Pioneers of Israeli Hip Hop Criticize 'Black Gold' Series for Omitting Their Legacy
The Israeli hip hop group IS Hop, one of the earliest pioneers of the genre in Israel, has expressed strong disappointment over their exclusion from the documentary series "Black Gold" by Kan 11, which chronicles the history of Israeli rap and hip hop. IS Hop was founded in 1994 by Shi Goldenberg and the late Yehud Shmueli, releasing their album "I Came at the Wrong Time" in 1995 under NMC, featuring notable tracks like "He Has a Party" and "Neighborhood Song." Goldenberg, speaking from New York, lamented that despite their foundational role, the series failed to mention them, even though they were among the first to perform Hebrew hip hop in Israel, predating artists like Buck 6.
Goldenberg recalled their early performances at Tel Aviv’s Sweto club, opened by Gil Rasta, and their appearances at major festivals such as Akhziv and Arad, with their music receiving significant radio play and royalties. He criticized the tendency to forget the origins of the genre amid the rise of new artists, emphasizing that their influence persists, citing examples like rapper Tuna sampling their song "Shambola." The group had planned new releases before Shmueli’s death in April 2023.
The series "Black Gold," created by Rom Atik and Amri Dekel Kadosh, has faced multiple critiques beyond IS Hop’s omission. Music critic Yoav Kutner accused the series of distorting his statements and downplaying hip hop’s significance. Additionally, Hadar Goldman from the band Siam challenged the portrayal of Yair Nitzani’s 1986 song "HaAsham Tamid" as the first Hebrew rap track, asserting that their 1984 hit "Tel Aviv Downtown" was the true pioneer. Goldman vowed to hold the series creators accountable for what he described as historical inaccuracies.
These criticisms highlight ongoing debates about the accurate documentation of Israeli hip hop’s origins and the recognition of its early contributors, underscoring tensions between newer narratives and foundational artists.
