thing. I don't know why he keeps talking about me in the media. He made some song, 'Barbecues', and I get ricochets that I'm supposed to be In the song, and as it were, I pulled my participation out at the last minute."
And that's not true?
I love you.
Any anger?
Come to the studio, we'll sit, talk, relax, play backgammon, and move on.
You don't need the media."
Who will win in chess?
"I am. Unequivocally."
More in Walla!
"I ride the wave of success with joy. If I get tired, I will surely find another beach"
To the full article
No need through the media.
The shadow (photo: Nir Pekin)
"The Shadow wrote that for the X Factor I sold my soul to the god of the left and that's why I don't release a song with him, and sent a thousand retards to curse me 'you leftist'. What do you want from my life? I speak openly now so here I invite you, come, let's close things And stop this crap in the media"
A few days ago there was a beautiful performance at Barbie where you hosted your former partners in the Tackett family - Itzik Shamli and Sivan.
The one who was conspicuous by his absence at the celebration, your former artistic partner, Yoav Eliasi, is the shadow.
"I didn't do a Tacket reunion. I did my own show... I didn't think of hosting Yoav for a very simple reason: we're not friends. We haven't spoken for many years because I'm very angry with him and he knows exactly what. On a personal level he apologized for these things but in general He continues with these behaviors. Take the 'barbecue' situation, that's exactly it. Why do you have to talk about me in the media all the time? Look what's happening now. I decided to host Sivan and Itzik after we got together and reconciled. I don't feel like I need to apologize About this. Yoav painted it in the media as if there was a comeback of the Tackett family and they boycotted him and he is out. Who is in this movie? This is yet another twist and spin in the plot that he runs over my head. And what is the purpose? Now all kinds of people are writing to me, 'Subliminal, Get rid of your ego, why are you boycotting? I'm boycotting? I've been boycotted all my life, from first grade to ninth grade. So I'm going to boycott someone? Absolutely not. If his goal was to reconcile with me,He would pick up the phone to me, he would come and solve it."
Is this conflict
solvable?
"Yes. I really like the man, I have nothing against him. I just want to see him succeed. Take out all the fire he constantly throws at me in the media, and I have no problem with him. Also, what was the big conflict between us about? That I'm not ready to finance more. But I waived him a debt of almost half a million shekels in a tact - and he came out really angry, and led this line that I destroyed the family, broke up the family for money. And for years people thought that I stole money or took or profited from it. People They came to me on the street, they said to me 'Kobe, I love you, I adore you, but there are things in life more important than money, family is more important than money'. That's what they told me. But the highest value in my life is family. They burned my soul. All because of him Go on TV and tell the truth - 'Kobi never owed me a penny in his life. Quite the opposite. Kobi waived a huge debt and I said a lot of things to hurt him and I'm sorry, and let's make up.'
"At the time he apologized, but in the end all his behavior repeated itself. For example, I did X Factor, and he wrote that for X Factor I sold my soul to the god of the left and that's why I don't release a song with him, and he sent a thousand retards to curse me 'you leftist.' What do you want from my life? I'm talking openly now, and this is one of the only times I'm talking openly because I really want to close this story with him. And I understand that he's not going to come and knock on my door. He has to do it through the media. So here I invite you Come on, let's wrap things up and stop this crap in the media."
"I understand that the shadow has to do it through the media."
Subliminal (Photo: Reuven Castro)
"I was never one of those who was with the female fans. I always had a constant company. Today I wouldn't write a text like 'pick up your shirt', I don't connect with it, and today I am in a very comfortable place with my success in Israeli music. I have grown up"
You wrote a few lines in the past, which it is highly doubtful would pass today, in the MeToo era.
For example, in the song "Give me" the lines repeat: "Take off your shirt, take off your skirt";
And in the song "Hollywood" you wrote, among other things: "He met her lying on her back with a naughty bikini", "What curves", "She's all dripping with sexuality", "Oh what a body", "She touches my bottom" and so on and so forth.
Do you regret these texts?
"Come on, these are two songs out of the entire history of the hundred thousand songs I've released. I'm not ashamed or sorry for anything I've done in my life, even when I was a 17-year-old boy, exploding hormones and living in a movie. Obviously today it wouldn't pass, but even today it's everything running through the heads of 16-17-year-old children. Maybe today also for 13-14-year-old children. What to do, it's part of my growing up and I'm not ashamed. There's also a song I dedicated to my friend Hila, and I say her name, and today I'm married to someone else, so What, will I deny the song I created for Hila? No. It's part of my growth, and it's documented in the music I made. Well, yes, I was a 16-17 year old boy, horny Ahoshiling, and all I cared about was being with girls. I didn't do anything wrong. No I used to not be one of those who was with the female fans. I always had a constant company. Today I wouldn't write such a text, I don't connect with it, and today I am in a very comfortable place with my success in Israeli music. I have grown up."
Last month, the new version of the great hip-hop show "Kel Hakopa" took place at the Menorah Mitvatim Hall, produced by Filoni, 20 years after the original and well-publicized "Kel Hakofa" show, in which you starred with the shadow.
Are you offended that you were not invited to it?
Is it related to historical charges against Philoni?
"Well, I didn't remember that I appeared in the original show. My life. I have to say that I'm really impressed with 'All the Cash'. I wasn't there. I saw some videos that actually looked uncool but I heard it was really cool. I hope it was very impressive, and they lied more Such things. I don't come to feel that everything that happens in the scene is related to me. I don't have to fight for my place. If there is 'all the money' with me or without me - I will always be subliminal. Check hip-hop in Hebrew - you will still see that it says subliminal."
More in Walla!
Just before the reunion show: Shabak S release a new song
To the full article
No need to fight for my place.
Subliminal (Photo: Reuven Castro)
"I was shattered into a million pieces when my father died. All my life I was afraid of the moment that my father would not be here and I didn't know how I would deal with it, and I still deal with it"
You mentioned the year of mourning.
In January, your father, Amos Shimoni, passed away, and two months later you released the moving song "Shomer Elekif" in his memory, with Osher Cohen.
Where do you miss him the most?
"I feel like I miss him all the time. It's very hard for me. I was shattered into a million pieces when my father died. All my life I was afraid of the moment when my father wouldn't be here and I didn't know how I would deal with it, and I'm still dealing with it. In the first months I was completely shattered. And thanks to Osher Cohen who helped me a lot in the studio to come and vent, because he's my psychologist. When I released the song, it made it a lot easier for me."
And in a sharp transition to the end: if they were to make a feature film about subliminal and the shadow, which Hollywood stars would you cast to play you?
"First of all, if they make a movie it won't be about Subliminal and the Shadow. It will be about Subliminal and all the people around him. For example Shay 360 was in the Tackett family before and after the Shadow. It's true that me and the Shadow made an album together and we were the most dominant together, but you can't compare it to Static and Ben Al. It's not the same. I've had albums before."
The shadow actually compared you to Static and Ben El.
"Yes, and if you're comparing then let's say he's Ben Al and I'm Static, and I'm also Geordie, and I'm also their managers, and I'm also the one who invests quietly from behind. Atonement, come on. The truth is that I want "The Rock" to play me, because if you Peeling off my stomach, there's a lot of muscle underneath."
culture
music
Israeli music
Tags
Subliminal
the shadow
Hip-Hop
Shabak S.
