By Eva Trieger
SAN DIEGO –Sometimes words fail him, but Jake Zeldin, who talked to me by telephone from Toronto, can really bust a rhyme.
Robyn, Jake’s mom, reported that Jake has been affected with a serious stutter since he began speaking. As a concerned parent, she took Jake to all of the experts in the field, but has always accepted her son, Jake, for the sum total of his surprising traits. Her loving encouragement and the attitude that Jake is gifted, not disabled, has provided the springboard for his success.
In a recent telephone interview Jake told me, “I’m living my dream and it’s amazing.” Jake was ridiculed at his elementary school by other kids because of his disfluency and trouble speaking in class. Not only was he harassed and bullied by peers, but by some of his teachers! To provide a recreational escape, Jake’s parents arranged for him to spend the summer at a sleep away camp in Toronto at the age of ten. It was there that he learned of his incredible gift. During a Rap Battle, Jake discovered that “I’m kind of good!” When he began to rap, the stutter evaporated, and the rhythmic rhymes and staccato words just flew out of him. Jake said that he was shocked when he realized, “Whoa! It’s gone!” |
The first rapper to catch Jake’s attention was “Drake”, inspiring him to write and record his own rap songs. His current song is “Young, Fresh and Foolish” which his mom described as “clean rap”. Jake, known as Lil JaXe professionally, writes his own material.
When asked what gives Jake the impetus and courage to perform for a crowd of 20,000, he told me that he imagines all of the people who teased or bullied him and this is his way of saying, “in your face!” Jake stated that when he is on stage performing his rap songs, he is “in my own zone”.
This past April, Jake became a bar mitzvah, the Jewish ritual wherein a boy is recognized as a man in Judaism. Typically the bar mitzvah will chant his Torah portion. Jake rapped the beautiful liturgical song “Adon Olam” in celebration of the day!
This 13-year-old’s enthusiasm and surprise at his own success is positively contagious. His obvious amazement and delight is magnetic, and in speaking with him, it’s nearly impossible to avoid sharing his elation and joy. Lil JaXe credits his parents and big brother, Cole, with unending support and constant encouragement.
Under Karl Wolfe’s management, this rap artist has received over 2 million hits on Youtube, has performed in the UJA Walk for Israel, and plans to keep having fun. He is not on any bigger mission. When asked what he would tell others who face challenges, Jake told me, “Never give up. Keep on following your dreams and don’t let one small thing get in between you and your dream.”
Jake told this reporter he is a fan of all genres of music. He enjoys “country, jazz and any music that’s good”, but finds it easiest to rap. Lil Jaxe doesn’t have one favorite rapper with whom he’d like to perform….but many!
Appearing on Toronto’s “The Morning Show” Jake wowed the viewers with a brief rap. This kid’s got it going on!
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Trieger is a freelance writer, based in San Diego, who specializes in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted at eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com