MC Serch's Favorite Jewish Rappers

MC Serch blessed Complex with his own highly opinionated guide to Jews who rap.

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Image via Complex Original
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Intro

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The Alchemist

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The Alchemist

His start in hip-hop was questionable as a member of the Hooliganz but since then his progress has been undeniable. His beat making was what most people admired first, but later he got back to his mic skills and blessed us with joints with Mobb Deep, Twista, Maxwell just want to make you smile.

There are few among us that cement their credibility in such a way that color and creed have no place in the conversation. The Alchemist is the one of those Jews who you don't even see as white. He’s seen as hip-hop personified.

Asher Roth

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Asher Roth

Me and this yid have a lot in common. Both of us are circumcised, both of us went to Hebrew school, and both of us were discovered by Dante Ross, who personally has a penchant for Jews. Dante brought me to Sam Sever and Lyor Cohen, introduced me to Pete Nice so we could form 3rd Bass, and brought Asher to Steve Rifkin to get his yarmulke rolling.

Asher has done some great things musically, my personal favorite is the song with him and Keri Hilson. (“She Don’t Wanna Man” I’m sure that isn’t what a purist fan would declare a fave, any Jew boy with enough swag to stand next to Ms. Keri babay—and have her look at you like you could get it... That makes Asher Roth a bawse in my book.

Seriously, I think a lot of people write Asher off because of the frat-boy following he got due to the success of his first single, but don’t let the beer taste fool you. He’s a skilled emcee and I look forward to bumping his shit on my way to shul for many Saturdays to come.

Beastie Boys

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Beastie Boys

If you read the new book Def Jam: The First 25 Years, available now, you can read in black and white how much disdain I have for these cats. When I was coming up and was dying to have Red Alert play my song in the LQ, the Beasties were getting the club poppin’ with "Hold It Now, Hit It."

Even worse, black girls LOVED THEM. Let's be 100 about things, that is the most important part of this game called rap: having hot black and Latino chicks want you. (Due to the overwhelming growth of hip-hop culture these days you have your pick of hot chicks who dig an emcee, but back in my day it was either Chocolate or Butter Pecan—and that is that).

Our issues with the Beasties continued after meeting them, spilling over into diss records and spewing venom in articles. When my dear friend Q-Tip went and did songs with them, I cut him off, thinking he had no loyalty. But Tip was right to do joints with them. They were dope, and I was a hater when I should have been an appreciator.

If Mike D is the Leader, and Yauch is the Coach, then MCA is the Frat Boy. His infectious nasal delivery makes you want to grab someone by the neck and either toss a beer down their throat and just bug out and dance with them.

Look, you can argue that their brand of hip-hop was frat-boy party rap, that it was not as distinguished as the type of emcees I admired—Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Chuck D, and KRS. But one thing is clear: they B-Boys are dope and their music is timeless, including their new album and the joints they did with Nas and my personal favorite "Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win" featuring Santi Gold. I tip my glass of Lemon NUVO to you boys. Shalom Biotch.

Drake

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Drake

Drake get props for two reasons. One is that he is dope. As an artist, an emcee, and as an individual. He has brought a level of wordplay to the game that has been adopted more than Brangelina. The other cool thing is that because he is multi-racial—his mom being a good Jewish girl raising her baby boy a Jew in the T Dot while his father was a hustler from Memphis. He has the right to use the N-word. Hate it or love it that is something that none of these other Jewish boys can lay claim to. He is with the right camp and have the chops to keep up. Mazal Tov homie.

Ill Bill

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Ill Bill

In my book, Bill is one of the greatest emcees of all time—bar none—and not just in the Jew category. His vision on the mic, his wordplay, his live show, his presence is all of legend. He should be where Em is, if not bigger. Ill Bill is just ill.

If you don't know his work then check out “La Coka Nostra”, “Black Helicopters” with Non Phixion, and his joints with Raekwon to name a few. Bill is still on the road and tours about 100 dates a year. Catch him and witness some greatness.

Mac Miller

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Mac Miller

He got a million Twitter fans. 1.3 million Facebook friends, and not a single record on the radio, like that is important anymore. He is a young gunner who got a lot of balls who parties and rhymes at the same BPM. Coming up a Jewish kid in the streets of Pitt must be like what my grandfather felt like in Poland in the 1940s.

I mean hood is hood and I am sure this kid has seen a ton. The great thing about Mac is that I never see him without a smile on his face or a flow that is so/so. I lift my cup of Kedem to you bro, and hope you have the success that you dream for yourself, times ten.

Necro

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Necro

I have been a fan of his since the mid 90s. Necro has no fear and he’s an emcee of unparelled creativity and inspiration. His music like his lyrics are unforgiving and powerful and are only matched by his business acumen. Necro has followed in a long line of Jews in the business. When no one would sign him he started his own label, Uncle Howie Records. When he could not find beats he made them himself. He was his own video director, and he is a master of his own domain. And just to clarify he is ridiculous on the mic.

Sneakas

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Sneakas

This young spitter has a lot to prove to the hip hop world but his start is impressive. From his guest spot on the biggest Israeli rap album of all time, Subliminal, to his work with Muslim emcee Mazzi in the group Most Hated to his debut mixtape Hebonics, Sneakas spits truth throught the wire and fire through his word play.

His lyrical prowess is evident on the clever spin on the Big L classic "Ebonics" ("Hebonics")—which is so thorough DJs can mix line for line with the original—to the Don Cannon produced "Good Day," his future is brighter than a menorah on the 8th night.

LISTEN TO SNEAKAS' MIXTAPE HEBONICS HERE

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