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Artist Profile
Sagol 59
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Label: Dan Greenman, JDub Records
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Over the years Sagol 59 has earned a reputation for his sharp social commentary and has gained nearly as much respect for his outspoken attitude as he has for his music. Sagol’s dynamic witticisms and unfailing willingness to draw from both contemporary and traditional sources set him apart from the throngs of Israeli MCs such as Subliminal and his “TACT Family crew” that are currently dominating Israel’s pop market.
Raised on Kibbutz Ein Hachoresh just north of Tel Aviv, Khen Rotem took the name Sagol 59 (“Purple 59”) from his Kibbutz-issue laundry tag. After his required three-year stint in military rolex replica watches intelligence for the Israeli Defense Force, Sagol turned to music, beginning his career in blues, funk and rock before finding his voice in hip hop. Shortly after he relocated to Jerusalem, Sagol was picked up by the city’s seminal—and now defunct—indie label, Fact Records.
JDub Records president Aaron Bisman met Sagol in 2000 at one of his first performances at the now closed Syndrome in Jerusalem. Their connection was maintained through a mutual friend, Ben Blutstein, who served as Sagol's DJ for a time and died in the 2002 Hebrew University bombing. Sagol's song "BIG BEN" stands not only as a moving tribute to a lost friend, but as the single most powerful and meaningful song to come out of the Israeli hip hop scene. “I have always admired the artistry and passion he pours into his work,” said Bisman.
Sagol has received much critical praise for his numerous groundbreaking collaborations with both Israeli and international artists, particularly “Summit Meeting” (feat. Tamer Nafar of Palestinian crew DAM & Shaanan Streett of Hadag Nachash), the first-ever collaborative recording featuring both Israeli and Arab MCs. He regularly hosts the Corner Prophets/Old Jeruz Cipher Hip Hop series, a cultural initiative meant to unite the diverse cultural communities located in Jerusalem through a shared interest in hip-hop. By working with Corner Prophets, Sagol’s goal is to inspire a new generation of Israelis and Palestinians that turn to art—not violence—as a means to find a common ground. Because of his groundbreaking work in this area, JDub brought Sagol (along with Tamar Nafar) to participate in 2004’s historic Unity Sessions concert in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, which featured Israeli, Arab, Jewish, and Muslim musicians. The Unity Sessions was the first event of its kind to occur in the United States and drew over 4,000 fans, garnering attention from URB Magazine, Scratch Magazine, CNN, NPR, The New York Times and Newsweek.
Besides his extensive collaborations with Middle Eastern MCs, Sagol has also worked with artists like DJ Spooky, Michael Franti, Yossi Fine and Killah Priest.
Latest_news
Girls in Trouble Premieres New Album on Tour!
Girls in Trouble’s Upcoming Album
Half You Half Me
Brings the Stories of Biblical Heroines to Light
On May 17th, 2011 JDub Records will release Half You Half Me, the sophomore album from “hauntingly lovely” (LA Weekly) group Girls in Trouble. Through Girls in Trouble, unrecognized Biblical heroines are given a voice to tell their side of the story. Brooklyn poet and multi-instrumentalist Alicia Jo Rabins’s lyrics bring these women to life with tales of androgynous storm demons, jealous sisters and knife accidents.
The album is already available for pre-order through iTunes! California tour information below!Hailed by Largehearted Boy as a “Favorite Album of 2009,” the band’s self-titled debut was “filled with stories of women from Jewish history that resonate strongly in today’s world.” In one song, Moses’s sister Miriam is exiled and struck with leprosy—in another, a little girl is sacrificed by her father. On Girls in Trouble’s debut, the women featured as passive heroes: on Half You Half Me, they fight back.
Half You Half Me is the logical next-step from the band’s debut: on Half You Half Me, lyrical and musical horizons expand past sweet story telling into more complex terrain.
Rabins gives voice to the first woman who dared to stand up for herself against man on the album’s first single, “We Are Androgynous.” Before Adam and Eve, there was Adam and Lilith, and they (literally) could not be separated. In one version of this creation myth, the pair originated as a two-headed being. After being split, Lilith acted as if she was Adam’s equal– and was banished from the Garden of Eden as a result.
Preview “We Are Androgynous” HERE!
Through Half You Half Me, the stories of these embattled Biblical women play out amidst a spirited orchestrated background. Girls in Trouble utilizes their full band to bring life to each song, featuring upright bass, drums, accordion, and electric guitars.
Learn more about Girls in Trouble through their MySpace page and follow their “California Exodus Dreaming Tour” on Facebook!
Catch Girls In Trouble when they perform LIVE in your city:
4/13/11 San Francisco Viracocha
4/14/11 Davis, CA Sophia’s Thai Kitchen*
4/15/11 Berkeley, CA Subterranean Art House*
4/16/11 Los Angeles IKAR
4/17/11 Los Angeles The Smell
4/20/11 San Diego Tin Can Alehouse
4/23/11 Santa Barbara Biko Garage
5/4/11 Columbia, MD Oakland Mills Interfaith Center
5/5/11 Raleigh, NC Pinhook
5/7/11 Atlanta, GA Highland Ballroom
5/8/11 Carrboro, NC Leo Gaev Metalworks
5/11/11 Baltimore, MD Windup Space
5/19/11 New York, NY Joe’s Pub
5/20/11 Hudson, NY Spotty Dog
5/29/11 Beckett, MA Dreamaway Lodge
* with Mirah
For press inquiries, please contact sharon@jdub.org
Sagol 59 Is Jerusalem’s Most Beloved! (Well, one of 100)
Time Out Jerusalem’s latest issue features 100 Jerusalem residents Israelis love, and “for some mysterious reason” (his words, not ours) Sagol 59 was listed in the “musicians” category! Below is a translation of the short interview conducted with the master of Israeli Hip-Hop.
Name: Sagol 59 (sometimes known as Khen Rotem), a respected M.C, one of the founding fathers of Israeli Hip Hop. Has 5 albums under his belt.
Age: 42
Lives in: Givat Ze’ev (originally from a kibbutz)
Why we chose him: Because he still believes he can change the world.
Things most people don’t know about him: Went to film school, lived in England, soon he will release a Blues album, all in Hebrew.
Motto for life: Always be sceptical about people who claim they have a motto for life.
Unreleased Israeli Hip Hop Album Finally Sees The Light
Israel’s acclaimed rap duo Peled & Ortega have finally released their shelved album Special Delivery. The two went their separate ways a couple of years ago, leaving their sophomore album in the vaults. Now, the long-awaited album is finally released via Bandcamp - with help from producers Ori Shochat and Michael Cohen. The posse cut “Open Mic” features our man Sagol 59 with a lyrically blazing final verse. Listen here:
Peled & Ortega’s “Open Mic”
“Klaat!” - New track featuring Sagol 59
Amir Estlein’s Greenhouse Effect ft. Sagol 59 - Klaat!
Here’s a new track by talented Israeli producer/singer/musician Amir Estlein, featuring a rap cameo by our own Sagol 59.
Sagol and Amir have just finished recording Sagol’s new album, which finds him taking a whole new artistic direction, venturing into Blues, Folk and Reggae.
This song, however, is a bonus track from Amir’s digitally released debut, “Reflections.” Enjoy!
http://soundcloud.com/sagol59/amir-estleins-greenhouse-effect-ft-sagol-59-klaat
Sagol 59 Live
Sagol 59 traveled from Israel to New York last week to perform at the CMJ Music Marathon. Check out this video and grab a copy of Make Room.
Video
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Move Forward (Lech Kadima)
Photos
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Rooftop Roots Volume IV
A JDub Mixtape (v/a)
2008
Out Of Stock
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Rooftop Roots Volume III
A JDub Mixtape - (v/a)
2007
Out Of Stock
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No events are scheduled for Sagol 59.
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