Emile YX

Emile Jansen (aka Emile YX, B-Boy War-lock or A-free-can 1) was born in 1968 in Grassy Park on the Cape Flats in Cape Town. He attended Montague Gift Primary School, De Klip Primary School and St. Owens High. Emile has been involved with the hip-hop culture since 1982. He started as a B-boy for Pop Glide Crew and later was a founding member of the legendary South African Hip Hop Group, Black Noise. Emile qualified as a teacher at Wesley Training College and taught at Battswood Primary for three years before selecting to teach through hip hop culture. Emile is considered to be one of the Godfathers of South African Hip-Hop and continues to be an active B-boy, MC, graffiti artist and hip-hop activist.

In 1990 he published Da Juice Hip Hop and Youth Magazine. In 1994 he assisted with local voters education with Black Noise touring communities nationally to encourage democracy. He has created numerous hip hop events and projects like African Battle Cry 1997, Heal the Hood Project since 1998, Battle of the Year South Africa since 1999, African Hip Hop Indaba 2000, Shut Up Just Dance since 2005, Our Hip Hop since 2006 and has sent more than 63 young dancer to the world champs in Germany. In 2013 he sent five dancers to work in the Afrika! Afrika! musical in Germany.