03.09.09 - Hasidic rapper credits Brookline hip-hop roots

The Boston Herald
Monday, March 9, 2009

By Inside Track
Simone Press

Hasidic rapper Nosson Zand credits the kids at the Egmont Street Projects in Brookline for introducing him to hip-hop.

“It was a few blocks away from my house, but it felt like a whole different world. The whole urban, hip-hop lifestyle really opened my eyes to a new way of seeing things,” said Zand, who will headline the Purim celebration tonight at the Chabad of North Shore in Swampscott and then hit Rumor for the after-party.

But the Egmont kids also taught him rhyming skills and, more important, the confidence to get on stage.

“There’s a certain level of confidence that exists within the inner-city culture as well as blatantly and rampantly within hip-hop culture,” he told the Track. “It gave me an aggressive outlook on things which has served me well.”

So it’s no surprise his favorite rappers of all time aren’t kosher: Sean Price, GZA of Wu Tang Clan and Andre 3000 from OutKast .

Zand, who just returned from a tour with famed Hasidic reggae artist Matisyahu, said there’s a possibility he’ll head out again with the artist this summer.

In the meantime, five of the Hasidic spitter’s hits are available on iTunes and Amazon . And you can follow him at www.kosherhiphop.com. Oy.