L’Chaim OG: Cousin of singer Prince is a Haredi rapper living in Jerusalem

Zecharya Yishai Levine was raised in a black Christian family of civil rights activists in Minnesota; now, he finds himself studying at a yeshiva in Israel and unwilling to leave

A MOMENT AFTER he finished his photoshoot for Ynet, Zecharya Yishai Levine was already on his way to England, then to Washington and from there to Miami.

Was he going on a tour? "Yes, a tour of holiness," said the 36-year-old Haredi rapper who now lives in Jerusalem. Although he had lived in Israel for two years, it was the longest time spend anywhere in his adult life.

"King David was the first Yeshiva rapper in history.. maybe King Solomon was number two and I guess I'm fighting to get the number three spot," he said.

Levine was born and raised in a black Christian community in Minnesota to a family of civil rights activists, until he discovered Judaism and became an Orthodox rapper known as "L’Chaim OG".

He considers himself a Jew of African-American descent, although he said he never intended to become a Jew. his belief in God has never dimmed, even after being subjected to racism and injustice as a child.

FULL STORY L’Chaim OG: Cousin of singer Prince is a Haredi rapper living in Jerusalem (Ynet)

Photo: Zecharya Yishai Levine