Kid Kosher is back with phat beats and dreidels

BY JENNIFER DOME
Staff Writer

SEAN BRADY Glen Fuchs, aka Kid Kosher, at last year’s holiday show at Jenkinson’s, Point Pleasant. BRICK — All the songs on Kid Kosher’s new album have two things in common — they’re about the holiday of Hanukkah and they have hip-hop beats.

“8 Nights of Hanukkah” is Glen Fuchs’ (aka Kid Kosher) new album that has five new songs and three from his previous album — one for each night of the Jewish holiday.

After he finished the first album in time for the holiday last year, Fuchs, a Brick resident, said he found that “people really liked it a lot.”

So, he teamed up again with Chris Colaneri, who recorded and mixed the tracks at the studio in his house. Both Fuchs and Colaneri have regular jobs, but they found the time to record the new album because, Fuchs said, “we like doing this; it’s a lot of fun.”

The three songs from his first album, “Light the Menorah,” “Spin the Dreidel,” and “Hip Hop Hanukkah,” have stayed relatively the same. Fuchs said he did change the lyrics in one song from “Where my Hebes at?” to “Where my Hebrews at?” after speaking with a rabbi who said that might be more appropriate. After this call-and-response segment, audience members are expected to yell back, “Shalom!”

“It’s kind of amusing without really meaning to be amusing,” Fuchs said.

Fuchs and Colaneri got started on their venture into Jewish music after looking through a display of Christmas albums. Fuchs said they realized that each year people buy the same Christmas music, so, they thought some people would be interested in Hanukkah music as well.

Fuchs and Colaneri call their production company A Jew and A Gentile Productions. Fuchs said that they both have learned a lot about Judaism through research for the songs.

Fuchs calls his music “very educational” and says he likes “clean” hip-hop, such as that by Will Smith.

“I like to keep it very family-friendly,” Fuchs said. “I’ve had 1-year-olds be-boppin’ when the music comes on.

“I try to keep it close to the kind of person that I am,” he added.

The topics of the five new songs range from the meaning of the word Hanukkah, which means “dedication,” to the story behind the dreidel game. Song No. 6, the title track, is the first song Fuchs wrote for the new album.

“It’s the Jewish version of the ‘12 Days of Christmas,’ ” Fuchs said.

After making his debut performance last year, radio personality Big Joe Henry, of 101.5 FM, invited Fuchs and Colaneri back to the Holiday Show at Jenkinson’s, Point Pleasant, on Dec. 11. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fuchs will perform between 1-2 p.m.

The Holiday Show also includes a popular collection of musicians, called Holiday Express, among other acts.

“I was very honored to share the stage with them last year,” Fuchs said.

As for the future of his Jewish hip-hop career, Fuchs said would like to go on and make music about other Jewish holidays, such as Passover, Shabbat and even bat mitzvahs.

Copies of “8 Nights of Hanukkah” will be available at Jenkinson’s on Dec. 11 and can be purchased online at www.kidkosher.net.