Socalled
Klezmer melodies meeting MPC breakbeats in a joyful collision of heritage and hip-hop. Accordion-heavy, sample-rich music for the culturally curious.
Klezmer melodies meeting MPC breakbeats in a joyful collision of heritage and hip-hop. Accordion-heavy, sample-rich music for the culturally curious.
Socalled creates a sound that feels like stumbling upon a secret party in the back of a 1920s Yiddish theater where someone brought a drum machine. It is a vibrant, dusty, and deeply rhythmic world where the mournful wail of a clarinet sits comfortably atop a chunky boom-bap beat. The music carries the weight of history but wears it with a wink and a grin, blending the soulful melancholy of Eastern European folk with the defiant energy of underground hip-hop.
What truly sets him apart is the specificity of his crate-digging. While most producers look to soul and funk, Socalled mines the forgotten archives of cantorial music and vaudeville, finding the 'funk' in the off-kilter rhythms of his own heritage. The result is a sonic collage that feels both ancient and futuristic, utilizing live accordion and piano to bridge the gap between digital sampling and organic performance.
Start with 'Ghettoblaster' to hear the definitive manifesto of his 'Klezmer Hip Hop' sound. It is an accessible entry point that showcases his ability to turn niche cultural artifacts into universal dancefloor anthems. From there, explore 'The So Called Seder' for a more conceptual and experimental take on tradition.
Joshua Dolgin (born December 28, 1976), better known by his stage name Socalled, is a Canadian rapper and record producer known for his eclectic mix of hip hop, klezmer, and other styles such as drum & bass and folk music. A pianist and accordion player, he has taught the latter at Klezfest London, where he has also run workshops in "hiphopkele". He has played with clarinetist David Krakauer's Klezmer Madness!, Michael Winograd and has also worked with artists such as rappers C-Rayz Walz, Chilly Gonzales, funk trombonist Fred Wesley, and Sophie Solomon. Dolgin has Ukrainian, Romanian and Russian roots.
Shares abstract hip-hop, boom bap (subgenres); playful, nostalgic, wistful (moods)
Shares abstract hip-hop, boom bap (subgenres); playful, nostalgic, wistful (moods)
Shares sample based, analog warmth, lo fi (production style); playful, nostalgic, rebellious (moods)
Shares abstract hip-hop, boom bap (subgenres); playful, wistful, rebellious (moods)
Shares abstract hip-hop, boom bap (subgenres); sample based, analog warmth, lo fi (production style)
Shares abstract hip-hop, boom bap, chamber pop (subgenres); sample based, analog warmth, lo fi (production style)
Shares abstract hip-hop, boom bap (subgenres); playful, wistful, rebellious (moods)
Shares abstract hip-hop, boom bap (subgenres); sample based, lo fi, analog warmth (production style)
Shares sample based, abstract hip-hop, boom bap, coffee shop (signature)
Shares abstract hip-hop, boom bap, rap, sample based (subgenre)
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