20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best Of Roy Ayers CD

Aviad was born in Tel Aviv, Israel on March 11, 1975, corresponding to the Jewish calendar date of Adar 28, 5735. Two years later, the Cohen family moved to Brooklyn, NY. Aviad grew up in the Yeshiva and Jewish private school systems of New York and New Jersey and later attended public high school and graduated with a B.A. in Communications from Hofstra University. During those years after school, while working in the entertainment industry in New York and Los Angeles, Aviad began to refine his talents and skills. He didn't know it yet, but the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was preparing him, to do a great work through him, in the least likeliest way.

In 2003, Aviad stepped onto the scene as 50 Shekel, the Heeb-Hop rapper with his classic parody remake of 50 Cent's In Da Club song called In Da Shul, which received much acclaim. He was hailed as "The World's Most Kosher MC" (Q Magazine), gracing the pages of magazines like Maxim's Blender, Esquire, New York and Q. He was also covered in such newspapers as the New York Post, Wall Street Journal and Forward and featured on ESPN2, VH1, Israel's YES! TV, Germany's ARTE, and other national and international television programs.

In 2004, Aviad came to know Yeshua, the True Jew Messiah. 'When I was 50 Shekel, I was a lost and wandering Jew. I was desperately seeking my Creator. Religion kept me in bondage. I wanted God instead. I cried out to Him and he heard my call. Like Domino's Pizza: He delivers! In Yeshua's case, He delivered to me the Truth, the Way and the Life. I embraced Him and hopped on the Salvation Super-highway and my life has never been the same since then. I was blind and now I can see. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob orchestrated some amazing situations in order to bring me closer to knowing Him in Truth. Yeshua visited me at my bedside for twenty minutes and we had a conversation. I could not see Him nor hear Him, but I could see and hear Him - if that makes any sense at all. It was unexplainable - yet I can't deny it. He told me to make music for Him. I told Him that 'they wouldn't get it.

' He said, 'They will.

' The rest is Messianic music history.