World rhymes

About four years ago, Kira Sender, now a sophomore kinesiology major, asked an Israeli friend at her Jewish summer camp to listen to one of her headphones. The funky hip-hop sound laced with Hebrew raps coming from the headphones was unlike anything she'd ever listened to, and she immediately began bobbing her head to the beats.

The band was Hadag Nachash, a veteran seven-member group who are to Israel what The Roots are to America. Sender convinced her friend to give her the band's album, Lazuz (To Move in English), and she has been following the band through the Internet ever since. But she's never been able to attend one of her favorite acts' concerts.

Fortunately for Sender and any Israeli music fan on the campus, Hadag Nachash is booked to play the Grand Ballroom Feb. 12 for its annual Washington-area concert. The band, which formed about 12 years ago in Jerusalem has toured the United States nine or 10 times since 2004 and loves playing for enthusiastic college crowds, Sha'anan Streett, the band's emcee and singer, said. The band's popularity is growing in America from years of shows and word-of-mouth promotion by American fans.

"A very large percentage of the Jewish community at Maryland enjoys Hadag Nachash," said Melissa Waksman, a sophomore special education major who helped bring the band to the campus as the Jewish Student Union's Israel programming chair. "I have seen them a bunch of times in concert, both in America and in Israel and their shows are very entertaining."

Hadag Nachash plays an unorthodox style of music, combining rap with funk, electro, jazz, rock and Middle Eastern instrumentals. The band's concerts, whether in a small club or at a giant festival, usually turn into a wild party.

"It's very alive, and we always get people dancing and getting down to our funky sound," Streett said. "There's so many of us and everybody brings something to the table for a full, open, dirty sound."

It's no wonder Hadag Nachash is a favorite among students; group members have described the band as being "for the youth." Hadag Nachash, which literally in Hebrew means "snake fish" is actually the Hebrew word for "new driver" spelled backwards, which is tagged in the back window of every person who has just gotten their license in Israel. New drivers are usually young people, and band members hope adolescents will put their tag on cars to confuse police.

Aside from promoting a rebellious spirit among teenagers, band members also promote positive activities for adolescents. They frequently recruit young, up-and-coming bands as opening acts and organize and play in the annual One Shekel Festival, a concert in under-privileged Israeli towns that costs the equivalent of $0.25, Streett said.

Hadag Nachash's lyrics are often socially conscious, discussing issues such as poverty, Israeli identity and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Although the band has been pegged as being left wing and even anti-Zionist, Streett stresses the band's music does not promote one political ideology, but rather challenges listeners to consider issues and form their own opinions.

"We never tell people what party or prime minister to vote for," Streett said. "We talk about freedom, equality and believe people should help each other."

However, the band does not shy away from the harsh realities of life in a tumultuous country. In "Misparim" ("Numbers"), Streett raps in Hebrew "Nine is the number of times I was too close to a terrorist attack."

The band's songs also reflect the members' sarcastic sense of humor, laced with cynicism. One of the band's biggest hits is the ironically upbeat "Shirat Hasticker" ("The Sticker Song"). Written by Israeli novelist David Grossman, the lyrics contrast political slogans from Israeli bumper stickers to illustrate the country's internal conflict.

After years of relentless touring and recording, Hadag Nachash has no intention of slowing down. The band is releasing a live CD and DVD, Hadag Nachash Live, and plans to start work on its fifth studio album this spring.

"We're getting stronger and more recognized in America," said Guy Margalit, the group's DJ.

Sender said she is bringing her boyfriend, who has never listened to Hadag Nachash, to the concert and hopes to turn other friends on to the band.

"I think it's awesome that they're playing here," Sender said. "They have a great flow and instrumentals and are huge in Israel."

Hadag Nachash performs at the Grand Ballroom in Stamp Student Union on Tuesday at 9 p.m. Tickets cost $15 in advance for students, $20 for non-students and $25 at the door.

arush@umd.edu