YONAS

Artist Information

Biography

Straight from the boogie-down Bronx, MEET YONAS
and meet THE FUTURE OF HIP HOP.

In an endless night sky of up-and-coming stars, YONAS shines with a sparkling intensity that makes you take notice. By preserving the need for originality and honesty in music, YONAS attracts and influences fans and other artists to follow his vision world wide.

THE BUZZ IS SOLID. YONAS won a Billboard Songwriting Award in 2009 for best Hip-Hop/Rap song for “Banga” – a bold statement to the Hip-Hop world and a powerful precursor to the release of his debut album The New Golden Era sold globally on iTunes. Features and favorable reviews with AllHipHop.com, 2DopeBoyz, New York Magazine, BallerStatus.com, Hip Hop DX, NahRight, and Rap Fanatic Magazine also back the YONAS buzz.

THE ENERGY AND SPIRIT of YONAS’ music thrives in his live performances, especially at home in NYC. July 2010 YONAS performed at Santos Party House for the New Music Seminar (NMS) Artist on the Verge Party, as the sole Hip-Hop finalist in NMS’ Artist on the Verge Summer Project initiative. A month earlier, YONAS was featured in an artist showcase at S.O.B’s sponsored by DJBooth.net. Some of his most notable performances were strictly for his fans: Webster Hall Studio for two monster party sets, and a sold out crowd at Sullivan Hall.

THE MOVEMENT DOESN’T STOP IN NYC. YONAS’ performances have stretched up and down the Northeast US from MA to VA. In his rapidly progressing career, he’s proud to have hit the stage with established artists Pharoahe Monch, Wyclef, DJ Stretch Armstrong, Kidz In The Hall, Sean Price, Jurassic 5, DJ Envy, Curren$y, Canibus, 3OH3, The Lordz of Brooklyn, and The Blue Scholars.

YONAS HAS JUST BEGUN. His style of lyrical storytelling holds insight, optimism, strength, depth, and fearlessness. Versatility is a virtue, as YONAS is also known for catchy hooks and fun flows over bouncin’ beats. He is an entertainer, and not a façade. The night sky has many stars, but you have to watch for that sparkle. That’s when you witness magic.

Instrumentation

YONAS - Vocals
DJ Ill_P - Serato Scratch Live

Discography

2008 - The New Golden Era (LP)
2009 - I Am Us (LP - Free Mixtape)
2010 - I Could (Single)
2010 - Nobody Else (Single)
2011 - The Proven Theory (LP)

All on iTunes @ :: www.tinyurl.com/itunesYonas

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• MySpace
• Last.fm
• YouTube

Audio

• Fall Back
  Listen  
• Shy Kidz
  Listen  
• Nobody Else
  Listen  
• I Could
  Listen  
• Mindless
  Listen  
• Stupid Brilliance
  Listen  
• Life Ain't Easy
  Listen  
• Radio Flow
  Listen  
• Y'all Know
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Banga
• Stupid Brilliance
• I Could
• Shy Kidz
• Mindless
• Fall Back
• We Fly
• Life Ain't Easy
• One Message
• Radio Flow

Video

Shy Kidz - Music Video

Live @ Santos Party House - NYC

Behind the Scenes & Freestyle

Photo Gallery

Press

• "Shy Kidz" featured on MTVu - The Freshman
  

  "Shy Kidz" featured on MTVu - The Freshman

• "I Need A Dollar" Remix #5 on Hype Machine
  

  I Need A Dollar remix hit #5 on the Hype Machine chart

• "Nobody Else" Aired on NY's Power 105.1FM [+ Show ]
  

  Yonas' song "Nobody Else" was found organically via blog buzz and selected to be played on one of NY...Yonas' song "Nobody Else" was found organically via blog buzz and selected to be played on one of NY's major Radio Stations, Power 105.1FM

• Billboard Songwriting Award
  

  Best Rap / Hip-Hop song for "Banga"

• YONAS Featured on DJ Enuffs 'Artist Spotlight'
  

  http://thatsenuff.com/index.php/2010/11/thatsenuff-artist-spotlight-yonas-nobody-else/

• Okay Player Loves "The Proven Theory" [+ Show ]
  

  There’s something really interesting about Yonas’ new album The Proven Theory. Aside from the usual ...There’s something really interesting about Yonas’ new album The Proven Theory. Aside from the usual hip-hop rubric of, good choice of production, poignant song concepts, and thoughtful, quipping lyricism, Yonas also somehow seems to come across as expansive in terms of who will like this album. Instead of nibbling off a categorized corner of the market, The Proven Theory has the potential to infiltrate the ears of several different kinds of people.
  
  That doesn’t suggest that Yonas is the next John Lennon. But in the same breath, he also isn’t the next paper-thin, fifth member of the Black Eyed Peas either (though he does have some fist-pump tracks). What Yonas has managed to do is make music with depth and balance that could still be radio anthems, pop jams, head-nod heaters, or even club bangers. No easy feat for any emcee, and for those that try, very few can do it as seamlessly as this.
  
  The first song, “I Could,” is the perfect example of how Yonas somehow can create a sonic stewpot. The track itself is definitely a new school mainstream beat that could have just as easily been for Lupe, Cudi, Kanye, and the like. The lyrics are super tight, with an intricate and disciplined rhyme scheme spelling out an age old proclamation that dreams do come true. The chorus is an anathematic sing along, chanting about the beautiful struggle, perfect for concerts packed with emotionally charged fans. The chorus also displays another recurring theme on this album, and that’s Yonas’ immense faith in God, which is quite an anomaly in hip-hop. Yet somehow it never comes across as preachy or pretentious, and instead just seems sincere and vulnerable, which works.
  
  Another song that sticks out, only because it veers a bit, is “Stupid Brilliance.” The beat is pretty light, and bouncy. And the chorus, again, is pseudo-melodic. But this is his “regular rap song” where he verbally masturbates just to show that he can hold his own with the pen. And he does. Major.
  
  The Proven Theory, isn’t the only album of its kind, but definitely one of few who can walk the line so well, balancing serious lyricism, pointed song topics, sincerity, radio potentiality, and gusto. Whatever you like, especially in terms of kinds of hip-hop, there is definitely something here for you. My only hope is that while chasing universal success, he doesn’t get complacent with the groove that he’s found and continues to take risks. I also hope that he can keep this hunger when people know his name and he’s no longer physically hungry anymore.

• Yonas Featured On New G-Unit Mixtape
  

  Yonas (formerly known as "CAUSE") was chosen to be featured on G-Unit Mixtape

• Yonas - Mindless Review [+ Show ]
  

  If Yonas keeps making hits he might just fuck around and get famous. The Bronx emcee can spit, but h...If Yonas keeps making hits he might just fuck around and get famous. The Bronx emcee can spit, but he’s also got choruses catchy enough to reel in those listeners that need a hook through their lip before they pay attention. Listen to/download “Mindless” below. His album, The Proven Theory, drops April 25th.

• "Shy Kidz" video Review [+ Show ]
  

  Let me start off by saying Yonas is was ahead of his competition. Not only did he put out an absolu...Let me start off by saying Yonas is was ahead of his competition. Not only did he put out an absolute crack album, “The Proven Theory”, he follows it up with a video that may lead you to believe he’s an accomplished star in the industry. Yes, that day will likely come, probably sooner than later, but Yonas is still working his way into the limelight, killing all aspects of the game. Lyrically lethal, he shows what he really is capable with this video for one of the most popular tracks off the album, “Shy Kids”. Personally this isn’t my favorite track off the tape but when you put out such a quality album, it’s hard to pick a favorite. I highly recommend buying the full album on iTunes HERE.

• "Nobody Else" Hits No.1 On Indie Music Charts [+ Show ]
  

  Yonas' song "Nobody Else" hit No.1 on the DJBooth.net Indie Charts, for its overwhelming popularity ...Yonas' song "Nobody Else" hit No.1 on the DJBooth.net Indie Charts, for its overwhelming popularity in its first week of being released

• "Heater Of The Week" on AllHipHop.com
  

  http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__music/archive/2008/07/04/20256578.aspx

• Yonas Interview w/ On WAX Magazine
  

  Yonas was recently interviewed by "On WAX Magazine"...

• Montreal Mirror: International Feature
  

  http://www.montrealmirror.com/2009/020509/music6.html

• Interview On IllRoots.com
  

  Yonas (formerly known as "CAUSE") was recently interviewed on popular Hip Hop blog iLLROOTS.com

• Yonas - The Proven Theory - Album Review (and full album stream) [+ Show ]
  

  Bronx representative and longtime Booth fave Yonas has joined forces with DJBooth.net to offer his l...Bronx representative and longtime Booth fave Yonas has joined forces with DJBooth.net to offer his latest album, The Proven Theory, for streaming and purchase.
  
  The project features 12 fresh tracks from the NYC up-and-comer who brought us I Am Us back in late 2009. Included are reader-acclaimed leaks “Radio Flow,” “Nobody Else,” “Mindless,” “Fall Back” and “I Could.”
  
  Yonas flies solo throughout the album, handling all mic duties as well as co-producing the project with Sean Divine
  
  Read more: http://www.djbooth.net/index/mixtapes/entry/yonas-proven-theory/#ixzz1MuOWduas
  on DJBooth.net

Setlist

15-20 minute Set: Acapella, 4 songs

45-60 minute Set: 10-12 songs, Acapella, Featured Artist, DJ set

Basic Requirements

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