Jews in Hip Hop

Shyne isn't the first rap luminary to rep the Star of David.

Jews and Hip Hop - Former Bad Boy superstar Shyne surprised many when he converted to Judaism during his eight-year prison bid. Since his release, he's been seen sporting Jewish garb in Israel, letting his beard and sideburns grow, and at times renouncing his gangster-rap roots in favor of his new religious path. On August 1, he unveiled a new song, "King Crown of Judah," featuring Hasidic rap-reggae singer Matisyahu, which addresses his faith and conversion head on. We're not sure why people have been that surprised though — hip hop and Judaism have been crossing paths for years now. Click on for a look at some of the most prominent Jews in rap.  (Photo: UPI/Debbie Hill /Landov)

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Jews and Hip Hop - Former Bad Boy superstar Shyne surprised many when he converted to Judaism during his eight-year prison bid. Since his release, he's been seen sporting Jewish garb in Israel, letting his beard and sideburns grow, and at times renouncing his gangster-rap roots in favor of his new religious path. On August 1, he unveiled a new song, "King Crown of Judah," featuring Hasidic rap-reggae singer Matisyahu, which addresses his faith and conversion head on. We're not sure why people have been that surprised though — hip hop and Judaism have been crossing paths for years now. Click on for a look at some of the most prominent Jews in rap.  (Photo: UPI/Debbie Hill /Landov)

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Beastie Boys - Though the late Adam "MCA" Yauch later took up Buddhism, the Beastie Boys were rap's first Jewish superstars. Mazel tov! (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

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Rick Rubin - Super-producer Rick Rubin — who co-founded Def Jam and helped launch the careers of Run DMC and the Beastie Boys with his rap-rock mash-ups — may look like Jesus, but he was raised Jewish. (Photo: Evan Agostini/PictureGroup)

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Rick Rubin - Super-producer Rick Rubin — who co-founded Def Jam and helped launch the careers of Run DMC and the Beastie Boys with his rap-rock mash-ups — may look like Jesus, but he was raised Jewish. (Photo: Evan Agostini/PictureGroup)

MC Serch - As a member of 3rd Bass and an essential figure in Nas’ early career, MC Serch has cemented himself a place in hip-hop history. And if his latest venture is successful, he may have a place in television history, too. This week, his new daytime talk show, Serch, debuted via CBS. While it's not his first foray in TV (The White Rapper Show and Miss Rap Supreme), it is a surprising new venue for the veteran rapper. Read on for more interesting twists in rappers' careers.(Photo: Shareif Ziyadat/FilmMagic)

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MC Serch - MC Serch is Jewish, and before becoming a renowned radio and TV personality, he spit more fire than a menorah as a member of slept-on golden-era group 3rd Bass.     (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Bing)

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Drake - Drake is half Black and half Jewish, and he tipped a yarmulke to his heritage in the video for "H.Y.F.R.," which featured him getting "re-bar-mitzvah-ed" as a commitment to Judaism. "I went to a predominately Jewish school growing up," Drake said in a 2010 interview with Peter Rosenberg. "I definitely had a bar mitzvah...I was in synagogue; I had my yarmulke on."(Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images For The Recording Academy)

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Matisyahu - Matisyahu, a Hasidic Jew, tours the world, collaborated with Shyne in "King of Judah," and made inroads on Billboard's reggae charts with his blend of roots reggae, rap, beatbox, rock and religion.   (Photo: EPA/BALAZS MOHAI /Landov)

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Matisyahu - Matisyahu, a Hasidic Jew, tours the world, collaborated with Shyne in "King of Judah," and made inroads on Billboard's reggae charts with his blend of roots reggae, rap, beatbox, rock and religion.   (Photo: EPA/BALAZS MOHAI /Landov)

Doug E. Fresh - Though nowadays he swears by the Church of Scientology (sigh), back in the day Doug E. Fresh rocked a Star of David chain and subtly praised Yahweh on religious-themed songs like "All the Way to Heaven."    (Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

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Doug E. Fresh - Though nowadays he swears by the Church of Scientology (sigh), back in the day Doug E. Fresh rocked a Star of David chain and subtly praised Yahweh on religious-themed songs like "All the Way to Heaven."  (Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

Mac Miller - Mac Miller, the self-proclaimed "coolest Jewish rapper," talked about his heritage in an interview last year. "I'm raised Jewish; I had a bar mitzvah," Mac said, joking that he wanted to make a Hannukah song with Drake. "I celebrate the high holidays."  (Photo: Manuel Nauta /Landov)

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Mac Miller - Mac Miller, the self-proclaimed "coolest Jewish rapper," talked about his heritage in an interview last year. "I'm raised Jewish; I had a bar mitzvah," Mac said, joking that he wanted to make a Hannukah song with Drake. "I celebrate the high holidays."  (Photo: Manuel Nauta /Landov)

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Scott Storch - Multi-platinum beatmaker Scott Storch, who's crafted hits for Fat Joe, Dr. Dre and the Roots, doesn't call his company Tuff Jew Productions for nothing.  (Photo: WireImage)