Darshan "Lishma"

(www.shemspeed.com) I liked Epryhme's record -- righteous Jewish social/political hip hop floats my boat, but the production could have been more interesting. In this group, a duo with chanter Shir Yaakov, the deep, jazzy, challenging grooves elevate his skills. Side note: for anyone surprised to see Orthodox Jews making deep hipster hip hop remember one thing...many Hassidic boys are teenagers in Brooklyn in 2010! And they are bearded! If you are a young, bearded Brooklynite you get a 7.5 on Pitchfork when you sneeze!