Yas

Yaser Bakhtiari (Persian: سپهر بختیاری‎; born 1982 in Talesh), better known by his stage name Yas (یاس), is an Iranian rapper. Yas is one of the most popular rappers in Iran and Middle East. He is also known for his Faravahar pendant, a symbol of Iranian nationalism and Zoroastrianism, that he wears most of the time.[1][2][3] On 21 December 2011 Yas was chosen by the voters as the Artist of the Week in MTV IGGY[4] Entitled Tehran’s Hard-Hitting MC.[5]

For other uses, see Yas (disambiguation).
Yas
Yas performing in 2018
Background information
Birth nameYaser Bakhtiari
Also known asYas
Born (1982-06-20) 20 June 1982
OriginTalesh, Iran
GenresRap, Hip Hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, Songwriter
Years active1997–present
LabelsFaryas
Associated actsAamin, Tech N9ne, DJ Aligator, Reza Sadeghi, Hichkas, Sirvan Khosravi, Erfan (rapper), Masih
WebsiteYastunes

Yas is one of the founders of Persian rap, and in 2013 he became the first Iranian rapper to be allowed by Islamic Republic to legally perform in Iran.[6]

Early life
Yas in 2012

Yas first began to listen to rap music at the age of 16 when his father returned from his business trip in Germany and brought him the latest Tupac album and other hip hop songs and he was heavily influenced by them. After the sudden death of his father, he was faced with the responsibility of becoming the primary caretaker of his household with his father's debts to pay.[7] Yas was forced to leave his college ambitions behind and begin to work and support his entire family. It was at this time that he began to write poetry which soon turned into lyrics for his music.[8]

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. He realized that through rap music he had the ability to reach people by telling full stories that he thought was not easy to do through other forms of music which only consisted of a few versus and a chorus. Realizing that through his music, he had the ability to inspire people and reach millions of other young people in Iran.[9] Yas in 2006 made a song called CD Ro Beshkan (Break The Disk) which was written about a well known female actress Zahra Amir Ebrahimi in Iran who was the victim of a Sex scandal tape. The scandal ultimately ended her blossoming 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 that infamous footage from their computers and cellphones. The song was listened to and downloaded by millions in Iran alone. His music has crossed the International waters and he is becoming the voice of his generation or Iranians inside and outside of their country.[10]

Yas in June 2008 made a song called Hoviate Man [my identity] describing his pride in his Iranian heritage and a mention of the controversial 300 film. The song has become sort of a national anthem for the younger generations especially the Iranian diaspora that are eager to connect to their rich culture and history. His music has set a new standard for Persian rap and has inspired many up and coming rappers to follow his lead and sing of more meaningful and positive messages in their own music.[11] Yas in 2008 made and wrote a song named "Darkam Kon" (Understand me). Yas's music was a protest to the government and for poverty and people who can't find jobs.

Yas performing in 2018.

In May 2011 Yas made a song called "Az Chi Begam" (What Can I Say)[12] which is a protest song for those schoolchildren who suffered from a fire in addition to injustice and misery, like their fellow countrymen. Yas’s voice rises against the negligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran in providing substandard facilities,[13] in this case a very old oil burning heater, which caused eight 7-year-old schoolchildren burned in Doroudzan village’s school disaster. Yas wrote and performed this song when popular Korean drama series Jumong kept the majority of Iran's population preoccupied that they did not notice the fire or the limitations a real Iranian artist has to tolerate. Yas presents the material circumstances of Iran in which production and importation are the monopoly of a small group of people, the ones in power, living in palaces and towers. He suggests that aristocrats maintain the status quo while the majority fall into the abyss of false consciousness through manipulation from selected entertainment productions. However, he selects his position as an artist trying to find a solution to social problems by creating his own art and literature.

In 2013 he became the first rapper authorized to perform by the Iranian government.[14] 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.[15][16]

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 rapper who do not use any swear words in their song[17] Yas theme songs is the social problems. Yas’ accomplishments paved the way for new rappers to perform in Iran. Though it was illegal for individuals to perform in Iran prior to Yas, today, numerous rappers are letting their voices be heard, and challenging the economic disparity that exists in Iran.[18]

Discography

Albums
  • 2005 Khiabooniha
  • 2013 Hoviate Man

2006
  • "Cheshmamouno Baz Konim" (We Should Open Our Eyes) (Ft N.I.M.I)

2007-08
  • "Toos Rap" (Iran's Rap)
  • "Sakhte" (It's Hard) (Ft Nima Allameh Dahr)
  • "Goftam Naro" (I Said Don't Go) (Ft Reza Sadeghi)
  • "Zehi Eshgh" (Welldone Love) (Ft Sara Naeini)
  • "Darkam Kon" (Understand Me)
  • "Be Donya Khosh Oomadi" (Welcome To The World)
  • "Bia Kenaram Beshin To" (Come Sit Next To Me) (Ft Sasan)
  • "Tamoomesh Kon" (Stop It)

2009
  • "Haminja Piyadeh Misham" (I'll Get Out Right Here)
  • "To Marizi" (You're Crazy) (Ft Xaniar Khosravi & Sirvan Khosravi)
  • "Ba Man Bash" (Be With Me)
  • "Yadet Nareh" (Don't Forget) (Ft Majid Ghafouri)
  • "Entezar" (Wait)

2010
  • "Nisti"(You're Not) (Ft Aamin Malek)
  • "Bekhatere Man" (For The Sake Of Me)
  • "Ghesseye Zirzamin" (The Story Of The Undergrounds)
  • "Vaghte Tolue Yas" (Yas Rising Time)

2011
  • "Sarbaze Vatan" (Soldier of the Homeland)
  • "Az Chi Begam" (What Can I Say)

2012
  • "Man Mijangam" (I’ll Fight On)
  • "Vaghte Raftan" (Time To Leave) (Ft Aamin Malek)
  • "Trash The Club" (Ft DJ Aligator)

2013
  • "Faryas (Faryad E Yas)" (Shout of Yas)
  • "Ammin(Amin)" (Amen) (Ft Aamin Malek)

2014
  • "Man Edameh Midam" (I'll Continue)
  • "Sound Of Unity" (Sedaye Ettehad) (Ft Tech N9ne (Aaron Dontez Yates)
  • "Do Do Ta Chahar Ta" (2×2=4)
  • "Vasiat Nameh" (Wills)

2015
  • "Free Style(Live Shomal)" (Norouz 94 Or Dar Rah Shomal)
  • "Bad Shodam" (I've Become Bad)
  • "Mosafer" (Passenger)
  • "Hamechi Dorost Mishe" (Everything Will Be Fine)
  • "Zende Bad Iran" (Long Live Iran)
  • "Dardo Del" (Chat)
  • "Charsoo" (Crossroad)
  • "Dige Nist" (No More She Is Here)
  • "Speak" (Ft John D & Arsha Michaels)

2016
  • "Barcode" (Song Barcode Movie)
  • "Boghz Yani" (Spite Means) ("Ft Aamin Malek")
  • "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)[19]

2019
  • "Esalat" (Gentility) (Ft Moer)[20]
  • "Sefareshi" (Special Request)[21]

2020
  • "Agah" (Aware) (Ft Moer)[22]
  • "Lal" (Mute)
  • New EP Album Ft Dia
  • New Single Ft Reza Pishro & Tech N9ne

Music videos
  • 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)

Interview

Yas has been interviewed by the media, including CNN,[23] BBC and The Guardian.[24] He also signed a contract with an American music publishing company Modiba. IEvergreen Publishing is also the home of the late Tupac Shakur catalogue who has granted permission for a mashup song between Yas and Tupac.

Concert
  • United States (University of Michigan), (San Francisco), (California) (Los Angeles) (Yale University)
  • United Arab Emirates (Dubai)
  • Canada (Toronto)
  • England (London)
  • Australia (Melbourne)
  • Turkey (Istanbul)

Filmography
  • Rock On (documentary)
  • Paparazzi (documentary)
  • Raad,A Woman's Story (movie)

References
  1. Iranian rapper YAS at UNC, Herald Sun, 2009
  2. Iranian Rapper Speaks of Peace at Film Screening, Western Herald, 19 October 2008
  3. Iranian Filmmaker Sarmast and Rapper YAS to Visit Campus, Daily Swarthmore, 26 March 2009
  4. YAS as the Artist of the Week in MTV IGGY
  5. Artist of the Week: Tehran's Censor-Busting MC Yas. MTVIGGY.com
  6. http://www.bbc.com/persian/seventhday/story/2006/09/060909_bs_yas.shtml
  7. Yas Biography in bio98
  8. Yas Tunes Biography
  9. Yas Biography in Fanpop
  10. First hits song Yas
  11. Worldwide Concert Tour Dates Yas
  13. "Risk of fire lurking worn-out Iranian schools". 30 December 2017.
  14. Children of Iran Victims of Tazi Mullah Occupiers
  15. From Iran to Missouri: Rapping for Unity - Muftah
  16. Tech N9ne Collaborates With Iran’s Most Popular Rapper Yas
  17. Iran's Hip-Hop Sensation, Huffington Post 12 December 2008
  18. Yas (Iranian Rapper)
  19. Bande Naaf Ta Khatte Saaf, retrieved 20 July 2020
  20. Esalat, retrieved 20 July 2020
  21. Sefareshi, 18 February 2019, retrieved 20 July 2020
  22. Yas Ft Moer - Agah, retrieved 20 July 2020
  23. "IRAN: Persian Rap - Yas". CNN/Network Liberty. 11 May 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
  24. "IRAN: Persian Rap". BBC/Network Liberty. 18 November 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
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