Isreal Pacoso on the Mic

In this week’s episode of Phire in the Hole, Phire Jones sits down with Yaki Kadafi for a raw conversation about hip-hop culture, independent grind, podcasting, and the journey from local stages to interviewing some of the biggest names in the industry.Born and raised in Pagedale, St. Louis, Missouri, Israel “Yaki Kadafi” Pacoso discovered his love for hip-hop at an early age after his father brought him into a recording studio at just 12 years old. Quickly developing his craft, many around him compared his style and presence to Jay-Z — one of several artists who inspired him alongside 2Pac and Nelly.During the COVID era, Yaki launched the podcast When I Fell in Love with Hip Hop, a platform that rapidly gained traction and eventually caught the attention of BET Networks. Through both music and media, he has built a strong presence in the hip-hop community, performing throughout St. Louis and interviewing legendary artists and industry figures including Yukmouth, Chingy, St. Lunatics, MC Shan, Khujo, Young Bleed, and Benzino, among many others.Yaki Kadafi continues to build his presence through music, media, and culture-driven conversations, representing St. Louis hip-hop while connecting with artists and audiences around the world. Mentioned in this episode:audio pm5 preroll female