Yong Yello

Antwerp rapper takes you through the spectrum of human emotions

From Antwerp street rap to soul, funk, and chanson: Yong Yello, the alias of rapper and producer Yello Staelens, does it all. With his debut album Marcel & Het Magnetisme Van De Goot, he made a big impression and rose at a rapid pace to the biggest stages of Pukkelpop, Rock Werchter, and the Lokerse Feesten. Tracks like Cirkels , Waanzin , and Luchtkasteel quickly secured a place in the collective memory. And not without reason: with his sharp, narrative tongue, Yello manages to capture themes such as performance pressure, addiction, the search for recovery, and love in a relatable way.

On January 23, he crosses the border again to take us into his latest story: Bennie & De Banaliteit Van Ons Bestaan , which was released in 2025. On his second concept album, we follow his alter ego and workaholic Bennie, who struggles with his past, the monotony of life, and a relationship crisis.

Definitely don't expect a run-of-the-mill hip-hop show, because Yong Yello is full of surprises live as well. For instance, OOR previously compared his live performance—what he dubbed the 'Fanfare of Good Hope'—to the bombastic pride of our own soil: Typhoon. So drag your friend with a quarter-life crisis along and throw those hands in the air!