Yonas

Yonas Mellesse is an American hip hop artist recognized for his independent music career and consistent chart presence. After winning a Billboard Songwriting Award for his single ‘Banga’ in 2009, YONAS independently released his debut EP, ‘New Golden Era,’ that same year. This early success was followed by his first mixtape, ‘I Am Us,’ released in 2010 and produced by Sean Ross. In 2011, YONAS unveiled his album ‘The Proven Theory’ on iTunes.

His profile continued to rise when the music video for his single ‘Shy Kidz’ gained significant visibility on MTVu and Fuse TV on Demand, a direct result of him winning an audience contest for independent artists. YONAS’s momentum built in 2012 when he was featured as a Breakout artist in XXL magazine in June. That same year, his mixtape ‘The Transition’ garnered impressive attention, accumulating 70,000 downloads within its first two months. He embarked on a 50-city nationwide tour in the fall of 2012, performing as the opening act for Aer, significantly expanding his live audience reach.

He has also undertaken two overseas tours and shared stages with notable artists including Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Wale, Juicy J, Timeflies, Gorilla Zoe, The White Panda, and Logic. YONAS continued to expand his discography with the EPs ‘Going Places’ in 2015 and ‘Everyday Like It’s Friday’ in 2016, leading up to his album ‘About Time’ in 2018. His most recent album, ‘The Kid from Morris Heights,’ was released in 2022. A testament to his independent success, YONAS has cumulatively sold over 100,000 songs and 15,000 albums, alongside accumulating over 70 million digital streams across his career, showcasing a robust and dedicated fan base.