Shemspeed


Shemspeed is an American independent recording label and promotional agency, working primarily in the genres of hip hop, dancehall, pop and world music. Shemspeed was started in 2007 by Erez Safar. Shemspeed injects a Hebrew word for God, "Shem," to mean "," or "good luck."

Merchandise

Shemspeed's website, Shemspeed.com, focuses on Jewish music and music videos, events listings, features and reviews, and a music and apparel store. To promote the website’s launch, Safar booked four concerts in four nights at venues in Jerusalem, London, New York and Los Angeles with over 40 live acts in total.
In early 2010, Shemspeed began selling a blue and white "Israeli keffiyeh" with Stars of David and the Hebrew slogan "Am Yisrael Chai". Manufactured by Baruch Chertok’s company, Dveykus, the scarves caused some minor controversy by putting a Jewish spin on the Middle Eastern garb most prominently associated with the former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Safar defended the sale of the keffiyehs, noting that Jews indigenous to the Middle East have worn some variation of the keffiyeh for thousands of years.

Events

Sephardic Music Festival

Shemspeed organizes an annual Sephardic Music Festival, which is held at various venues in New York City around Hanukkah.
Shemspeed released the 2010 compilation album Sephardic Music Festival, Vol. 1, featuring Middle Eastern-influenced tracks from several Jewish artists, including Matisyahu, Pharaoh's Daughter, DeScribe, Moshav and Sarah Aroeste. A second volume was released in 2012.

Hip Hop Sulha

Shemspeed also organizes Hip Hop Sulha, a concert series promoting interfaith tolerance. The concerts have featured Jewish acts such as the Americans Yuri Lane and Y-Love and the Israeli Sagol 59 alongside Arabic artists like Saz and the N.O.M.A.D.S.

Artists

Albums