DJ HANDLER (NYC) – Erez a.k.a. dj handler is the founder and director of Shemspeed (largest, most diverse Jewish music site), Modular Moods (an independent record label), The Sephardic Music Festival and Hip Hop Sulha. As the brains behind the Shemspeed empire and many of the hyped parties in and around NYC, dj handler defies musical stereotypes. As a multicultural maestro, he spins a mix of Baile Funk and Afro Beat blended with 80′s free style and hip hop, while incorporating Ashkenazic cantorial music and traditional Yemenite melodies . He has performed with Lou Reed, Anthony Coleman, Matisyahu, MC Paul Barman, Spankrock, and Idan Raichel, and countless others. The Village Voice stated that his work “as producer and DJ is among the most adventurous and banging on the new Jewish music scene;” and the Forward listed him as one of the Top 50 “most influential Jews of 2007″. dj handler’s music, style, and presence get famous US clubs to resemble the craziest festivals abroad.

The Jewlicious Festival Concert Series

Y-Love (Yitz Jordan-NYC) is an MC unlike any other; he converted to Orthodox Judaism in 2000, and later took on the traditions of Hasidism (the mystical branch of Orthodox Judaism). He is among the most innovative MCs on the scene, weaving seamless polyglot rhymes in English, Arabic, Yiddish, and Hebrew. Most unique is Y-Love’s revival of Aramaic, the language used to discuss Jewish Law and Kabbalah. With each word he spits in the tongue of ancient Babylon, Y-Love breathes new life into hip-hop, one beat at a time.

Y-Love has performed with these fine folks, Lou Reed, DJ Spooky, Hadag Nachash, Matisyahu, & Steinski at venues ranging from Princeton to Irving Plaza. Y-Love was the subject of over 50 articles just this past year. URB Magazine’ featured Y-Love, on their site, as their artist of the month. At the 2006 Jewish Music Awards, Y-Love took home the award for “Best Hip Hop Artist”. Through his unique style and music, Y-Love shows incredible talents in bringing races and religions together with the power of Hip Hop and his own personal positivity.