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Yemi A.D. | |
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 Yemi A.D. in 2019 | |
| Born | Yemi Akinyemi Dele 4 November 1981 Liberec, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) |
| Occupation(s) | Czech multidisciplinary creative, serial entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Website | yemiad |
Yemi Akinyemi Dele (born 4 November 1981) is a Czech multidisciplinary creative and serial entrepreneur. In December 2022, he was selected as one of eight crew members for dearMoon, which is planned to be a civilian lunar space mission. [1]
Yemi Akinyemi Dele was born in 1981 in Communist Czechoslovakia and grew up in Liberec. He was raised by Nigerian father who had previously studied at the University of Economics in Prague, and by Czech mother. At the age of four, his father was arrested as part of an armed coup and could not return to Czech Republic for another 18 years. With the advent of internet connectivity in Eastern Europe, Yemi utilized his technological skills to locate his long-lost father, resulting in the rediscovery of his father and an extended family unit. [2]
This newly found family included his brother, who courageously faced life with Down syndrome, as well as three sisters and his father's new wife. In 2008, the family successfully relocated to Prague, marking a significant chapter in their lives and reuniting them after nearly two decades of separation.
Yemi identifies as a queer man and advocates for the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights worldwide.
Yemi and his projects have garnered significant attention and recognition on a global scale. Prominent publications such as The New York Times, Daily Post, The Guardian, and ABC News have featured articles about his work. Yemi has also shared his insights in a live interview with American CNN and has been prominently featured on the covers of leading Czech magazines, including Forbes and Muži v Česku.
At the age of sixteen, Yemi moved to Prague for education and work. Soon, he began to teach dance in the Netherlands and Sweden and study Street dance in Los Angeles at MaDonna Grimes, a Hollywood dance school.
In 1999, Yemi returned to Prague, Czech Republic, where he founded JAD Dance Company (JAD DC), [3] [4] a Czech and international team of dancers and choreographers. Yemi's works and performances have been-well received in many cities around the world including Tokyo, London, Barcelona, Bombay, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Paris and New York. [5]
With his interest in art, Yemi completed a degree at the Central European Advertising Art Institute, focusing on art directing and copyrighting.
Yemi also produced the first music video for Ben Cristovao and the music video of American rapper Turbo T. Double's song ATOMS. [6]
Through JAD Dance Company (JAD DC), he focused on his original dance style called Street FUSION. One notable work of JAD Dance Company is their collaboration with Kanye West as his principal (main) dancers in his 'Runaway (2010 film). [7] Later on, Yemi eventually also set up Dance Academy Prague (DAP); in which people from diverse age groups and ability/experience in dance can come and learn various dance styles such as Hip-Hop, Modern Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, MTV style, Dance Hall etc. from choreographers with diverse nationalities (up to date, Yemi teaches Street FUSHION in DAP). After various training/practice sessions, some students at DAP are given the opportunity to perform live in the streets of Prague, in stages for various corporations and occasions as well as in local and international competitions. [8]
In 2010, Yemi founded the globally award-winning production company, JAD Productions, whose portfolio includes clients such as Google, Apple, Coca-Cola, T-Mobile, adidas Originals and Mercedes Benz. In 2022, JAD was also recognized for its digital innovation and non-profit initiative responses to pandemic challenges in Central Europe called Anti-Panic. JAD’s original productions range from Teniskology, a European sneaker festival; to Ynspirology, a music, art & culture festival; to Cycles, an immersive theatrical experience. [9]
In 2010, the hip-hop rapper Kanye West hired Yemi to choreograph ballet-inspired sequence in the Runaway of the "Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" album. [10] [11] The piece was well received and Kanye West commissioned Yemi to create choreography for West's Runaway performance in Los Angeles for VMA's 2010 and for Saturday Night Life performance of "Power" and "Runaway". [12] The collaboration continued with Yemi creating choreography for other songs of the "Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" album for Kanye West's global tour. West tweeted about Yemi, [13] who was also quoted in GQ Magazine regarding Kanye West [14]
The following year 2011, Charlie Straight, a Czech indie-rock band, asked Yemi to direct their music video, "School Beauty Queen", [15] which was later awarded the Music Video of the Year in 2011 by MTV Czech. [16] [17]
In 2021, Yemi founded Moonshot Platform Inc., a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization previously operating from Europe, whose mission is to seek and accelerate emerging leaders and their organizations around the world who work on solutions to the 21st Century Grand Challenges & SDGs focused innovations. The platform, supported by former U.S. Secretary Madeleine Albright, hosted five conferences across Europe and the U.S. in 2021 with over 650 C-level change-makers, 60 international speakers and reached over three million people. [18] [19]
In 2022 the platform hosted Moonshot Awards - The Global search for social innovators that received applications from 88 countries. Moonshot is also committed to provide mentorship to its members and hosted Moonshot Young Leaders Camp for 50 young change makers and their senior mentors in Massachusetts in 2023. [20]
As a performer, Yemi has acted in several foreign productions such as Chronicles of Narnia II - Prince Caspian , [21] Red Tails, Unfaithful Klara (Italy, 2009) [22] and the Czech series, Ordinace V Růžové Zahradě. Yemi also performed and led choreographies of six series of the most popular TV show on TV Nova - Tvoje tvář má známý hlas.
Yemi was also the first Czech correspondent for MTV Europe and became the host of a popular Czech TV show, ESO.
As a dancer, he performed in a principal role in the original Czech musical, Monte Cristo for two years.
In 2013 Yemi released his debut maxi-single Equals.
In 2014, Yemi was chosen by the readers of MF Dnes among the 24 most influential personalities in the Czech Republic.
Since 2017, Yemi is one of the first Czech ambassadors of sustainable development goals and one of the three Goodwill Ambassadors for the Ministry of foreign affairs in the Czech Republic.
In February 2019, American TV station CBS began to broadcast a new talent show The World's Best and Yemi was chosen to be among 50 professional judges from all around the world.
In 2019, Yemi starred in Apple's Life on iPad Pro worldwide advertising commercial campaign.
He has delivered interactive seminars about the future of intergenerational creativity as a keynote at TEDx and the Czech Singularity University Summit (2019). [23]
He is also the ambassador of Sustainable Development Goals under the UN for the Czech Republic and was appointed as Czech Goodwill Ambassador by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2019.
Yemi is also an electromobility ambassador for Mercedes Benz, Czechia.
In May 2020, he became the first Czech inductee in the Henry Crown Fellowship Network at the Aspen Institute USA. He also earned program's scholarship.
In 2021, Yemi A.D. submitted an application for the dearMoon mission, a privately funded mission to orbit the moon backed by Yusaku Maezawa. This visionary initiative sought eight individuals from diverse creative backgrounds to make the journey to the moon aboard a SpaceX rocket. In the spring of 2022, Yemi successfully secured a spot in the preliminary group of 20 candidates. [24]
Yemi's selection for the lunar mission was confirmed on December 8, 2022. He now plays a key role in the dearMoon project, sponsored by Yusaku Maezawa, which aims to facilitate a lunar expedition in 2023 for artists, visionaries and creators. This mission, using Elon Musk's SpaceX Starship rocket, marks a significant milestone in Yemi's career path. Through this expedition, he aims to inspire and empower young people around the world. [25]
Ye is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. One of the world's best-selling music artists with 160 million records sold, West has won 24 Grammy Awards, the joint tenth-most of all time and most awarded for any hip hop artist jointly with Jay-Z. His other accolades include a Billboard Artist Achievement Award, a joint-record three Brit Awards for Best International Male Solo Artist and the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
"Lost in the World" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kanye West from his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). The song features vocals by Justin Vernon of indie folk band Bon Iver, as well as sampling his 2009 song "Woods". It also contains portions of "Soul Makossa" written by Manu Dibango, and samples of "Comment No. 1", performed by Gil Scott-Heron. It was produced by West and Jeff Bhasker, who wrote the track with Vernon and Malik Jones. "Lost in the World" was initially leaked on September 29, 2010, and was 5 minutes and 55 seconds long. The version on the album was divided into two parts, with the outro becoming a new track entitled "Who Will Survive in America".
"Can't Tell Me Nothing" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his third studio album, Graduation (2007). The song contains additional vocals from Young Jeezy and Connie Mitchell. It was produced by West with DJ Toomp with West being responsible for 60 percent of the production. The song originated from Young Jeezy's "I Got Money", after West made changes to the track. On May 15, 2007, the song premiered via Hot 97 and was released by Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam that same day as the lead single from the album. A hip hop track, it was described by West as a theme song for the people. The lyrics see West reflecting on his fame while he expresses different types of feelings.
Teyana Me Shay Jacqueli Shumpert is an American singer, songwriter, actress, model, dancer, choreographer, and music video director. After choreographing the video for Beyoncé's 2006 single "Ring the Alarm," she signed a recording contract with the Neptunes' Star Trak Entertainment, an imprint of Interscope Records to embark on a career as an recording artist the following year. Taylor appeared on MTV's My Super Sweet 16 prior to the release of her 2008 debut single, "Google Me." Despite lukewarm commercial response, she later gained wider attention in 2010 for her uncredited guest performances on the songs "Dark Fantasy" and "Hell of a Life" by Kanye West, from his highly-acclaimed album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). She asked to be released from Star Trak and signed to West's GOOD Music, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings two years later.
Václav Kadlec is a Czech retired professional footballer who played as a forward.
"Power" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kanye West, released as the lead single from his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). The song features additional vocals by soul singer Dwele and is co-produced by West and Symbolyc One. It is built around samples of "21st Century Schizoid Man" by King Crimson, "Afromerica" by Continent Number 6, and "It's Your Thing" by Cold Grits. After having recorded it in Hawaii, West reported that 5,000 man-hours were spent developing "Power". In its lyrics, West comments about the United States, his mental health and his critics. Its chorus features an abrasive vocal-riff.
"Runaway" is a song by American rapper Kanye West featuring fellow American rapper Pusha T, released as the second single from the former's fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). The song was written by the artists alongside Malik Yusef, Emile, Jeff Bhasker, and Mike Dean, with the latter three co-producing it with West. The composition features repetitive piano riffs, intricate samples and a production style with several similarities to West's album 808s & Heartbreak (2008). Described as a deeply personal song in nature, it expresses West's thoughts on his failed relationships, and his acceptance of the media's perception of him. Lyrically, the song explores criticism aimed at West in the past.
Runaway is a 2010 American musical short film directed by Kanye West.
"E.T." is a song by American singer Katy Perry from her third studio album, Teenage Dream (2010). She co-wrote the song with its producers Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Ammo. "E.T." was serviced to radio stations as the album's fourth single on February 11, 2011. One version of the song features verses from American rapper Kanye West, and that version was included on the reissue of the album, Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection. Musically, it is an electronic and hip hop ballad which draws heavily from dubstep and techno, along with smaller amounts of drum and bass. According to Perry, the song lyrically speaks of "falling in love with a foreigner".
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"Gorgeous" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kanye West from his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). The track features a hook provided by Kid Cudi, a recording artist formerly signed to West's label GOOD Music, and a rap verse provided by the Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon. The song was written by West, Cudi, Raekwon, No I.D., Mike Dean and Rhymefest, and was produced by West, No I.D. and Dean. It contains elements of Enoch Light and the Glittering Guitars' cover version of The Turtles' song "You Showed Me". "Gorgeous" received mostly positive reviews from music critics, who generally praised the intricacy of the production, the quality of the guest features and the rock music-inspired aesthetic of the song. Several critics cited West's verses as a highlight of the track, complimenting his lyricism and delivery.
Diamond Cats were a Czech girl group founded in September 2009. They consisted of Nikol Šneiderová, Kristýna Pecková, Hana Hladíková, and Kristýna Šlingrová, all aged 9–11 at the time of the group's inception.
Bohuslav Svoboda is a Czech politician and gynaecologist who has been serving as the mayor of Prague since 16 February 2023. He previously served as the mayor of Prague from 30 November 2010 to 23 May 2013.
The video game industry in the Czech Republic has produced numerous globally successful video games such as Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis and the subsequent ArmA series, the Mafia series, Truck Simulator series, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, the Samorost series and others. There were 300–400 video game developers and around 30 video game companies focusing on video game development in 2014. In 2017 it was 1,100 developers and 47 companies. Video games are also considered by some experts to be the country's biggest cultural export. The video game industry did not enjoy a good reputation and was unsupported by the state until 2013, when the Ministry of Industry and Trade started to seek ways to kickstart the economy. By 2014, programs were planned to support the video game industry. Another problem is a lack of video game development specialization at any university.
"Fade" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his seventh studio album, The Life of Pablo (2016). The song features vocals from Post Malone and Ty Dolla Sign. It was first played at West's Yeezy Season 2 show in September 2015, before later being released for digital download and streaming as the third and final single from the album on September 9, 2016, through GOOD Music and Def Jam. 11 days later, the aforementioned labels serviced the song to radio stations across the United States. A hip house song with club elements, it samples Mr. Fingers's "Mystery of Love", Rare Earth's and The Undisputed Truth's respective cover versions of "(I Know) I'm Losing You", Hardrive's "Deep Inside", and Barbara Tucker's "I Get Lifted ". The lyrics of the song focus on trying to hold on to a fading love.
Tvoje tvář má známý hlas is a Czech reality singing series that is aired on Nova. It is both based on the Endemol format Your Face Sounds Familiar and an adaptation of the Spanish Tu cara me suena. The show was first broadcast on March 26, 2016, and is still aired. The show involves eight or ten celebrities portraying various iconic singers each week to win 25,000 CZK for their chosen charity.
Jarmila Kröschlová was one of the most important representatives of modern dance in Czechoslovakia. She was one of the leading European expressionist dancers and as a choreographer had wide influence on other dancers, through her teaching and theoretical writings on dance. Working with the Czech avant-garde theater, producing librettos and as a professor in the Theatre Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, she advanced modern dance and pantomime with her theories of movement.
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Radka Pavlovčinová is a Slovak actress. She received two nominations for the Thalia Award for her performance in Robin Hood in 2010, as well as in Bratři naděje in 2022.
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