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

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Esensten, Andrew (2021-10-12). "SoCal rapper Westside Gravy's next career move: Israel". J. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "'Don't 'All Lives Matter' My Zionism': Meet Young Gravy, The Next Great Jewish Rapper". The Forward. 2019-02-04. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  3. 1 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. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  5. 1 2 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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