Los Serenos Sefarad Explained

Los Serenos Sefarad
Origin:Seattle, Washington
Genre:Jewish hip hop, Sephardic music, Judaeo-Spanish hip-hop
Years Active:–present
Associated Acts:Nissim, Orgullo Mexicano
Website:Los Serenos Sefarad
Current Members:Rabbi Simon Benzaquen
Alejandro "Alex" Hernandez
Netzaj Mendoza

Los Serenos Sefarad ("The Sefarad Watchmen") is an American Judaeo-Spanish-language Jewish hip hop group from Seattle, Washington. They were formed in 2014 by Rabbi Simon Benzaquen (vocals, songwriting), Alejandro "Alex" Hernandez (rapping, producer, guitar), and Netzaj Mendoza (producer).[1] They released their debut album, Los Bilbilikos, in September 2017.

History

Los Serenos Sefarad was formed in January 2014 by Moroccan-born[2] Sephardic Rabbi Simon Benzaquen and Mexican-born rapper/guitarist Alejandro "Alex" Hernandez. Benzaquen, the former rabbi of Bikur Holim Congregation in Seattle's Seward Park neighborhood, was initially uninterested in hip hop but gained a deeper understanding while overseeing the conversion studies of rapper Nissim Black (formerly D. Black), and prominently collaborated with Black on his song "Sores" [3] and several concerts.[4] Hernandez had moved to Seattle from Chihuahua, Mexico. One of their first collaborations in 2013 was a rap version of the Ladino Hanukkah song "Ocho Kandelikas".[5] Their first performances in Seattle were at Seward Park's SPARK Jewish Music Festival.

On November 9, 2015, the group released their first music video, "La Vida Do Por El Raki".[6] In 2016, they released the songs "La Serena" (The Sentinel)[7] and "Adyjo Keryda Espanya" (Goodbye My Beloved Spain),[8] the latter written about the expulsion of Jews during the Spanish Inquisition on 1492.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Music videos

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Large. Jerry. Infusing ancient Ladino songs with rap to keep a culture alive. The Seattle Times. 2 September 2015. 2 September 2015.
  2. Web site: Shimon Benzquen.
  3. Web site: Sores Feat Rabbi Simon Benzaquen and Nissim Black. YouTube. Sep 12, 2013.
  4. Web site: Tomky. Naomi. Meet the Rapping Rabbi of Seattle. The Forward. 21 May 2015. 21 May 2015.
  5. Web site: Emily K. Alhadeff. In Seattle, a Sephardi Ladino Revival Takes Hold. Tablet. 25 August 2016. July 23, 2014.
  6. Web site: La Vida Do Por El Raki. YouTube. Nov 9, 2015.
  7. Web site: La Serena. YouTube. Feb 26, 2016.
  8. Web site: Adyjo Keryda Espanya. YouTube. Aug 16, 2016.