Hadag Nahash is an Israel

Israel

The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

i hip hop

Hip hop music

Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...

/funk

Funk

Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...

 band, founded in 1996 in Jerusalem. The band is known for its leftist political statement

Political statement

The term political statement is used to refer to any act or non-verbal form of communication that is intended to influence a decision to be made for or by a political party....

s in many of its songs.

Name and symbols

The group's name literally means the snake-fish. It is also, however, a Hebrew spoonerism

Spoonerism

A spoonerism is an error in speech or deliberate play on words in which corresponding consonants, vowels, or morphemes are switched . It is named after the Reverend William Archibald Spooner , Warden of New College, Oxford, who was notoriously prone to this tendency...

 on the phrase "Nahag Chadash" (Hebrew: נהג חדש, "A New Driver"). In Israel, people who have only recently gotten their driver's licenses must place a tag on their back window with these words.

The band's icon, depicting a child urinating, comes from a Hebrew idiom loosely translated as I will show you from where the fish urinates (אני אראה לך מאיפה משתין הדג) meaning something akin to "I will show you how it's done."

Musical Style

Like many Israeli pop musicians such as Teapacks

Teapacks

Teapacks was an Israeli band that formed in 1988 in the southern Israeli city of Sderot. Originally the band was named after the correction fluid Tipp-Ex, but the name was then changed so as not to infringe on the well-known brand....

 and the Idan Raichel

Idan Raichel

Idan Raichel is an Israeli singer-songwriter and a musician, known for his Idan Raichel Project , distinctive for its fusion of electronics, traditional Hebrew texts, Middle Eastern and Ethiopian music. Prior to the Project, Raichel was a keyboardist, collaborating with artists such as Ivri Lider...

 project, Hadag Nahash blends Western pop music with Eastern elements to create a sound tapestry containing influences from funk and world music. The band notes that although its style is hip-hop-oriented, its music is placed in that section in Israel because marketing executives at the group's label did not know how to classify the band's style, despite it being closer to groups such as the Brand New Heavies

Brand New Heavies

The Brand New Heavies are an acid jazz and funk group formed in 1985 in Ealing, a suburb of London, England.-Biography:The Brand New Heavies began in the 1980s as an instrumental acid jazz group called Brother International....

 than Wu-Tang Clan

Wu-Tang Clan

The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...

 or A Tribe Called Quest

A Tribe Called Quest

A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...

.

History

Hadag Nahash has been major contributors to the Israeli hip-hop scene, and is presently one of Israel's most successful bands, with six albums behind them.
The band's songs call for peace, tolerance and equality, and include political and social protest. Most songs are written by Sha'anan Streett, the band's lead vocalist.

In 2000, Hadag Nahash released its first studio album "Hamehona Shel Hagroove" , which was written by and composed by the entire band. The album included well-known songs such as "Lo Mevater" and "Af Ehad," which both featured Israeli singer Mazi Cohen.

Hadag Nahash's second studio album, "Lazuz" , was released in 2003 and produced by Yossi Fine. The album was an immediate success and sold over 30,000 copies, with hits such as "Gabi ve Debi," "Misparim," and "Lo Frayerim." The album featured famous Israeli musicians such as Berry Sakharof

Berry Sakharof

Berry Sakharof is an Israeli rock guitarist, songwriter and singer.-Biography:Sakharof was born in Izmir, Turkey in 1957. His family immigrated to Israel when he was 3 years old.-Start of career:...

.

"Gabi V'Debi" was notable for its political message. Hadag Nahash sings about meeting Gabby and Debby, characters from a children's show that was part of the Let's Learn English series, who, in the show, had a magic stick that could transport them to any time and place. They offer to take the narrator wherever he wants – as long as it has a positive Zionistic

Zionism

Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...

 message for the children. The three visit first Herzl

Herzl

Herzl is originally a Yiddish given name.* Herzl Berger* Herzl Bodinger* Theodor Herzl Gaster* Cyrus Herzl Gordon* Yehudah Herzl Henkin* Herzl Rosenblum* Herzl Yankl Tsam- Family name :* Theodor Herzl, most famous "Herzl"** Herzl Award...

 and then Trumpeldor, two famous promoters of Zionism, and find each to be a far cry from their idealized images. Most notably they see Herzl on drugs and offering them the same, using a paraphrase of the motto of Zionism: "If you will it, it is not a legend." This audacious and controversial song is typical of Hadag Nahash.

Yossi Fine also produced the band's third studio album, "Homer Mekomi" , which was released in 2004. The biggest hit out of the album was "Shirat Hasticker

Shirat Hasticker

Shirat Hasticker , known as "The Sticker Song" in English, is a song recorded by Israeli hip-hop group Hadag Nahash.In 2003, the popular Israeli hip-hop group Hadag Nahash released the CD 'Chomer Mekomi' , which was an instant hit among the Israeli public. However, the most famous song by far was...

" , which was written by Israeli novelist David Grossman

David Grossman

David Grossman is an Israeli author. His books have been translated into more than 30 languages, and have won numerous prizes.He is also a noted activist and critic of Israeli policy toward Palestinians. The Yellow Wind, his non-fiction study of the life of Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied...

. The lines of the song are all slogans seen on Israeli bumper stickers. The opposing political slogans are juxtaposed to create an angry and ironic portrait of political and religious life in Israel. Other notable songs from the album are "Halifot," "Hakafa Metzaltzelet," and "Rak Po." The album attained platinum status and the band was named Band of the Year by Galgalatz and Reshet Gimel, Israel's leading popular radio stations.

In 2006, Hadag Nahash released "Be'ezrat Hajam" , which was named Album of the Year at the Israel Music Awards. The album, recorded at In the Pocket studios in California, was the first album in which the vocals were divided equally between Sha'anan Streett and DJ Guy Mar. "Be'ezrat Hajam" contained the hit "Hine Ani Ba" written by Guy Mar about moving from his hometown Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. "Hine Ani Ba" is also an example of a song with a political or cultural message, as it depicts a cultural struggle between Jerusalem, a symbol of Israel's heritage, and Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...

, a hub for young people and nightlife. One marker of its success is that this song is also featured in the Adam Sandler

Adam Sandler

Adam Richard Sandler is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, musician, and film producer.After becoming a Saturday Night Live cast member, Sandler went on to star in several Hollywood feature films that grossed over $100 million at the box office...

 movie You Don't Mess with the Zohan

You Don't Mess with the Zohan

You Don't Mess with the Zohan is a 2008 American comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan, written by Carlito Cabardo, and produced by and starring Adam Sandler. This is the fourth film which has starred Sandler and has been directed by Dugan...

.

In March 2008 Hadag Nahash released its first live album, "Hadag Nahash Live", released both as a CD and a DVD.

In December 2009, Hadag Nahash released the first single from its sixth album, 6: a protest song against the rising internal violence in Israeli society, called "Od Ah Ehad" . Further singles from the album were "Shir Nehama," which featured Israeli traditional guitarist Yehuda Keisar; "Ani Ma'amin"; and "Lo Maspik." The latter was selected by EA Games for soundtrack of The Sims

The Sims

The Sims is a strategic life-simulation computer game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. Its development was led by game designer Will Wright, also known for developing SimCity...

 3 expansion pack The Sims 3: Late Night, and was re-recorded in Simlish

Simlish

Simlish is a fictional language featured in EA Games' Sim series of games. It debuted in SimCopter, and has been especially prominent in The Sims, The Sims 2 and The Sims 3. The Sims development team created the unique Simlish language by experimenting with fractured Ukrainian, French, Latin,...

.

Group members

• Shaa'nan Streett - Vocals
• Guy Mar - Vocals, Turntables (DJ)
• David (Dudush) Klems - Keyboards
• Moshe "Atraf" Asraf - Drums
• Yair (Yaya) Cohen Harounoff - Bass
• Shlomi Alon - Saxophone, Flute, Vocals

Performance partners

• Yossi Fine - Bass
• Yair Slutzki - Trombone
• Yossi Mizrahi E-Shine - Electric Guitar
• Nir Geva - Electric Guitar
• Yaron Mohar - Saxophone
• Matan Gov Ari - Trumpet
• Ophir "Kuti" Kutiel
  Kutiman
  Ophir Kutiel , professionally known as Kutiman, is a musician, composer, producer and animator from Israel. He is best known for creating the online music video project ThruYOU, as well as his self-titled album and collaboration with many artists including Maroon 5.-Background:Ophir Kutiel was...
  
   - Keyboards
• Arik Levy - Saxophone
• Yaron Ouzana - Trombone
• PR Troopers - Rap
• Little Johnny - Rap
• Sefi Tziesling - Trumpet
• Galia Yaron - Vocals
• Galit Dahan - Vocals
• Odelia Dahan - Vocals
• Ayala Ingedashet
  Ayala Ingedashet
  Ayala Ingedashet , born in Ethiopia and lived in Israel from the age of 2. At the age of 14 she joined a youth band in Ashdod and in the military she was part of a Navy band. Her musical influences included Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill. She was signed by Israeli record label Hed Arzi, becoming the...
  
   - Vocals
• Roy Adari - Rap
• MC Shiri - Rap

Past members

• Amir Ben Ami - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
• Meir Shalivo - Trumpet
• Shahar Mintz - Electric Guitar
• Yaron Mohar - Saxophone
• Avi Lebovich - Trombone
• Guy David - Trumpet
• Rafi Malkiel - Trombone
• Nir Manzur - Percussion
• DJ Johnny Balista - Turntables
• Yotam Afik - Electric Guitar
• "Shu Ismak" Roy Sunak - Trumpet

Studio albums

• Ha Mechona Shel Ha Groove
  Ha Mechona Shel Ha Groove
  HaMehona Shel HaGruv "The Groove Machine”) is the debut studio album by Israeli hip hop funk outfit Hadag Nachash . This album is arguably its most funk-oriented, featuring more funk-esque musical backing than the more typical hip-hop style musical backing found on its later albums...
  
  (The Groove Machine, 2000)
  1. Lo M'vater ("Won't Give Up", לא מוותר)
  2. Ha Mechona Shel Ha Groove ("The Groove Machine", המכונה של הגרוב)
  3. Shalom Salaam Peace (שלום סלאם פיס)
  4. Jerusalem (ג'רוזלם)
  5. Trumpeldor (טרומפלדור)
  6. MiBayit [Ayzeh Ganuf!] ("Look Ahead [So Kewl!]", [מביט [איזה גנוב!)
  7. Af Ehad ("No One", אף אחד)
  8. Avaryan ("Criminal", עבריין)
  9. Tza'Tzua ("Toy", צעצוע)
  10. HaVolyum Oleh ("The Volume Rises", הווליום עולה)
  11. Hadag Nahash [Jam] ("Hadag Nahash [Jam]", הדג נחש [ג'אם])
  12. Cusamamaaq ("Motherfucker", קוסאמאמאק)
• Lazuz
  LaZuz
  LaZuz is Hadag Nachash's second studio album. It was released in 2003, and features one of their most popular hits, "LaZuz" .-Track listing:#"Got Up" – 3:35 - Kamti - קמתי#"To Move" – 4:04 - Lazuz - לזוז...
  
  (To Move, 2003)
  1. Kamti ("Got Up", קמתי)
  2. Lazuz ("To Move", לזוז)
  3. Sod Ha'Hatzlaha ("Secret to Success", סוד ההצלחה)
  4. Misparim ("Numbers", מספרים)
  5. Lo Frayerim ("Not Suckers", לא פראיירים)
  6. Frayerim ("Suckers", פראיירים)
  7. Gabi Ve Debi ("Gabi & Debi", גבי ודבי)
  8. Gan Eden ("The Garden of Eden", גן עדן)
  9. Gan HaTut ("The Strawberry Garden", גן התות)
  10. Bela Belisima (בלה בליסימה)
  11. BelisiDub (בליס דאב)
  12. Mechonat Ha'Tut ("The Strawberry Machine", מכונת התות)
  13. Ze Lo Ani ("It Wasn't Me", זה לא אני)
• Homer Mekomi (Local Material, 2004)
  1. Mithamem ("It's Heating Up", מתחמם)
  2. Bereishit ("In the Beginning", בראשית)
  3. Shirat Hasticker
     Shirat Hasticker
     Shirat Hasticker , known as "The Sticker Song" in English, is a song recorded by Israeli hip-hop group Hadag Nahash.In 2003, the popular Israeli hip-hop group Hadag Nahash released the CD 'Chomer Mekomi' , which was an instant hit among the Israeli public. However, the most famous song by far was...
     
      ("The Sticker Song", שירת הסטיקר)
  4. Halifot ("Uniforms", חליפות)
  5. Johnny HaKatan ("Little Johnny", ג'וני הקטן)
  6. HaKafa HaMtzaltzelet ("The Ringing Slap", הכאפה המצלצלת)
  7. HaPeh Lifto'ah ("The Mouth To Open", הפה לפתוח)
  8. Shvita ("Strike", שביתה)
  9. Muzika ("Music", מוזיקה)
  10. Yatziv ("Stable", יציב)
  11. Rak Po ("Only Here", רק פה)
  12. Melodika ("Melody", מלודיקה)
  13. Ma Na'aseh? ("What Can We Do?", מה נעשה?)
  14. Ratziti SheTida (Elohim Sheli) ("I Wanted You to Know [My God]", רציתי שתדע [אלוהים שלי])
• Be'ezrat Ha'Jam
  Be'ezrat Ha'Jam
  Be'ezrat Ha'Jam is Hadag Nachash's fourth studio album. The name of the album, a pun on the Jewish phrase "Be'ezrat Ha'Shem" , literally meaning "with the help of god", or translated into modern speech, "God willing", literally means "with the help of the jam"...
  
  (With the Help of Jam, 2006)
  1. Lotus ("Lotus", לוטוס)
  2. California (קליפורניה)
  3. Ma She'Ba Ba ("What Comes Comes", מה שבא בא)
  4. Hine Ani Ba ("Here I Come", הנה אני בא)
  5. Kol Ha'Chuchot ("All the Chuchot", כל הצ'וצ'ות)
  6. Lehithalek Ba'Ir ("To Slide in the City", להתחלק בעיר)
  7. Statistika ("Statistics", סטטיסטיקה)
  8. Saga ("Saga", סאגה)
  9. Me'Habama Lehaftziz ("To Bomb from the Stage", מהבמה להפציץ)
  10. Teraga ("Relax", תרגע)
  11. Eize Keif ("What Fun", איזה כיף)
  12. Lehavi Et Ha'Maka ("To Bring the Hit", להביא את המכה)
  13. Shabhi Yerushalaim ("Bless Jerusalem", שבחי ירושלים)
• 6
  6 (Hadag Nachash album)
  6 is the sixth album and fifth studio album of Israeli hip-hop band Hadag Nachash. The album was released in February 2010 on the Eighth Note label under the production of Yossi Fine....
  
  (2010)
  1. Super Groove (סופר גרוב)
  2. Ani Ma'amin ("I Believe", אני מאמין)
  3. Lo Maspik ("Not Enough", לא מספיק)
  4. Shir Nechama ("Consolation Song", שיר נחמה)
  5. BaSalon Shel Solomon ("In Solomon's Living Room", בסלון של סלומון)
  6. Od Ach Echad ("One More Brother", עוד אח אחד)
  7. Little Man
  8. Many Lights
  9. Jambalaya
  10. Ma'arbolet Shel Chol" ("Vortex of Sand", מערבולת של חול)
  11. War
  12. Super Groove (סופר גרוב)
  13. That Ain't What It's All About

Live albums

• Hadag Nahash: Live (2008) (הדג נחש: לייב)
  1. "Lotus" (5:38)
  2. "California" (4:06)
  3. "LaZuz" (4:44)
  4. "Misparim" (2:47)
  5. "Chalifot" (5:39)
  6. "Statistika" (4:35)
  7. "Af Echad" (3:37)
  8. "Ma SheBa Ba" (4:06)
  9. "HaKafa HaMetzaltzelet" (4:47)
  10. "Kol' HaMan'yak" (3:53)
  11. "Ma Naase" (7:20)
  12. "Lo Mevater" (6:42)
  13. "Eize Keif" (5:49)
  14. "MeHaBama Leaftzitz" (4:46)
  15. "Lo Fraerim" (4:47)
  16. "Shirat HaSticker" (6:53)
  17. "Hine Ani Ba" (5:28)
  18. "Gan HaTut" (5:25)
  19. "Shibhi Yerushalaim" (4:07)
  20. "Ratziti SheTada" (5:53)
  21. "Leavi Et HaMaka" (8:32)