From the old-school to the Jew-school: A summary of Jews in Hiphop

Funky Jews have always played an important role in the evolution of hip-hop culture and rap music. Despite glitches along the way (courtesy of Professor Griff and Ice Cube) Jews have maintained good relations with the rap community and have helped propel hip-hop to the stratosphere of pop culture.

There are various theories that attempt to explain the role of Jews in rap, but I offer three:

First, hip-hop was born in New York, the same city with the largest concentration of Jews in the USA. After World War II, thousands of poor Jewish immigrants settled in lower income neighborhoods predominantly in Brooklyn, The Bronx, and the Lower East Side of Manhattan. These Jewish enclaves were often located beside the most segregated, and poverty-stricken Black ghettos in New York. For example, one can see a synagogue right across the street from the Marcy houses in Brooklyn. Flatbush and Brownsville also have major Jewish and Black representation. Despite past racial tensions (Crown Heights riots), I think the the spatial closeness between Jews and Blacks in New York has facilitated mutual co-operation and understanding in hiphop.

Second, both Jews and and African-Americans have historically been persecuted, allowing us to relate to each other as victimized minorities. Blacks and Jews have both experienced the worst human tragedies in history (Holocaust and slavery), therefore we understand one another on a unique level. However, I will suggest that economic inequalities experienced by too many African-Americans, has somewhat alienated that understanding.

Third, I feel Jews have a genetic disposition to funk. We feel funk, we know funk, we see funk - its in our veins. That, and good business sense.

Well those are my three ideas on why I think Jews and rap music (read: Black People) have enjoyed good relations in the industry.

The following is a list of prominent Jews who have made healthy contributions to the rap game:

The Beastie Boys , The High and Mighty, Lyor Cohen, MC Serch, DJ Steinski, Ill Bill, Necro, Stretch Armstrong, Dru-Ha, Rick Rubin, Jerry Heller, Remedy, Blood of Abraham, Tommy Silverman (Tommy Boy), Princess Superstar, Clive Davis.

Daniel Teitlebaum
Toronto, Canada