Westside Gravy

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

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

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

^ ^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.

External links

[:0-1] Esensten, Andrew (2021-10-12). "SoCal rapper Westside Gravy's next career move: Israel". J. Retrieved 2023-08-19.

[:1-2] "'Don't 'All Lives Matter' My Zionism': Meet Young Gravy, The Next Great Jewish Rapper". The Forward. 2019-02-04. Retrieved 2023-08-20.

[:2-3] Pennisi-Glaser, Leah (7 June 2021). "Rapping my identity". www.thejc.com. Retrieved 2023-08-21.

[4] ""Westside Gravy" is spreading Jewish identity through Hip-Hop". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 2023-08-20.

[:3-5] 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.

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