Biography
Michael Swissa (מיכאל סוויסה; born 9/10 January 1996), also known simply as Swissa, is an Israeli rapper, singer, and songwriter from Tel Aviv. He works primarily in hip-hop and trap, known for playful, narrative-driven, often humorous or satirical Hebrew lyrics and flows.
He is the son of actor Meir Swissa and Ruti (daughter of iconic Israeli singer Yafa Yarkoni). His brother is record producer Yishai (Yishay) Swissa. After his parents’ divorce in his childhood, he spent several years in the United States with his mother and siblings before returning to Tel Aviv.
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He grew up immersed in hip-hop, began writing lyrics around age 13, and entered the scene in his late teens after connecting with producer Mike Mushon (of Cohen@Mushon), who helped introduce him to key figures including producer Ori Shochat.
Swissa’s breakthrough came in 2014 with the viral satirical track and phone-filmed video “Krav Maga” (קרב מגע). In 2016 he appeared in humorous segments on the Channel 10 show Laila Tov with Asaf Harel and released his debut album #SwissaLanetzach (#סוויסהלנצח / Swissa Forever), featuring artists such as Itay Lukach and Ori Shochat.
Notable later projects include:
The 2018 mixtape Male Ba’atzmi (מלא בעצמי / FullOfMyself)
The 2019 collaborative EP Glisha Baseter (גלישה בסתר) with Michael Cohen
A high-profile 2019 McDonald’s Israel campaign (“Ach Yakar Tzover” and follow-ups)
The Havila Overet (חבילה עוברת) EP series (2020, 2023, 2025)
His 2022 album Beseder Gamur (בסדרגמור)
The 2023 collaborative album Mitat Komotayim (מיטת קומותיים) with his brother Yishai
The 2025 collaborative album Izim Al Atzim (עזים על עצים) with Slimfim
He has also acted (including a role as the Angel of Death in the series HaAhyan Sheli Bents and an appearance in the 2026 film Giv’a 338) and frequently collaborates with producers and artists such as Ori Shochat, Michael Cohen, Boy Ach, and others.
Swissa lives in Tel Aviv with his long-term partner and continues to release music and perform within Israel’s urban and hip-hop scenes.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.