Yonas (rapper)

Yonas
Background information
Birth nameYonas Mellesse
BornBronx, New York, United States
OriginNew York, New York, United States
GenresHip hop, rap, alternative hip hop, pop
Years active2009–present
Websitewww.yonasmusic.com

Yonas Mellesse, known by the stage name YONAS, is an American hip hop artist from New York City.[1] He has released three albums, The Proven Theory (2011), The Transition Deluxe (2013), and About Time (2018), as well as several EPs and mixtapes.

Career

In 2009, Yonas released his first EP, New Golden Era, independently, winning a Billboard Songwriting Award for his single "Banga".[2] A year later he released his first mixtape, produced by Sean Ross, entitled I Am Us. In 2011 he released his first album on iTunes, The Proven Theory. The music video for his single "Shy Kidz" was featured on MTVu and Fuse TV on Demand, after he won an audience vote in a contest for independent artists.[3]

His next mixtape, The Transition, was released in 2012. It was downloaded 70,000 times in the first two months. Yonas was featured as a Breakout artist in XXL magazine in June 2012.[4] Yonas performed a 50-city nationwide tour in the fall of 2012, opening for Aer.[5] Yonas has performed with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Wale, Juicy J, Timeflies, Gorilla Zoe, The White Panda, and Logic.[6][better source needed]

His music video "Fall Back" appeared in the motion picture, The Place Beyond the Pines (2012).[1] His EP The Black Canvas, released on February 4, 2013, reached no.4 on iTunes Hip-Hop/ Rap charts and no.25 on the iTunes overall album chart.[7]

Personal life

Yonas is married to Shaelyn Mellesse.[8] Their daughter was born on March 3, 2018.[9]

Discography

Albums

  • The Proven Theory (2011)
  • The Transition Deluxe (2013)
  • About Time (2018)

EPs

  • The New Golden Era (2010)
  • The Black Canvas (2013)
  • Going Places (2015)
  • Everyday Like It's Friday (2016)

Mixtapes

  • I Am Us (2010)
  • The Transition (2012)
  • The Transition 2: Bright Lights, Big City (2013)

Music videos

Title Year Director
"I Could" 2010 Betterdays Media
"Shy Kidz" 2011 Betterdays Media
"Pumped Up Kicks"
"Fall Back"
"The Transition" 2012 Betterdays Media
"Don't Give A Damn"
"Girls of Summer" 2013 Betterdays Media
"Rollercoaster (feat. OCD: Moosh & Twist)" 2013 Betterdays Media
"Leaving You" 2014 Jakob Owens
"4AM" 2015 Nick Marfing & Cory Hammon of Altamira Film Co.
"Blank Space (Remix)" 2015 Jonnie Baker
"Centuries (Remix)" 2015 Nick Marfing & Cory Hammon of Altamira Film Co.
"Take Me To Church (Remix)" 2015 Nick Marfing & Cory Hammon of Altamira Film Co.
"Uptown Funk (Remix)" 2015 Nick Marfing, Cory Hammon & Matt Lohmann of Altamira Film Co.
"Live It Up" 2015 Jakob Owens
"Night Is Young" 2015 Hunter Lyon
"Hello (feat. Living In Fiction)" 2015 Mike Squires
"Summertime Luv 2016 Mike Squires
"Roll One Up (feat. Roscoe Dash & Sammy Adams)" 2016 Mike Squires
"Photo" 2017 Mike Squires
"I'm Good (feat. XV)" 2017 Mike Squires
"You F#cked Up " 2017 Mike Squires

References

  1. ^ a b Heard, Nailah (July 2018). "YONAS discusses new album 'About Time' and prospering as an independent artist", Rolling Out.
  2. ^ "Ourstage announces the winner of the Radio One "Roc the Mic" competition", Ourstage, June 17, 2009. Archived April 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "The Freshmen: You Pick The Video That Gets On Air", mtvU, October 18, 2011.
  4. ^ "The Break Presents: YONAS", XXL Magazine, June 11, 2012.
  5. ^ "David Dallas to Tour USA with Aer and Yonas on Aer's 'The Brightside Tour'", New Zealand Music Commission, July 18, 2012.
  6. ^ "Underground NYC Rapper Yonas Talks Tupac, Making Mom Proud",Fuse TV, October 4, 2012.
  7. ^ "YONAS- The Black Canvas" Archived May 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, February 4, 2013.
  8. ^ Moss, Gabrielle (June 2018). "Our Under-$15K Surprise Wedding: Shaelyn Mellesse & Yonas Mellesse", Bustle.
  9. ^ Centeno, Tony (May 10, 2018). "Premiere: YONAS Defends His Growing “Legacy” In New Club Banger", Vibe.