Teddy Yo
{{short description|Ethiopian rapper}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background = person
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Teddy Yo
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| birth_name = Tewodros Assefa
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| genre = {{hlist|Hip-hop}}
| occupation = Rapper
| instrument = Vocals
| discography =
| years_active = 2000s–present
| label = {{hlist|Hope Music Enterntainment|Nahom Records}}
| current_member_of =
| past_member_of = Gamo Boys
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Tewodros Assefa (Amharic: ቴዎድሮስ አሰፋ),{{Cite web |date=13 March 2024 |title=Prominent rapper Teddy Yo arrested after release of critical song |url=https://mereja.com/index/426503#:~:text=Teddy%20Yo%20whose%20full%20name,with%20his%20trademark%20single%2C%20Guragetone. |website=Mereja.com}} known professionally Teddy Yo, is an Ethiopian rapper regarded as the greatest rapper in Ethiopian hip hop music culture. His single "Gurage Tone", which was released in 2007, became a signature song and popularized him to the hip hop music industry.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-24 |title=Teddy Yo’s love of africa and ethiopian culture |url=https://hiphopafrican.com/teddy-yos-love-of-africa-and-ethiopian-culture/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=The Hip Hop African |language=en-US}}
Life and career
Tewodros Assefa began his career in the 2000s while performing in a musical group called Gamo Boys, but quickly established himself as a solo singer. Hence, he adapted "Teddy Yo" as his stage name. In 2007, he released his breakthrough single titled "Gurage Tone", becoming a major success in the music industry. In 2018, he released Prisoner, referring to "prisoner of culture" in hip-hop context. The album has 18 tracks with different beats. His single "Africa" from the 2018 album Arada, Vol. 2 described as "upbeat, feel-good song about Africa’s culture, struggles, and beauty" The album also features celebrities like the Jungle Crew and reggae star Jah Lud. Assefa is signed to Hope Music Ethiopia and Nahom Records.{{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}}
On 31 December 2022, he was jailed for a night after releasing "Menberish" ("Your throne"), which was critical of the incumbent government for emphasizing free speech regarding Oromo dominance in Addis Ababa. In the music video, he is seen in jail in harsh conditions while depicting Addis Ababa residents.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-03 |title=Artist Jailed in Ethiopia For Rapping in Amharic ? |url=https://zehabesha.com/artist-jailed-in-ethiopia-for-rapping-in-amharic/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=The Habesha: Latest Ethiopian News, Analysis and Articles |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=teddy yo about - Google Search |url=https://www.google.com/search?q=teddy+yo+about&sca_esv=c3f69c090f238cd5&sxsrf=ACQVn08esAGuYF4EpfhL2UzQTpBk3RFz7A:1710322762089&ei=SnTxZYOGBbW6hbIP8pOmuAc&ved=0ahUKEwiD073l-PCEAxU1XUEAHfKJCXcQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=teddy+yo+about&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiDnRlZGR5IHlvIGFib3V0MgYQABgWGB4yCxAAGIAEGIoFGIYDMgsQABiABBiKBRiGAzILEAAYgAQYigUYhgMyCxAAGIAEGIoFGIYDSK8pUCxYnidwAXgAkAEAmAH0BKAB4xKqAQczLTUuMC4xuAEDyAEA-AEBmAIEoALnCsICCBAAGIAEGLADwgIOEAAYgAQYigUYhgMYsAPCAgQQIxgnwgIKEAAYgAQYFBiHAsICBRAAGIAEwgIFEC4YgASYAwCIBgGQBgSSBwkxLjMtMi4wLjGgB70g&sclient=gws-wiz-serp |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=www.google.com}} On 5 January 2024, he released Yileyal.
Selected discography
- Demese Albaw Mesarya (2006)
- Arada (2018)
- Yileyal (2024)
References
{{reflist}}
Category:21st-century Ethiopian singers
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
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