I used to love a klezmer band that went by the name of Jewbacca.

May 9, 2008 2:47 PM

Klezmer hip hop? Did I hear that correctly?

In a store this afternoon, I heard a few tracks off of an album that I could only classify as klezmer hip hop. There was a very traditional klezmer feel to one track, with the horns, in a minor key, yet there was a very funky hip hop beat underneath it. The next track had a more Arabic sound to it, yet there was still a klezmer, hip hop vibe. I loved it, and I want more. For comparison's sake, it sounded somewhat like Ozomatli, in that there was a real blend of styles. My search on the internet turned up Abraham Inc., which is cool, but isn't it. Can anybody tell me what I heard, or barring that, some other good klezmer hip hop?

posted by msali to media & arts (11 comments total)

This is a longshot, but it wasn't something from the Borat soundtrack, was it?
posted by cog_nate at 2:57 PM on May 9

Was it Hip Hop Hoodios? Matisyahu does reggae with a hip-hop vibe. And then there's last year's "Easter Bonnet" contest entry from the cast of the Broadway show "In The Heights", though I think only video is available of that one.
posted by Asparagirl at 3:01 PM on May 9

There is a trip-hop collective-y kind of group, dunklebunt, that put out the amazing moregenlandfahrt album, which is pretty klezmer heavy, and hip-hop-ish.
posted by nomisxid at 3:05 PM on May 9

Y-love? I'm not sure how Klezmer-y it is, but it's hiphop with elements of Jewish music.
posted by needs more cowbell at 3:12 PM on May 9

I heard something on NPR about klezmer hip hop, but wasn't paying attention, so its out there, wish I could be more help.
posted by Max Power at 3:19 PM on May 9

was it all instrumental or were there any vocals? if so, in what language?

alot of neo-gypsy stuff incorporates hip hop & klezmer sounds - maybe you heard something from Balkan Beat Box?

a good compilation of this kind of music is Gypsy Groove from Putumayo - another one is Electric Gypsyland from Six Degrees
posted by jammy at 3:34 PM on May 9 [1 favorite]

Thanks for all the great suggestions so far. Although Hip Hop Hoodios are cool, the singing that I did hear wasn't in English. I am also not knowledgeable enough to know what language it is, except that it ain't English. I suspect it was either Hebrew/Arabic/Yiddish. Nomisxid, dunklebunt it ain't, but that is good stuff. I LOVE that.
posted by msali at 3:37 PM on May 9

Balkan Beat Box was the band featured on NPR.
posted by sourwookie at 3:37 PM on May 9

This record (myspace here) is exactly what you are after.
posted by micayetoca at 3:42 PM on May 9

Brilliant. I didn't include the amazon link, sorry, here it is.
posted by micayetoca at 3:44 PM on May 9

Jammy got it! Thank you so much! The song I heard is called "Sunday Arak". Off to Itunes to purchase the whole damn album, which is awesome. Thank you askmefi, once again for your valuable assistance and suggestions.
posted by msali at 3:46 PM on May 9