It's hip-hop with a Jewish beat, and it's straight out of Baltimore. Well, it's actually out of a beit midrash, or study hall, in Morristown, N.J., but Menachem Shapiro — aka “White Mike” — is your typical American homeboy graduate of Franklin High School in Reisterstown. He went to Adat Chaim Synagogue and wore a chai around his neck, but never got into the Jewish thing.
Meet Rapper “’White Mike’”
It’s hip-hop with a Jewish beat, and it’s straight out of Baltimore. Well, it’s actually out of a beit midrash, or study hall, in Morristown, N.J., but Menachem Shapiro — aka “White Mike” — is your typical American homeboy graduate of Franklin High School in Reisterstown. He went to Adat Chaim Synagogue and wore a chai around his neck, but never got into the Jewish thing.
So how did the newest sensation in Jewish music, the lyricist for an album called “Ta’Shma: Come Listen” produced by 12 Tribes sound producer Alan Cohen (Matisyahu and Y-Love) go from teenage Ocean City cruiser to bearded yeshiva bucher?
And why is his funky new album filled with lyrics from the Torah, quoting sacred passages and promoting a love of God?
Well, said Mr. Shapiro, who is now a student at the kollel, or graduate program, at the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, it all started with a trip to Israel.
“I was a student at the University of Maryland, when I decided I wanted to study abroad. … One day, I was walking to class, and there was a big sign saying, ‘Free Trip to Israel!’ It was a birthright [Israel] trip,” Mr. Shapiro said.
That University of Maryland Hillel trip was already full, so Mr. Shapiro searched online for another option. Eventually, he happened upon the Mayanot Taglit-birthright israel experience, which he said he was drawn to because “it said it was open to Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and unaffiliated Jews. I liked that. I didn’t want to be categorized. It turned out it was a Chabad trip. I didn’t even know what Chabad was.”
One thing led to another, and by the end of the trip, Mr. Shapiro was wearing tefillin and reciting the Shema each morning. The rabbi/tour guide offered to arrange for Mr. Shapiro to stay in Israel for the year and learn, but Mr. Shapiro wanted to get back to his car and its new 17-inch alloy wheels.
“Learn Torah in Israel? … I needed to be seen cruising … all summer long!” he said.
However, the first night “White Mike” went out on the town, he totaled his vehicle and was only lucky neither he nor his two friends were seriously injured.
“The first thing I said when I got out of the car was, ‘This is crazy! This is a message from God,’” Mr. Shapiro exclaimed. “At that moment, I was convinced [of the truth in Judaism].”
Mr. Shapiro spent his 2001 school year in Israel. The next year, he divided his time between the Yeshiva of Greater Washington and the university. By 2003, he was learning full time in Morristown.
Mr. Shapiro’s musical past continued to beat on his heart. So he wrote lyrics for each of his yeshiva’s Purim shpiels. But last year, when he asked Morristown resident Chuna Silverman to “beat-box” for him, make drum beats with just his mouth — typical in rapping — the crowds really liked it, even the rabbis, he said, and his talent was recognized.
One member of the community “liked it so much, he asked Chuna and me to perform a song for his daughter’s wedding.” One thing led to another, and within a short time, Mr. Shapiro and Mr. Silverman were recording “Ta’Shma” with Mr. Cohen. It debuted on Sept. 19 and is available at Judaica stores, Best Buy, Circuit City and Barnes & Noble throughout the country, as well as online.
The crowds are eating it up, said Mr. Shapiro. And Velvel Adler, a student at Yeshivas Lubavitch of Baltimore, substantiated that claim.
“I was very impressed by the expertise which they demonstrate,” said Mr. Adler. “They took this cool modern music and infused it with traditional, authentic Torah meaning. … It is not just the same thing. … There is a lot of fresh talent and style.”
Mr. Shapiro said he hopes to bring his music to Baltimore soon. And how about his parents — two middle-aged Jews from Owings Mills? Well, said Diane Shapiro, “I don’t like rap, but oh my goodness, am I proud of him!”
Mrs. Shapiro said she sees how important the music — and its message — is to her son. What is the message? It’s pretty obvious, said Allan Shapiro, Mr. Shapiro’s father.
“He is promoting a love of God,” said the elder Mr. Shapiro. “That is what he wants to do with his music. That is what he exists for.”
From Menachem Shapiro’s ‘Shine’
You give me everything I have
You are the ground on which I stand
You are my life my length of days
You are the rhythm in my veins
My heart pulses to Your name
I rise from sleep and speak Your praise
Before I ask You fill requests
Before I speak You are my breath
I talk about You all the time
You make me sing and dance and rhyme
You call me Yours, I call You mine
You are my soul You are my shine.
concerned parent in Crown Heights
great this is all we need for our young kinderlach. another rapper for them to blindly follow around, oiy what is this world coming to.
AY Lieberman
well done chuna yosef!!!
hatzlacha rabba
Fans on Crown Street
Chuna, this cd is going to be such a success! Your "live performances" are incredible…when’s your first local public performance? Make some room at the top, Matisyahu!
regards from the boys to you & Rivka!
moshiach is coming!!!!!!!!!
wow! lubavitch is really on the top!
to concered parent in Crown Heights
Not you again! how can this be made clear to you???!! its your choice if you’re kids listen to this stuff. Please, don’t sound so pathetic. don’t make it sound that they are all out of control. your the parent, right?
rockinRabbiinDenver
LOL LOL I love the first comment…OY – LOL I gotta give these guys credit…yea O know what many are gonna say but hey it is what it is….times are changing…the world has changed…at least these fine talented baal teshuva’s are doing so much postive in these ventures….keep it up…and for the naysayers….give it up already :O
ISchier
I had the privilege of listening to the demo disk of this album, and it is on a much higher Jewish and musical level than you might think without listening to it. While I did not listen to the whole album yet, the 3 samples I had, including Shine, put this in the ranks of quality alternative Jewish music like Aron Razel or Reva leSheva. This is probably a better alternative for teenagers who are testing the boundaries than some of the other stuff out there.
Think Good!!!!!!
ROCK ON!!!!!!!! to concerned parent in Ch : dont worry….. if you raised your children to not listen to this than they wont but if they do end up listening to something that u dissaprove of then u obviously need to do a better parenting job…. dont be hating!!!!!!
Shmuel K
Chuneh,
It’s those that don’t know what they don’t know that won’t make it! I knew you’d do it. Always good to see friends successful.
Rabbi S/B! Nice to hear from you.
nu nu
Mr think good,
Its called standards not hating.whats good or needed for the outside doesnt really belong over here.Just as what sometimes is required in a chabad house is not how or we should be raising our kids or living to that standard.
simple as that.
i agree and disagree with everybody...
I disagree with the last couple of comments, if you raise your child to not listen to goysih music , then yes you are right they wont, but when something like this comes along which clouds the border between jewish/non-jewish, then yes it is very detrimental for the youth, as they can always justify well atleast it is jewsih"…. Lubavitch Needs Chasideshe music out their, not in any way to put down these guys, they are greatm but we can not give the impression to the world that the Chabadnik;s are clouding the lines between jewish and not…..
happychossid
Chuna Yosef is the most talented musician u can ever imagine
Chuna Yosef is going to be number 1
sara
Please don’t forget what is says about Aron HAkohen. Ohev Shalom v’rodef shalom. Ohev es habrios UMIKURVUN la’Torah – THe Rebbe exolained that he bought them to the Torah and not the Torah on their level. Stop laughing/jiving others comments. Just because we don’t ALLOW IT doesn’t mean our kids won’t DO IT!! We do NEED to stop bringing the Torah down any level!!!! and keep it up there holy and something for us to strive towards – not away from.
Stay True
I Have to agree with
"i agree and disagree with everybody…"
Above.
Let’s not forget that This music is being sold in our stores (on Kingston Ave) with all the other Jewish music.
Making it look like it’s a very Jewish CD, and that it’s for everybody (If its next to Hupp Chassak, why not?.)
parent
parent :
i think its good for our kids especialy the teenages .alot of them walk around crownheights doing nothing with ther lives they think by acting fry it makes them cool. i think what they really need is a role modle.take matisyahu his a really good 1 and if we get out kids looking up to those sort of ppl then with hashems help they will turn out for the best
Chezzy
Hey Clown Heightsers,
If you want to have nachas from your kids, have respect & ahavas yiroel for each other! Don’t blame other people for your failures!
Art G.
My son likes the music. He listens to all kinds of music. The fact that this music caught his attention is a good thing. He has Hashem in mind. It does not matter how it is delivered, it is the message that is important. The music gets the message out.
Why not listen to it???????
Re: nu nu:
First of all it is Ms. Think Good!
And also the thing that is wrong with non Jewish music is the fact that you are connecting with a no jewish composer’s soul… now this is a JEWISH composer and singer so i dont see the issue. I also think that if you stopped and thought for a minute… IS there a halacha against this?? NO! there isnt and I dont see the problem.
Allan S
I think some of the comments are incredibly naive. Two boys who embrace the Chabad movement and attended the Rabbinical College of America have created music that praises Hashem and their music, THEIR MESSAGE, is criticized? By whom? People who have not listened to their music. Ironically, people whose very beliefs and values they have come to embrace.
Mom
Allan, I applaud you for your words of wisdom. It’s negativity that turns people off the way – especially children of those so unwilling to learn who their kids really are.
To all the parents out there: Stop looking for scapegoats and start talking & listening to your kids. Have some respect for their talents, ideas and feelings. Begin to realize that they are valued human beings and your flesh and blood even if they don’t follow your religious values to the T. Keep the relationship going and you will realize what wonderful children you have.
Musical thinker
There is very little music out there in the Jewish world that has any music content or distinctly Jewish feel. The lyrics are the defining factor. Many of Avrohom Fried’s songs utilize non-Jewish music genres (Shalom Alechem–reggae, other stuff-samba). A lot of the new so-called Chabad music uses club beats and puts them to nigunim. That’s as low as you can get. Chona and Menachem’s music is clean as a whistle. There lyrics are great. I personally won’t raise my kids on it, but if they were teenagers and were listening to it, I certainly wouldn’t freak out.
Simi-s
Rock on! Chuna & Menachem
We’re totally behind you! Lead the way!
We will march to your beat in the Messianic era!
Amen!
a humble parent
to all of the above comments, get a mashpia!
and get a mashpia that matches the qualifications that the rebbe has described.
educating your kids is going to come by educating your self and by knowing that your allways in need of more… no matter how much "teshuvah" you did, or by how "gezshe" you are!
Get a Mashpia
to all of you people out out there!!!!! I totally and completely agree with "a humble parent"!!!!!!!1
a big fan
what exactly is it about this music that ppl think is "not jewish"? please fill me in as i’ve listened to the whole CD. The lyrics are 100% kosher, more than that, they are inspiring and uplifting. not for your kids? thats fine, but don’t blame these musicians.