Yas

On 21 December 2011 Yas was chosen by the voters as the Artist of the Week in MTV IGGY Entitled Tehran’s Hard-Hitting MC.

Yas is one of the founders of Persian rap, and in 2013 he became the first Iranian rapper to be allowed by the Islamic Republic to legally perform in Iran.

Early life Yas developed an interest in hip hop music during his teenage years. According to biographical accounts, he was introduced to rap music at the age of 14 after his father returned from a business trip to Germany with recordings including a Tupac album and other hip-hop music.

Following the death of his father, Yas took on greater family responsibilities and left his plans for higher education in order to work and contribute financially to his household. During this period, he began writing poetry, which later developed into songwriting and rap lyrics, marking the beginning of his career in music.

Music career

Yas started his work after the 2003 Bam earthquake. Devastated by the disaster, it was then, that he wrote his first song "Bam". This was the beginning of his rapping career. Yas in 2006 made a song called CD Ro Beshkan (Break The Disk) which was written about actress Zahra Amir Ebrahimi in Iran who was the victim of a Sex scandal tape. The scandal ultimately ended her career. In the song, Yas criticizes the people for playing a role in her demise and asked everyone to stop spreading her shame and to get rid of the footage from their computers and cellphones. The song was listened to and downloaded by millions in Iran alone.

Yas in June 2008 made a song called Hoviate Man [my identity] describing his pride in his Iranian heritage and mention of the controversial 300 film. Yas in 2008 made and wrote a song named "Darkam Kon" (Understand me). Yas's music was a protest against the government and for poverty and people who can't find jobs.

In May 2011 Yas made a song called "Az Chi Begam" (What Can I Say) which is a protest song for those schoolchildren who suffered from a fire in addition to injustice and misery, like their fellow countrymen. Yas criticizes the negligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran in providing substandard facilities, in this case, a very old oil burning heater, which caused eight 7-year-old schoolchildren burned in Doroudzan village’s school disaster.

In 2013 he became the first rapper authorized to perform by the Iranian government. In 2014 Yas decided to cooperate with Tech N9ne. The pair are the first rappers from Iran and the United States to work together musically. Their single was titled "The Sound of Unity" which was released along with a Music video.

Manner Yas, who raps in Persian, states he was heavily influenced as a young man by Tupac Shakur albums brought back to Iran by his father, as well as the Classical Persian poetry especially Rumi. He is one of the few Persian rappers who do not use any swear words in their song Yas theme songs are the social problems. Yas’ accomplishments paved the way for new rappers to perform in Iran.

Media appearances

Yas signed a contract with an American music publishing company Modiba. IEvergreen Publishing is also the home of the late Tupac Shakur catalog who has granted permission for a mashup song between Yas and Tupac.

Discography Singles Year Title English translation / Meaning Featured artist(s) / Notes 2000 BacheHaye Khiaboon Street Kids 2002 Bam Bam 2002 Man Khaste am I Am Tired 2003 Honey Honey 2003 Yek Nafas Begin Let's Say With One Breath (together) 2003 Bia To You Come Ft Sasan 2003 Daftaram Dastameh My Notebook Is In My Hand 2003 Cheshmamouno Baz Konim We Should Open Our Eyes Ft N.I.M.I 2004 Raz Mystery Ft Sasan 2004 Setare Ghotbi Polar Star 2004 Dardo Del Chat 2004 Donyaye Bi Rahm The Ruthless World 2005 Zehi Eshgh Welldone Love Ft Sara Naeini 2005 Che Roozaye Sakhti Raft What Difficult Days Went By 2006 Bi To Dige Na Aslan Without You, Not At All 2006 Na Aslan Not At All 2006 Cd Ro Beshkan Break The Cd 2006 Bayad Betoonim We Must Be Able To 2007 Hoviate Man My Identity 2007 Solh Toei Peace Be Upon You 2007 Be Omide Iran In The Hope Of Iran Ft Rastin 2007 Bezarin Bokoshamesh Let Me Kill It 2008 Toos Rap Iran's Rap 2008 Sakhte It's Hard Ft Nima Allameh Dahr 2008 Darkam Kon Understand Me 2008 Be Donya Khosh Oomadi Welcome To The World 2008 Haminja Piyadeh Misham I'll Get Out Right Here 2008 Tamoomesh Kon Stop It 2009 Bia Kenaram Beshin To Come Sit Next To Me Ft Sasan 2009 Goftam Naro I Said Don't Go Ft Reza Sadeghi 2009 Delet Daryast Your Heart Is [Like] The Sea 2009 To Marizi You're Crazy Ft Xaniar Khosravi & Sirvan Khosravi 2009 Ba Man Bash Be With Me 2009 Yadet Nareh Don't Forget Ft Majid Ghafouri 2009 Entezar Wait 2009 Marham Salve 2010 Nisti You're Not Ft Aamin Malek 2010 Bekhatere Man For The Sake Of Me 2010 Ghesseye Zirzamin The Story Of The Undergrounds 2010 Vaghte Tolue Yas Yas Rising Time 2010 Sheykhe Hilegar 2011 Sarbaze Vatan Soldier of the Homeland 2011 Az Chi Begam What Can I Say 2012 Man Mijangam I'll Fight On 2012 Vaghte Raftan Time To Leave Ft Aamin Malek 2012 Trash The Club 2013 Faryas (Faryad E Yas) Shout of Yas 2013 Amen Ft Aamin Malek 2014 Man Edameh Midam I'll Continue 2014 Sound Of Unity (Sedaye Ettehad) Sound Of Unity Ft Tech N9ne (Aaron Dontez Yates) 2014 Do Do Ta Chahar Ta 2×2=4 2014 Vasiat Nameh Wills 2014 Zende Bad Iran Long Live Iran 2015 Free Style (Live Shomal) Norouz 94 Or Dar Rah Shomal 2015 Bad Shodam I've Become Bad 2015 Mosafer Passenger 2015 Hamechi Dorost Mishe Everything Will Be Fine 2015 Charsoo Crossroad 2015 Dige Nist No More She Is Here 2015 Speak Ft John D & Arsha Michaels 2016 Barcode Song Barcode Movie 2016 Boghz Yani Spite Means Ft Aamin Malek 2016 Nameyi Be Farzand Letter To A Child 2017 Sarkoob Suppression (Long Version) 2018 Bande Naaf Ta Khatte Saaf From Cord To Smooth Line Ft Moer 2019 Esalat Gentility Ft Moer 2019 Sefareshi Commissioned 2020 Agah Aware Ft Moer 2020 Lal Mute 2022 Khanevadegi 2 Famililly 2 2022 Beem Fear 2025 Baaq Garden

Bad shodam (I become bad) The song “Bad Shodam” (meaning “| Became Bad” in English) is about the influence of the environment on human actions like domino effect, highlighting how an unhealthy environment by society and culture can transform even good people into bad ones.

Yas describes his transformation from someone who used to help everyone into a cold person without moral principles. He also emphasizes, through the story of his girlfriend’s betrayal, that her pride and showing off her fame were the result of her betrayal.

Still, Yas doesn’t try to excuse what he’s become. He owns it honestly, without pretending he’s right.

The song “Bad Shodam” became one of the most popular Persian rap tracks. Its storytelling, emotional delivery, and message were highly praised, and many people could relate to the song

Beem (fear) "Beem" is Yas's first political single. "Beem" has been referred to as Yas's best work and one of the best Persian rap songs. The structure and framework of the song closely resemble that of the song "Sarkoob" (another Yas's song).It consists of 5 verses and 3 different beats, with a duration of approximately 12 minutes.

For the first time in persian rap, Yas blended classical Persian poetry with modern music. Lyrically, the song marked a significant leap compared to his previous works. The use of literary devices such as metaphor, simile, and wordplay increased, and the range of both modern and classical vocabulary expanded, resulting in a more complex and richer poetic composition.

The song's themes are mostly political, protesting Government of Iran and the censorship and propaganda surrounding Persian rap. However, it also includes social elements such as forced migration, public ignorance, and normalization the protests. Yas criticized the undue attention given to the opinions and statements of certain figures and media outlets, condemning public gullibility and the failure to grasp the truth. He also strongly criticized the political views of the "Meltefat" group. Additionally, the song references events such as Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, 2021 Iranian presidential election, and 2019–2020 Iranian protests.

The song was widely acclaimed by listeners and critics, topping various polls as the best "Persian rap song." Released before Mahsa Amini protests, some saw its lyrics as prophetic due to their relevance. Pouya Poutk, who had previously criticized Yas for being "conservative" and "cowardly," praised his courage for releasing a "political song in Iran." However, the track also faced criticism. Amir Tataloo criticized the mix-mastering, Yas's delivery, and the song's resemblance to his own works. Sepehr Khalseh also criticized the complexity and loss of meaning in the rhymes, giving it a 7 out of 10.

Music videos

Title English title / Translation Featured artist(s) / Notes Bezarin Bokoshamesh Let Me Kill Him ba To bi Dige Na Aslan Never without you Ft Aamin Raaz (Mano To) The secret between me and you Ft Sasan Ghesseye Zirzamin Underground Story Bekhatere Man For my sake Sarbaze Vatan Homeland Soldier Trash The Club Ft Dj Aligator & Al Agami Az Chi Begam What Can I Say Vaghte Raftan Time To Leave Ft Aamin Faryas (Faryad E Yas) Shout Of Yas Sound Of Unity Sedaye Ettehad Ft Tech N9ne Mosafer Passenger Hamechi Dorost Mishe Everything Will Be Fine Nameyi Be Farzand Letter To A Child Bande Naaf Ta Khatte Saaf From An Umbilical Cord To A Smooth Line Ft Moer Sefareshi Special Request Agah Aware Ft Moer Khanevadegi 2 Family 2 Ft various artists

Concert

Country Cities / Venues United States University of Michigan; San Francisco; California; Los Angeles; Yale University United Arab Emirates Dubai Canada Toronto England London Australia Melbourne Turkey Istanbul Germany Hamburg; Cologne

Filmography

Title Type Rock On Documentary Paparazzi Documentary Raad, A Woman's Story Movie Taraneh Song (Documentary)