Who is Yasin:
Yasin Mahamoud was born in Rinkeby in 1998. Now lives abroad with his wife and two children. Is one of Sweden's biggest rappers.
Breakthrough and career:
Was part of the hip-hop collectives Byn Block Entertainment and Ghetto Superstars. Got a massive breakthrough with the single "Trakten min". The debut EP "Handen under Mona Lisas kjol" was released in 2019 and was followed by the albums "98.01.11" and "More to life" the following year. Both reached the top spot on the album chart.
Detained
At the P3 Gold Gala in 2021, Yasin received an award in the categories Artist of the Year and Hip-Hop of the Year. It sparked strong reactions, including because he was then detained.
The latest album "Pistoler, poesi och sex" was released in 2023, also topping the chart for several weeks.
In 2024, Yasin was the third most streamed artist on Spotify in Sweden, only surpassed by Taylor Swift and Hov1.
Crimes and sentences:
Yasin, who has had connections to individuals in criminal networks, has previously been sentenced to prison for preparation for human trafficking and for gross weapons offenses. He was last released in 2021.
Comeback and controversies:
Yasin's performances at Brännbollsyran in Umeå, Alive festival in Borlänge, and Trädgården festival in Kristianstad this summer are his first own live performances in Sweden in nine years. On May 18, he made an unexpected guest appearance during Mustafa's concert in Stockholm.
Withdrawn grants
The own performances are highly anticipated by fans, but they have also led to debate and withdrawn municipal festival grants.
Both Umeå and Borlänge municipalities have chosen to stop sponsoring the festivals due to the booking of Yasin. In Kristianstad, the former municipal councilor Pierre Månsson (L) told SVT that the rapper is "a poster boy for gang crime".
Festival leadership in Borlänge and Kristianstad, on the other hand, believe Yasin has served his sentence.
Brännbollsyran takes place on May 28-31. Also performing are, among others, Miriam Bryant, Steve Angello, and Bolaget.
Alive in Borlänge takes place on July 3-5, and in addition to Yasin, performers include Europe, In Flames, Nause, and Maja Ivarsson.
Trädgården festival in Kristianstad takes place on August 29-30. Other bookings include Lukas Graham, Norlie & KKV, and Daniela Rathana.
