Socalled: The Klezmer Hip-Hop Innovator

Socalled is the stage name of Josh Dolgin, a Canadian musician and producer who has forged a unique path by fusing traditional klezmer music with hip-hop, funk, and electronica. Hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, his innovative work, particularly the 2007 album "Ghettoblaster," brought him international acclaim and redefined the boundaries of Jewish music for a new generation.

Early career

Born in 1976, Josh Dolgin began his musical journey as a pianist, studying jazz and classical music before developing a deep fascination with old Yiddish 78 RPM records. His first major project was producing tracks for the Canadian klezmer revival band The Klezmatics, which led to his debut solo album, "HipHopKhasene," in 2001. This early work established his signature style of sampling and recontextualizing vintage Jewish music within modern beats.

Breakthrough

Socalled's breakthrough arrived in 2007 with the release of his sophomore album, "Ghettoblaster," on the JDub Records label. The album's inventive mix of styles and high-profile collaborations garnered critical praise and significant attention within world music circles. While it did not achieve mainstream chart success, "Ghettoblaster" became a cult classic and solidified his reputation as a pioneering force in alternative music.

Key tracks

You Are Never Alone — This track from "Ghettoblaster," featuring David Krakauer and Katie Moore, is a quintessential example of his genre-blending, merging soulful vocals with clarinet-driven klezmer.

The So Called Seder — A modern, hip-hop-infused Passover song that became a viral hit, demonstrating his ability to make traditional themes relevant to a contemporary audience.

These Are the Good Old Days — Featuring spoken word from author Mordecai Richler, this song highlights his skill in weaving archival audio and poignant reflection into his musical tapestries.

Following his breakthrough, Socalled expanded his collaborative reach, working with artists as diverse as funk legend Fred Wesley, rapper C-Rayz Walz, and even releasing a full album, "Sleepover," with pianist Arthur Goldstein. He has continued to release albums like "Peoplewatching" and "Di Frosh," while also composing for film and theater, further exploring the intersection of his diverse influences.

Artists exploring a similar fusion of cultural heritage with contemporary beats include Balkan Beat Box who also electrify traditional sounds with modern energy. David Krakauer is a frequent collaborator and master clarinetist pushing klezmer into new realms. Gogol Bordello shares a similar ethos of high-energy, genre-defying multicultural celebration.

The eclectic and vibrant music of Socalled finds a natural home on eclectic radio stations featured on this website. His tracks are regularly featured on independent music radio stations and specialty programs dedicated to world fusion, alternative hip-hop, and contemporary folk, captivating listeners with their unexpected sonic combinations.

You can discover the innovative sounds of Socalled by tuning into the variety of online radio streams available on onairium.com, where his genre-defying klezmer hip-hop continues to inspire and engage a global audience.