Lij Michael
{{Short description|Ethiopian rapper (born 1986)}}
{{POV|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
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| name = Lij Michael
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| birth_date = February 19, 1986 (age 39)
| birth_place = Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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| genre = {{hlist|Hip-hop|trap}}
| occupation = Rapper
| discography =
| years_active = 2011–present
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| website = {{URL|https://lijmichaelmusic.com/}}
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Michael Taye (Amharic: ሚካኤል ታዬ; born February 19, 1986), known by the stage name Lij Michael, is an Ethiopian rapper. Considered as "King of Ethiopian rap", he is prominent in the Ethiopian hip hop music culture.{{Cite web |last=Aga |first=Mark T. |title=10 of the Best Ethiopian Rappers/Hip Hop Artists in 2024 — allaboutETHIO |url=https://allaboutethio.com/10-best-ethiopian-rappers-hip-hop-artists.html |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=allaboutethio.com |language=en}}
Life and career
Michael Taye was born on 19 February 1986 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He graduated from Andenet High School and pursued his diploma career in IT at Softnet College. While in college, Michael appeared in the institution to become an MC on many stages.{{Cite web |date=2016-08-30 |title=Lij Michael Faf |url=https://www.musicinafrica.net/directory/lij-michael-faf |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=Music In Africa |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Lij Michael Faf The Upcoming Star {{!}} Ethiopian Hip Hop Style Upcoming Star |url=https://lijmichaelmusic.com/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |language=en-US}} In 2007, he released his first single called "Arada L'arada", and received over 300,000 views on YouTube in its first three months.
In November 2015, Michael released his debut album titled Zaraye Yehun Nege that consists of 15 tracks, becoming widely acclaimed album of the year.{{cn|date=April 2024}} To promote the album, he began touring in Europe and collaborating with other Ethiopian artists of the time, such as Sami Dan and Bisrat Surafel. He participated in season 4 of Coke Studio Africa, and collaborated with Tanzanian Yamoto Band.{{Cite web |last=Digital |first=Standard |title=Tanzania's Yamoto band in Kenya for a collaboration with Ethiopia's Lij Michael |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/news/article/2000214272/tanzanias-yamoto-band-in-kenya-for-a-collaboration-with-ethiopias-lij-michael |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=Standard Entertainment |language=en}} He was nominated in MTV music award and AMAs for African musicians, becoming a widely acclaimed rapper. He released the second album called Atgebam Alugn in February 2021. In May 2021, Michael joined ensemble musicians Fikreaddis Nekatibeb, Kuku Sebsebe, Zeritu Kebede, Sayat Demissie and Rahel Getu for the single "Yehager Kasma".{{Cite web |last=Admin |date=2021-05-16 |title=Lij Michael, Fikreaddis Nekatibeb, Kuku Sebsebe, Zeritu Kebede, Sayat, Rahel Getu - Yehager Kasma |url=https://borkena.com/2021/05/15/lij-michael-fikreaddis-nekatibeb-kuku-sebsebe-zeritu-kebede-sayat/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=Borkena Ethiopian News |language=en-US}} In July 2023, he released "Alew Mesenko".{{Cite web |last=Account |date=2023-07-04 |title=Lij Michael - Alew Mesenko- New Ethiopian Music |url=https://borkena.com/2023/07/03/lij-michael-alew-mesenko-new-ethiopian-music/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=Borkena Ethiopian News |language=en-US}} He released his third album titled "Addis Arada" in August 2024 on his YouTube page.{{Cite web |last=nty |date=2023-09-19 |title=Lij Michael |url=https://crg-et.com/lij-michael/ |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=CRG |language=en-US}}
Discography
- Zaraye Yehun Nege (2015){{Cite web |last=nty |date=2023-09-19 |title=Lij Michael |url=https://crg-et.com/lij-michael/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=CRG |language=en-US}}
- Atgebam Alugn (2021)
- Addis Arada (2024)