Hip-Hop Band Displays Israel's Diversity

Page 34 T cjnews.com THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS February 18, 2010 And now for something completely different: Hip-hop band displays Israel’s diversity By EZRA GLINTER Center for the Study of Antisemitism. with everyday societal problems, and depicts Theo- Special to the CJN The show also takes place at the beginning of dore Herzl, the founder of the Zionist movement, Israeli Apartheid Week, a pro-Palestinian event doing drugs. Sha’anan Street is a familiar face on the Israeli held each year on university campuses across North The band’s most famous track, The Sticker Song, hip-hop scene. For 14 years, the burly, 38-year-old America, that advocates for a boycott, divestment from its 2004 album Homer Mekomi (Local Mate- Jerusalem rapper has been leading Hadag and sanctions campaign against Israel. rial), was written by acclaimed Israeli novelist David Nahash, arguably Israel’s most popular According to Ravid Dahan, the band’s Grossman, and takes its lyrics from the plethora of hip-hop group. North American manager and director political bumper stickers plastered on cars in Israel. Together, the six-member band has of Motek Productions, the timing of the According to Streett, however, while Hadag been turning out hit after hit, experi- concert is intentional. Nahash doesn’t often support the policies of the menting with an impressive array of “Purim isn’t necessarily the best time Israeli government, it does illustrate the diversity of musical genres and pushing the political to go out on tour, but for us it’s important opinions within the country and the ability of dif- envelope with socially conscious lyrics. to do it now because of Israeli Apartheid ferent sides to have their voices heard. But despite having almost a decade Week,” she said. “It’s definitely true that there are few good things I and a half of musical innovation and Moshik Galanty, CFHU’s director of can say about any [member of the] establishment, any commercial success behind it, the veteran hip-hop student recruitment and alumni relations, agreed. prime minister or any government that’s been around outfit isn’t willing to give up its place at the fore- in this country ever since front of Israeli culture. I’ve been born, but the In 2008, four of its songs were featured on the fact is that Israel is a de- soundtrack to the Adam Sandler movie You Don’t mocracy and that we are Mess with the Zohan, exposing the band to a world- allowed to sing what we wide audience. believe in,” Streett said. Now, with the release of its new album, 6, and “I had a meeting a North American tour culminating with a Feb. 28 with some guy in the show at the Mod Club in Toronto, Hadag Nahash [prime minister’s office] is proving that they’re still ahead of the game. and I said to him, ‘Have “I would say that we took another step with this you read our lyrics? You album,” said Streett, en route from his home in Je- know that we’re not rusalem to a show at the popular Tel Aviv venue going to put any Israeli The Barbie. flags behind the stage “We took it to psychedelic places, we took it to and we’re not going to reggae places. I feel that we recorded solid tunes in change even one word a bunch of different genres.” in one song,’” Streett The new album also features four songs in From left, Guy Mar, Shlomi Alon, Moshe Asraf, Sha’anan Streett, Yaya Cohen recalled. “But he said, English, something Hadag Nahash never did on any Harounoff and David Klemes of Hadag Nahash. ‘Israel is a democracy of its previous five releases. and we’re proud of the “I speak decent English, and a lot of times when “The anti-Israel [elements] managed to make fact that we allow different voices to be heard in this we’re jamming in the studio and rehearsal room, the apartheid week a national thing in Canada. country.’” we’re going to be jamming in English, and we Everyone knows what it is, and what we’re trying Hadag Nahash also uses its shows as a chance decided, ‘Let’s record this stuff,’” Streett said. to do is to create a week of pro-Jewish pride,” to reach out to Palestinians and fellow peace ac- While the album’s official release party won’t be Galanty said. tivists. At a performance in Austin, Texas, Streett until March 25 in Tel Aviv, Hadag Nahash’s new “The concert itself is a fun event. It’s Purim, it’s a talked to Palestinian activists from the stage, in- material will be on display when the band takes to costume party, it’s going to be a very nice event that viting them to put aside their differences for one the stage in Toronto. students can participate in.” night and join the party. “We’re going to try out a whole bunch of new Despite Hadag Nahash’s de-facto role as ambas- “Hadag Nahash is pro any peace activist in the tunes on all you guys,” Streett said. “Toronto is the sadors of Israeli culture, the band has made a name world from any religion,” Streett said. last date on our tour, so we should be very much for itself – and distinguished itself from other Israeli “Anybody who’s helping push this region in ready by then.” hip-hop artists such as Subliminal – based on the the direction of peace and not of war, anybody Sponsored by Canadian Friends of Hebrew Uni- left-wing, anti-establishment content of its songs. from any religion or any ethnicity who’s helping versity (CFHU) as part of its Be U Be Hebrew cam- Numbers, a track from the 2003 album Lazooz push my hometown, Jerusalem, to a state where paign, the concert coincides with Purim and includes a (Move), compares the wages of Israeli CEOs with there’s no more mess, is welcome at our show.” costume contest with a free summer course at Hebrew the unemployment rates and poverty of other citi- Hadag Nahash performs in Toronto on Feb. 28 U as the top prize. Proceeds from the concert will go zens. More controversially, the song Gabi and Debi at the Mod Club, located at 722 College St. For toward the university’s Vidal Sassoon International contrasts the Zionist ideals taught in Israeli schools tickets and info call 647-889-0071. CHECK OUT OUR BLOG @ HEEBONICS.CA.

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