Invincible (rapper)

Ill Weaver, also known by the stage name Invincible, is a rapper born in Champaign, Illinois as Ilana Weaver. They use the third-person plural pronoun, identify as gay and gender-nonconforming, and are Jewish.[1]

Invincible
BornChampaign, Illinois, US
OriginDetroit, Michigan. US
GenresHip hop
LabelsEMERGENCE Media
Associated acts

At the age of 1, Invincible moved to Israel, returning to the United States at the age of 7 – first living in Ann Arbor, Michigan, then moving to Detroit, Michigan.[2] Invincible joined the Anomalies crew in 1997[3] and has collaborated with Finale, Suheir Hammad, and Waajeed of the Platinum Pied Pipers.[4]

Life and career

At 15, Invincible started performing at open mic nights and getting into Detroit's battle scene in its late-1990s heyday. Invincible's passion for activism was sparked when members of the Ku Klux Klan gathered and spoke at Ann Arbor's City Hall, which was down the street from their high school. Invincible was disgusted with what they heard, but felt they couldn't do anything about it.[2]

In 2008, Invincible released their debut album, ShapeShifters, on Emergence, a record label they co-founded.

In 2010, Invincible performed at the Can A Sista Rock a Mic? festival in Washington, D.C..[5] That same year, Invincible received attention after the music video for "Ropes" was banned on mtvU, MTV's college-targeted channel, after it was deemed "too problematic" because of its theme of suicide.[1] The ban was later lifted.[6]

Invincible's music reflects a deeply held belief in social justice expressed through narrative. Invincible 's time is split between youth organizing with Detroit Summer's Live Arts Media Project,[7] the US-Palestine Youth Solidarity Network,[8] and touring.

References
  1. Clark, Anna (May 4, 2010). "MTV bans female rapper's "suicidal" video". salon.com. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  2. "Invincible Interview". Rap Genius.
  3. Swan, Rachel (July 16, 2008). "Invincible in Two Worlds". eastbayexpress.com. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  4. "Platinum Pied Pipers - Triple P". hiphopdx.com. August 17, 2005. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  5. Merry, Stephanie (June 1, 2010). "Nightlife Agenda: Capital Pride and Can A Sista Rock A Mic festivals kick off". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  6. Harling, Danielle (September 20, 2010). "MTVU Lifts Ban On Invincible's "Ropes" Video". hiphopdx.com. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  7. Lynden, Jacki (December 8, 2008). "Reclaiming Detroit Means Reinventing A City". wbur.org. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  8. Nagaraja, Tej (July 18, 2008). "Outervisions: A Review of Invincible's "ShapeShifters"". indypendent.org. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.