Though the popular perception of a rapper usually includes a a humongous diamond necklace (see: Rick Ross’ chain with a pendant depicting his own face), tattoos covering every visible inch of one’s body, and a trace of marijuana smoke trailing up behind one’s head. In the past few years, though, many new faces have popped up in the genre, some of them Jewish, and have helped to redefine what it means to be a rapper in today’s world. Let’s take a look at some of today’s up-and-coming Heebs in hip-hop, while giving a nod to established Jewish acts like the Beastie Boys and Matisyahu.
Drake: The most obvious example to even the most casual of music fans is Drake, the half-Jewish, half-African-American rapper-cum-singer signed to Lil’ Wayne’s Young Money imprint. Born Aubrey Drake Graham, the native Canadian was bar-mitzvahed and considers himself a full-fledged member of the Tribe. Like any other young Jewish man, he celebrates Passover with his family; his mom even wants him to marry a nice Jewish girl. With hits like “The Motto” and “Make Me Proud” off his latest disc, Take Care – which sold 631,000 copies in its first week upon its release last year – burning up the charts, Drake seems to be here to stay.
Mac Miller: Like Drake, Mac Miller is half-Jewish on his mother’s side, but has chosen to go the independent route with his music. His latest album, Blue Slide Park, debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album charts with 144,000 copies sold, creating an undeniable buzz for the Pennsylvania-born rapper. He proudly represents his Jewish heritage with a big tattoo of a chai and celebrated a bar-mitzvah, while fondly recalling Hanukkah gifts he received when younger. Riffing off of celebrity figures like Donald Trump in his music, Miller looks to be a bright star on hip-hop’s horizon.
Timati: Timati might not be a commonly-known name in the States yet, but, in his native Russia, the R&B and hip-hop performer is already a household topic of conversation. Muslim on his father’s side and Jewish on his mother’s, Timati has already collaborated with a host of big names. On “Foreign Exchange,” he trades lyrics with Dipset honcho Cam’ron, while, in “I’m On You,” the Russian-born, L.A.-raised star pairs up with Diddy.
Miri Ben-Ari: Miri’s not exactly a rapper herself, but, if you pay attention to some huge hits of the last decade, you’ll often find her violin on major artists’ tracks. Dubbed “The Hip-Hop Violinist,” Ben-Ari has played for the likes of First Lady Michelle Obama and founded Gedenk, a charity aimed at promoting Holocaust awareness among younger generations. Where have you heard Ben-Ari’s soulful strings before? Check out Miri’s work with the likes of Kanye West and Brandy to catch her savvy sounds on wax.
These are just a few of the Jewish figures in hip-hop right now. Sound off about your favorite member of the Tribe to grace the game in the comments section.
