American rappers and Yiddishe mothers may not share many traits, but it has emerged that they have one great love in common: Jewish lawyers.
Jay Z, Cam’ron, Kanye West and Jim Jones are just some of the hip-hop stars to have rhymed about their affection for their Semitic solicitors.
The extent of the collective love-in was revealed after a montage video was posted on YouTube showing clips of no less than 20 artists praising their ‘Jew lawyer’ in their rap songs.
Criminal defence attorney Ben Brafman, who has defended, in his words “Jay Z , P Diddy, and Fifty Cent among others”, says Jews should be proud to be represented in this way.
He said: “We can either be offended or proud. I accept proud. The fact that they trust their lives and careers to Jewish lawyers when in trouble, suggests that they recognise our wisdom, knowledge and professionalism.”
In the ‘supercut’ montage posted by YouTube user Slacktory, superstar Jay Z raps: “Had to get some chollah bread so you can holla back, and holla that / My Jewish lawyer too enjoyed the fruit of letting my cash stack.”
A$AP Ferg boasts: “I ain’t wanna pull it, but I had to do it / I be out tomorrow, my lawyer’s Jewish.”
Two Jewish rappers also feature in the video. The halachically Jewish, half-Albanian Action Bronson has sound advice, rapping: “Employ a lawyer that’s been barmitzvahed / Never trust a goyim.”
Canadian-born Drake shot one of his videos in tallit and kippah. In the video, he MCs: “I got a Jewish lawyer as my lead defender/A mitchkeit as they say, he’s a legal bender.”
The only note of dissent came from Brooklinite Fabolous, who was impressed that he had never been sent to jail despite lacking a Jewish advocate, rhyming: “Gun charge, oh yeah, I had like two/My black lawyer beat them, never had a Jew.”
Hip-hop expert Russell Myrie explained how the link came about. He said: “N.W.A had Jerry Heller, jazz artists had their lawyers; there’s a long standing relationship between black artists and their lawyers.
“It’s like another accessory to boast about. They boast about their fly car and fly trainers, their business acumen, they like to boast that they have the best, and in the US, the stereotype is that Asians are the best at maths, and there’s this stereotype about Jewish lawyers.”
