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Invincible (rapper)

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Invincible
Birth nameIlana Weaver
Also known asIll Weaver
BornChampaign, Illinois, US
OriginDetroit, Michigan. US
GenresHip hop
LabelsEMERGENCE Media

Ilana Weaver, more commonly known by their stage name Invincible, is a Jewish, American-Israeli rapper born in Champaign, Illinois.

Weaver is an Anti-Zionist, and has frequently been involved in activism in support of the Palestinian people, including through their music.[1][citation needed]

Early life

Invincible's mother is Israeli, and their father is from St. Louis. At the age of 1, Invincible moved to Israel, returning to the United States at the age of 7. Their first language was Hebrew; they learned English from hip-hop music as a child and stopped speaking Hebrew by age ten.[2][3] Upon their return to the USA, they first lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan, then moved to Detroit, Michigan.[4]

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.[4]

Career

Invincible has been a member of the Anomalies crew since 1997.[2] They have collaborated with Finale, Suheir Hammad, Marco Polo, Tunde Olaniran, and Waajeed of the Platinum Pied Pipers.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7]

Invincible's music reflects a deeply held belief in social justice expressed through narrative.[citation needed] Invincible's time is split between youth organizing with Detroit Summer's Live Arts Media Project,[8] the US-Palestine Youth Solidarity Network,[9] and touring.

Personal life

Invincible identifies as gender-nonconforming, and use singular "they"/"them" pronouns.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b Clark, Anna (May 4, 2010). "MTV bans female rapper's "suicidal" video". Salon. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Swan, Rachel (July 16, 2008). "Invincible in Two Worlds". East Bay Express. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  3. ^ Smith, Brian (August 6, 2008). "Invincibility". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Invincible Interview". Rap Genius.
  5. ^ J-23 (August 17, 2005). "Platinum Pied Pipers - Triple P". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Merry, Stephanie (June 1, 2010). "Nightlife Agenda: Capital Pride and Can A Sista Rock A Mic festivals kick off". Washington Post. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  7. ^ Harling, Danielle (September 20, 2010). "MTVU Lifts Ban On Invincible's "Ropes" Video". HipHopDX. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  8. ^ Lyden, Jacki (December 8, 2008). "Reclaiming Detroit Means Reinventing A City". NPR. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  9. ^ Nagaraja, Tej (July 18, 2008). "Outervisions: A Review of Invincible's "ShapeShifters"". The Indypendent. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  10. ^ Weaver, ill (December 7, 2015). "THEY: Statement of Nonconformity". EMERGENCE Media. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
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