Noah Shufutinsky (born 1999 or 2000),[1][2] known by the stage name Westside Gravy (formerly Young Gravy), is an African-American Jewish rapper and activist.
Biography edit
Shufutinsky was raised in San Diego, California by an African-American Sephardi Jewish mother and an Ashkenazi Russian-Jewish father.[1][3] His father Anton served in the US Navy, leading to the family frequently moving,[2] and he has an older brother Dmitri who made aliyah and served in the IDF. He attended Jewish day schools growing up,[2] and studied Judaic Studies at George Washington University,[3] from which he graduated in 2021, after which he moved to Hadera, Israel.
He cites reggae, soul, California oldies, hip-hop, and jazz, all of which he grew up listening to, as musical influences.[3][4] Shufutinsky's music speaks about his lived experiences as a Black and Jewish man, and against racism and antisemitism. In his song "Stereotypes", he mocks the antisemitic and anti-Black stereotypes and prejudice he has to deal with.[5] Shufutinsky has spoken about using music as a tool to educate about racism, antisemitism, and Jewish identity.[5] He frequently sings multilingually, switching between English and Hebrew, and occasionally other languages like Russian and Spanish, in the same song.[1]
Shufutinsky has been vocal about his support for Zionism and Israel, being the vice president of GW for Israel during college.[2] In 2020, Shufutinsky performed for the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington,[1] and in 2021 for the Jewish National Fund-USA.[1] His song "Diaspora" speaks out against BDS-led efforts to attack and delegitimize Israel.
Discography edit
- 2750 Miles - 2016
- Monsters With Ink (EP) -2016
- '02 - 2016
- Kickin' (Single) - 2017
- On God (Single) - 2017
- Hands Up High (Single) - 2017
- Cali Boy (Single) - 2018
- Ignorance (Single) - 2018
- Summer '18 -2018
- Ethnic - 2018
- Diaspora (Single) - 2018?
- Fasholy Fasheezy (Single) - 2019
- Wish You Would (Single) - 2019
- Just Say No (Single) - 2019
- Black Man (Single) - 2019
- Balagan (Single) - 2019
- Benjamins Baby (Single) - 2020
- Foo (Single) - 2020
- Legacy (Single) - 2020
- Akhia (Single) - 2020
- Angry Black Man (Single) - 2020
- Yahud (Single) - 2021
- 40 Acres (Single) - 2021
- Too Hot (with Ben Lulu) (Single) - 2021
- Locations (Single) - 2021
- Black Kippah Activities - 2022
- Nostalgia (Single) - 2023
- King of the Hill (Single) - 2023
- Habibti Habibti (Single) - 2023
- Fauda (Single) - 2023
- Homeland (Single) - 2023
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Esensten, Andrew (2021-10-12). "SoCal rapper Westside Gravy's next career move: Israel". J. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
- ^ a b c d "'Don't 'All Lives Matter' My Zionism': Meet Young Gravy, The Next Great Jewish Rapper". The Forward. 2019-02-04. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
- ^ a b c Pennisi-Glaser, Leah (7 June 2021). "Rapping my identity". www.thejc.com. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
- ^ ""Westside Gravy" is spreading Jewish identity through Hip-Hop". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
- ^ a b Ghermezian, Shiryn (2020-06-05). "Black Jewish Rapper Addresses Antisemitism, Racism and Dual Identity in His Music - Algemeiner.com". www.algemeiner.com. Retrieved 2023-08-21.