50 Shekel

Aviad Cohen, aka 50 Shekel, who hails from Brooklyn, New York, is not the first Jewish rapper -- the likes of the Beastie Boys and the short-lived 2 Live Jews came before him. But Shekel is aiming to make his Jewish heritage an integral part of his image, as is obvious by his name, a tribute to the wildly popular rapper 50 Cent.

50 Shekel's music career was inspired by 50 Cent and his hit "In Da Club," which flooded the airwaves last year. And in another take-off, Shekel calls his clique the Jew Unit, like 50 Cent's G Unit. While he could easily be perceived as making a joke with his name, Shekel says his platform isn't a mockery of hip hop or religion. By releasing peaceful music that reflects pride in his religion, Shekel wants to create a new cultural presence in the rap industry.

His single "In Da Shul" (shul is a house of worship) contains lyrics like, "You can find me in da shul, praying after school, honey I got the chewitz if you're jumping in my pool, I'm just into making peace, I ain't into causing trub, so come give me a hug, if you're into getting love."

50 Shekel, who has made a name for himself in New York playing events and clubs, is currently working on his debut album, "Enter the Spiel," which should be out soon.

WireTap: Are you a fan of 50 Cent? I'm assuming he had some influence in the name 50 Shekel.

50 Shekel: I do appreciate 50 Cent's music. Even though he and I come from different worlds, there are definitely many themes in his music and lyrics that I can relate to and connect with. Truthfully, if it weren't for 50 Cent and his "In Da Club" song that inspired me to write and record my kosher "In Da Shul" version, 50 Shekel would not exist. Straight up props to 50 and his producers for making a great track that brings smiles to people and inspires fun.

That's what I'm about as well, having fun. I'm also about inspiring my yiddas (translation: my fellow Jews) to be proud of their heritage and celebrate the Jew life, instead of hiding from their identity. I'm doing my best to spark a resurgence of Jewish heritage in entertainment. Someone needs to represent and I didn't see anyone really "Jewing" it the way I could relate to so I decided to do it since it was more important to me than anything else I had done before in my lifetime.

WT: When 50 Cent's name is no longer a commodity, how do you plan on continuing your career?

50: I think 50 Cent is an artist, not so much a commodity. Some might look at him as a commodity, but I look at people as people. I think my career will last as long as I want it to last and it has nothing to do with where 50 Cent's career goes. Like 50, I too have a story to tell through my rhymes, and people are listening. But you should know that this is more than a career to me. I'm doing this to represent my culture.

WT: What is your background? Nationality? Where did you grow up?

50: I am Israeli/Persian and also of Eastern European decent from Poland. I was born in Israel and my family left when I was two years old to pursue a future in the United States. I was raised in Brooklyn, New York, as well as in Teaneck, New Jersey. Some of my most memorable experiences have come straight out of Brooklyn. BK rocks!

WT: Have you always been a fan of rap? If so, who have been your favorites?

50: I have been a fan of rap since I was a kid being brought up on it in Brooklyn. I was the kid who rapped a Doug E. Fresh track at a Hanukkah party and who also laid out the flat cardboard refrigerator box on the street to break dance with friends. Run DMC are also an early childhood inspiration. Rap music has taken so many different turns in the past two decades. I wish more people would put out positive tracks like Run DMC, LL Cool J, Doug E. Fresh and Jurassic 5. When Eminem put out "Lose Yourself," I was like, "I wish this guy would do more tracks like this. It uplifts people and that's what we really need." I know that there are artists who are making a difference through their rap music and I chose this medium since it is a great way to tell a story and get a message out in a fun way.