Tonight’s Art & DJ Night at Gallery Bar was the second event as part of Shemspeed’s Summer Music & Art Fest and was amazingly fun. People of all ages and backgrounds came to view and buy art which expanded existing notions of what Jewish “looks” like. The evening was presented by Be’Chol Lashon & Shemspeed and curated by Elke Reva Sudin. Look out for more collaborations, art nights and of course, the rest of our Summer Music Fest! - shemspeed.com/fest

CLICK TO SEE PHOTOS

DeScribe (pictured on the right) will be performing at this years Shemspeed Hip Hop Festival on August 2nd at NYC’s Le Poisson Rouge! The evening will be in celebration for the release of “A Tribe Called Tes” by Brooklyn’s own Tes Uno as well as Y-Love & Diwon’s new single, “Move On”. If that is somehow not enough, Shemspeed will also be hosting some of their other favorite artists that night, including; Kosha Dillz, Ted King & guest Geng Grizlee, Night, Meyhem Lauren, J. Stone, Kyle Rapps & special guests.

CLICK TO RSVP FOR CHEAP TIX, RSPV TO FACEBOOK &/OR GET TICKETS.

Download “A Tribe Called Tes” - here.
Listen/Download “Move On” below:

p.s. DeScribe, Shemspeed, a ton of elected officials, a senator, Bob Marley’s son and people you wish you knew will all be at the “Harmony” Music Video press conference, if you are a journalist/tv reporter/influential blogger and would like to attend the conf, be in touch ASAP. For conf info, please visit - www.shemspeed.com/harmony

We love them so much that we are throwing an audio-fundraiser for them. The track features DeScribe, Dennis & Beniton the Menace.
Listen below and drop some grivny:

Aug 1: Shemspeed Summer Fest CRUISE with Eprhyme & Brody in LA, CA (Buy Tickets)
Aug 2: Shemspeed Hip Hop Fest @ LPR, NY (Buy Tickets)
Aug 2: Racial Harmony Music Video Press Conf @ Borough Hall (press could contact info@shemspeed.com for info), NY (Buy Tickets)
Aug 3: DeScribe & Diwon @ National Night Out (Borough Hall), NY
Aug 5: Shemspeed Punk Rock Fest @ Pianos, NY (RSVP for Discounted Tix)
Warp Tour with Kosha Dillz & Diwon (selected dates, check back for all details)
SHEMSPEED SUMMER FESTIVAL (WORLDWIDE - check back for all details)
* for a full listing of shows & more detailed info,
please click the “events” icon in the top menu

Y-Love Move On (single), Electro Morocco Sweetly Down (single), D. Brook & J. Harkham Darkcho, Brody Ad Matai, Diwon psychadeliciwon, DeScribe & Remedy My Keffiyeh, & Levi Mordechai
* to pick up all other CDs on Shemspeed Direct,
please click the “store” icon in the top menu

Different Strokes is what they should be calling the CW! How times have changed…

Shmoo is another MC who takes his art very seriously, infusing it with meaningful messages. “Les Enfants d’Israel” has been our go to Shmoo track around the office, it starts off with a rare sample of the legendary Serge Gainsbourg from the little known track that he made for Israel called, “Le sable & le soldat.” Oh, he also just released a new track which is just totally crazy sounding, check that here.

Young Money - “Roger That” Remix feat. Y-Love, Nicki Minaj & Lil Wayne

I don’t even think this post needs words! It’s the hottest track on the radio now.

Just download it and pass it on!

I have been a massive Tes fan since I moved to NY years back. I still remember the spontaneous vinyl parties that would pop off in my Bushwick apartment and how I would drop “New New York” off his “x2″ record released by Lex Records (the label that put out the hottest left field hip hop by Danger Mouse, Prince Po and Tes). I never dreamt that Tes himself would end up being behind the very turntables I djed his music from, but a few years later I moved to another loft in Bushwick and bumped into him. He became a mainstay for our house parties to the point that I wouldn’t let anyone but him DJ my engagement party. That said, it gives me a huge amount of pleasure to be the first one to let the world know and download his upcoming mixtape, “A Tribe Called Tes,” since he sent me the rough cut, I have not stopped bumping it. The mixtape will be your go to summer jam, trust me!

- Erez Safar (Diwon)

p.s. Be sure to check out the official “A Tribe Called Tes” CD Release party at Shemspeed’s Hip Hop Fest which will take place at Le Poisson Rouge on August 2nd. Tes Uno will be joined by Ted King & guest Geng Grizlee as well as Y-Love & Diwon, Night, Kosha Dillz, DeScribe and Meyhem Lauren.
p.p.s. for you little kids out there, there are some curses in the mix….sorry.
Get your tickets before they sell out, Buy Tickets

* for info on all Shemspeed Summer Music Fest shows, click here.

Some of you all remember our previous post on Kutiman’s ThruYou which blew up. Well, he is back with a new project, this time cutting up Maroon 5’s tour video blog footage from their recent U.S. tour. ch-ch-ch-eck it out:

JPost reports: Missy Elliott arrived in Israel on Wednesday ahead of her Thursday concert at the Tel Aviv Exhibition Grounds. Elliott reportedly arrived a day early to travel in the country, including a visit to the Western Wall where she left a note, and trip to Masada with her entourage. The Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East NGO had urged Elliott to cancel the concert, and posted a petition on its Web site Tuesday asking users to do the same.“Santana, Elvis Costello, The Pixies and other prominent performers have recently canceled concerts in Israel… in solidarity with the Palestinian call for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel in 2005,” read the statement. “As a member of a visible minority, and someone who has long contributed to various social causes, Ms. Elliott may have a sensitivity to the plight of the oppressed,” it read. The website also attached a form which users could send by e-mail to Elliott’s manager. Elliot, who is in the midst of a European tour, evidently ignored the appeal and will be perfoming on Thursday, with warm up provided by local hip hop favorites Hadag Nahash. Together with producer Timbaland, ‘Misdemeanor’ Elliot proved to be an authentic hit maker even before her 1997 debut Supa Dupa Fly was released to mass acclaim, thanks to songs written for Aaliyah and Mariah Carey. Breaking barriers for women in rap, the one-woman hip-hop machine maintained a string of hit albums and singles throughout the next decade, including collaborations with Pink, Busta Rhymes and Lil Kim.

The Middle East’s Electronic duo Onili teams up for International Remix Contest with Laroz “Why Did You Go”. We are now looking for submissions.
The Deadline is August 15th-
The judging/listening session will be live streamed on Justin.Tv and
There will also be celebrity judges TBA.

Submission is simple, click this Download Link
and download the A-Capalla and send your end result to iwantyou@onili.com

The Winner will receive a free linktone for the remix, a full PR campaign to Israeli music media and in U.S by The Bloom Effect. In addition, the winner also receives complimentary registration to attend the CMJ Music Marathon worth $495.00
Read the rest of this entry »

We are now gearing up for the release of “Move On”, the much anticipated single by Y-Love off his forthcoming, “This is Unity” album produced by Diwon. “Move On” will be released globally on August 3rd, but as always, you could check it out on the Shemspeed Audio Player now! We have also posted a couple tracks by Darkcho a traditional underground Jewish low-fidelity record unlike any other, it sounds as if Tarantino got spiritual and dug into the traditions of chasidic niggunim. The record will be release this September. The player is also packed with not yet released tracks by some of your favorite Shemspeed artists, including Electro Morocco, Brody, DeScribe, Tj Di Hitmaker to name a few.

Some tracks to look out for:
“All I Do Is Win (feat. Y-Love & Black Skeptik)” by DJ Khaled
“Move On (feat. DeScribe)” by Y-Love
“Ki Hinei” by Darkcho
“Beat Goes On (feat. Tj di Hitmaker)” by Y-Love
“My Keffiyeh” by DeScribe & Remedy
“Down” by Electro Morocco
“Shma Kolienu” by Brody
“One Day (Electro Morocco Remix)” by Matisyahu
“Bring it on Down (Talib Kwali Remix) by Y-Love & Diwon LIVE
“Raje” by DeScribe & Dennis
“Modern Day Moses (Electro Morocco Remix)” by DeScribe Feat. Shmoolik
“Boom Selecta” by Electro Morocco & Shemspeed MCs

Hello good people! Shemspeed is looking for short or long term marketing people to join a historic PR campaign for racial Harmony which will include NYS Senator, Brooklyn Borough President and Marley Coffee run by the legendary Marley family. Be in touch ASAP as we blast off this next week. Join the team, the experience will be unforgettable, not to mention what it will do to your resume!
Email: info@shemspeed.com

Press Conf Info

note: if you have not seen the “Harmony” music video, check it here!

Today the NY Times wrote about the new movement of Semitic rappers, our brothers, sisters and cousins who rap in Hebrew, Arabic and Aramaic. Through Shemspeed’s Hip Hop Sulha , artists such as Y-Love & Diwon have played with many Palestinian groups such as Saz and Dam who are listed below. The Hip Hop Sulha reinvents the concept of the traditional Arab sulha (reconciliation) by bringing leading Jewish and Muslim hip-hop musicians together to celebrate peace and religious tolerance via the performing arts. The Arab Muslims and Arab Jews as well as Israelis and Palestinians as people have historically more in common then they do that separates them. The conflict is complex and dividing, but the hope for peace is strong and Shemspeed uses the power of art and music to communicate across the lines, that on the surface are dividing our people, even if we do not all agree on a lot of different issues, it’s about fostering real relationships with people on all sides. Families are made up of people that do not agree on a lot when it comes to issues and politics, but they still have love for each other and we see One World, One People, One G-d. While Shemspeed’s artists have conflicting political opinions, especially when it comes to the middle east, our hope with each other and people around the globe is to build bridges based on our shared humanity and quest for peace.

Click to see below to check out the NY Times post Read the rest of this entry »

There is nothing like summer, we are pumping the new Big Boi, Roots, Cool Kids mixtape, M.I.A., Nas & Damien Marley & Darkcho albums in the office and getting all psyched up for Shemspeed’s Summer Music Fest. Of course there are shows all over the globe with Shemspeed artists all the time, but here are a few we are singling out as THE Shem Summer Fest shows below (note: for all info please run to www.shemspeed.com/fest)

July 25th - Seattle, WA - A PUNKLEZMERAP Tu B’AV with Eprhyme, Erev Rav (live klezmer band) & DJ Sweet Elite 

July 27th - Brooklyn, NY - Honey Bowl @ Brooklyn Bowl
Featuring: Electro Morocco, Brothers Joscephus and the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra, Pey Dalid & Derek James and The Lovely Fools. 
BUY TICKETS

July 29th - Manhattan, NY - Visual Art & DJ night at Gallery Bar
Jewish artists from racially or ethnically diverse backgrounds at Gallery Bar
RSVP HERE 

August 1st - Los Angeles, CA - Shemspeed Cruise with performances by Eprhyme & Brody
Private Yacht -4pm is the docking time at Marina Del Rey, L.A. 
BUY TICKETS

August 2nd - Manhattan, NY - Shemspeed Hip Hop Fest at Le Poisson Rouge
CD Release Party for “A Tribe Called Tes”, Single release party for Y-Love’s “All We Bring”
with Live performances by Night, Kosha Dillz, DeScribe, Meyhem Lauren, Tes, Y-Love, Diwon, DJ Teddy King & special guests.
BUY TICKETS

August 5th - Lower East Side, NY - Shemspeed Jewish Punk Fest at Pianos
Featuring Moshiach Oi! & The Groggers
RSVP HERE

To get involved in any way, feel free to shoot an email over to erez@shemspeed.com
INFO AT: www.shemspeed.com/fest

Identity crisis doesn’t mean a thing to Vanessa Hidary, whose journey to her eclectically-gathered Jewish roots took her through the world of hip-hop and spoken word. A self-described “culture bandit,” she does not want you to tell her that she doesn’t look Jewish, because this Syrian-American Nuyorican-reppin’ Jewess most certainly is Jewish. She’ll even go to Harlem Def Poetry Jam to tell you personally. Mixing old-school Hebrew vibes with a multi-culti sensibility and street smarts, Vanessa’s message is simple: be proud of who you are.

Wallpapers are so 80’s, but we figured if the radio started playing songs like La Roux’s “Bulletproof”, than we could start hitting you all with our wallpapers for your personal computers. Now, run don’t walk to, Shemspeed Wallpapers

We have heard songs sung about the Canaanite city of Luz before, but never in this way and fronted by someone dressed as Matisyahu circa 2004. The track by the newest Alt Jewish Band, Atzmus, is catchy in a 90’s rock style way, but the singing and music sound very contrasting, maybe that is what makes it original and in 5 years it will be all the hype. We do dig how they intertwine ancient Hasidic meodies into the music, like early Matis. Would love to hear your thoughts, either way we have never seen a Jewish band like this before.

Matisyahu’s “One Day” featuring Nameless was chosen to be on “Listen Up! The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Album”. All proceeds from the song and album will benefit the official 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign, “20 Centers for 2010,” and other African charities selected by the participating artists on the Album. You can order your copy now at Amazon

Oh, and they are hosting a contest to win a trip for two and tickets to the final match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg South Africa! For details and to enter go to: http://www.listenupalbum.com/contest/

Ori Shochat & DJ Alarm are back with another banger, their new “Vibetown Mixtape” takes Eryka Badu & Major Lazer to new heights, if you are on the nu-dubbed-clubbed-riddims then you are gonna feel this one. Rumor has it that the dub selecta’s will be remixing the next Y-Love single! Grab this download free and check back often for the goodness that we keep bringing.

Tracklist Read the rest of this entry »

We just got back from Y-Love & Diwon’s performance at Montreal Int Jazz Festival which went down at the Ghetto Shul. It was beyond amazing, the crowd went crazy and by the looks of the response and CD sales, they will be back again and often. check this clip of their Aramaic performance over Lady Gaga’s “Love Games”!

This week is a great week for Kosha Dillz as he sets off on his Euro Tour with Snoop and not only does URB Magazine write him up, but Billboard Mag drops his name and a quote in their cover story on Eminem! Here are some words from Urb.com - Kid Cudi gets arrested in Bonnaroo, and Snoop Dogg gets ousted from the Park Pop Festival In Holland for not being “family friendly”. USA finds its way with a miracle goal into the sweet 16 of the World Cup, with its best start since 1930. Can any other crazy things happen?
New Jersey’s Kosha Dillz was seemingly trotting along for some shows in Europe promoting his latest “doo doo” video off Beverly Dillz and BonnaRhymes album with Diwon (a FREE mashup of everything Bonnaroo from Gwar to Neon Indian beats with kosha rhymes) while he woke up to an email from Amsterdam agent that placed him as the main support for Snoop Dogg in Amsterdam and Tilburg Holland. All this after opening for Eminem in NYC the night before at Bowery Ballroom this past Monday.

Bow wow wow yippie OY yippie VEY – stay tuned for some official URB footage of the Dogg and Dillz.

see below for tour dates! Read the rest of this entry »

What makes music Kosher? Y-Love represents a reality of Jewish music that is all about the content and not to be judged by its genre: Kosher Hip-Hop.

With a mission statement that reads ‘using hip-hop to elevate, not to tranquilize,’ this spiritual, rapping guru exhudes the brighter side of the hip-hop music scene. Based in Brooklyn, NY with an undeniable love for Israel, Y-Love (Yitz Jordan) is front and center in a trending hip-hop revolution. Y-Love’s unique style reveals his inner-neshama (soul), a spicy interest in ancient languages, and his passion for Jewish scripture - all of which are accounts and reflections of his strong Jewish identity and life-choice to convert to Hasidism.

For more videos about Jewish identity see http://leadel.net/talks/latest

Y-Love, the internationally acclaimed hiphop artist “making hip-hop kosher” according to XXL Magazine, and Black Skeptik, the poet/emcee, fresh off recording his debut album in America and Ghana, West Africa under his new name Kyle Rapps and whose single featuring KRS-ONE has already goen viral many times over, come together for the first time on the new remix of DJ Khaled’s “All I Do Is Win”. A buildup to the long-awaited release of his “This is Unity” album, this remix is Y-Love’s first release since the “Change” EP in 2009. DJ Khaled’s “Victory” album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Independent Charts, and “All I Do is Win” is another win for the Miami artist, peaking at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100. Y-Love has appeared in TV outlets from the Conan O’Brien Show to BBC World TV, and been praised worldwide from Australia’s The Australian to Israel’s Channel 10 — chalk this up as another win for the “soundtrack to social progression” — still holding it down in his Brooklyn home.

We have more photos than you could probably get away with checking at work, but they are just so dope, that we couldn’t cut em down…..have fun! Big up to David Zimand and Jesse Zook Mann for snapping away all night! If you did miss the event, Moshiach Oi, Y-Love, Diwon, Golem, Blanket Statementstein & others performed to what must have been the most diverse group of Jews in one room since…um…..ever….

Check Dem Photos Out, HERE.