Artists
Artist Profile
Sagol 59
- Contact
- Label - aaron@jdubrecords.org
Booking - jacob@jdubrecords.org
Marketing/Retail - elliot@jdubrecords.org
Publicity - emily@jdubrecords.org - Links
Little Johnny -
Corner Prophets - Website
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 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.
Though he has released four albums to date, Sagol has finally sets his sights on the US with his latest record, Make Room, to be released digitally May 6th 2008 on JDub Records. The album is both danceable and thoughtful, as its title refers to the literal ‘making room’ for peace in the Middle East. Produced by Johnny Hakatan (Little Johnny), a seventeen year-old dynamic Israeli prodigy, Make Room is the next step in the evolution of Sagol 59 as a permanent figurehead of international hip-hop. Together, they have delivered an album that is simultaneously chaotic, exciting, irreverent and political. These are hypnotizing beats, borne out of the mystical, bold rhythms of the climates in which they were created. Sagol’s newest masterpiece, Make Room, promises to be an album that will captivate listeners across the globe.
Latest_news
Israeli Hip Hop A Capellas
For all you producers / DJs Remixers out there: here’s a nice collection of 8 acapellas (vocal track only) of recent Israeli Hip Hop tracks. Courtesy of the artists themselves & Cookedlabs.com. Download and enjoy!
1.) Tachles - Nevermind
2.) Tacles ft. Elparver - If i had a Shekel
3.) Tachles - Brother Brother
4.) Ruff ft. Sagol 59 - Turning the page
5.) Lukatch ft. Ortega - Time for changes
6.) T.O.B ft. Ortega - Rookie of the year
7.) Ortega - Hopes
8.) Ortega - The right time
Introducing Reut Yehudai
Reut Yehudai might be the best-known/unknown singer in Israel right now. “Dvash” (Honey), her duet with singer Ari Gorali, was the most played song on Israeli radio last year, but most people on the street still don’t recognize her. That’s probably about to change, as she drops her debut album “Changing Speed” in a couple of weeks. Yaya Cohen-Harounoff (of Hadag Nachash fame) produced it and yours truly had the pleasure to contribute lyrics to one of the songs.
Included above is “Kinda Simple” (Kaze Pashut), the nice first video from the upcoming album.
Israeli Artists Help Haiti
This Friday, Jan 29th, at the Cameri Theater in Tel Aviv, a host of Israeli artists, musicians and actors will hold a fundraising event for the people of Haiti. All revenues will be transferred to Haiti by event organizator IFA (Israeli Flying Aid) and will be used for medical, humanitarian and spiritual assistance in Haiti.
Among the participants in the event: Ninette Tayeb, Mooky, Keren Peles, Ivry Lieder, Alma Zohar, Mosh Ben Ari, Jeremy Kaplan, Sagol 59 (me!) and many others. The event will be hosted by Sarit Vino-Elad and Danny Kushmaro.
Sagol 59, Ruff & Hasid - “7″ - Live In T.A
To get y’all warmed up for the Jerusalem Hip Hop extravaganza taking place at The Lab (Hamaabada)this Tuesday, here’s a new video of the event’s 3 featured M.Cs. JDubber Sagol 59 plus up-and-coming rappers Ruff and Hasid, performing the posse cut “7″ in Tel Aviv’s Barzilay club to an ecstatic crowd.
Jerusalem Gets Defrosted
For two days next week, Jerusalem will turn into the music, arts, theatre, food, drink and good vibes center of Israel, as the de:frost festival will offer hundreds of parties, gigs, plays, exhibitions and other mainstream, fringe and guerilla events. And if you’re looking to catch some authentic Jerusalem Hip Hop flavour, on January the 19th Sagol 59, Hasid and Ruff will perform at The Lab (Hamaabada).
Video
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Move Forward (Lech Kadima)
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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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