JDub Records is a non-profit record and event production company striving to build community through new and innovative Jewish music and cross cultural musical dialogue.

History

Founded in December 2002 by two NYU students, Ben Hesse and Aaron Bisman, JDub has grown into an internationally recognized brand and has introduced proud Jewish voices squarely into mainstream culture, offering young adults opportunities to connect with their Judaism in the secular world in which they live. In its start-up phase, JDub focused on developing a small cadre of artists, including Matisyahu

Matisyahu

Matthew Paul Miller , better known by his Hebrew name and stage name Matisyahu, is an American Hasidic Jewish reggae and alternative rock musician....

, SoCalled

Socalled

Josh Dolgin, aka Socalled, is a Canadian rapper and producer, known for his eclectic mix of hip hop, klezmer and other styles, for example drum & bass and other types of folk music. A pianist and accordion player, he has taught the latter at Klezfest London, where he has also run workshops in...

, and Balkan Beat Box

Balkan Beat Box

Balkan Beat Box is an Israeli musical group founded by Tamir Muskat, Ori Kaplan of Firewater and Big Lazy, and Tomer Yosef . As a musical project they often cooperate with a host of other musicians both in the studio as well as live...

, and introducing its unique programming to its target audience, primarily through events in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

, festivals such as Bonnaroo, national CD releases, and via national media outlets such as MTV

MTV

MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....

 and The New York Times

The New York Times

The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...

.
In October 2009, JDub adopted Jewcy

Jewcy

Jewcy is an online magazine and user community. The site was launched on November 15, 2006. The Guardian has described Jewcy as "a cultural icon" and "at the forefront of a reinvention of Jewish identity by young US Jews."...

, an online magazine and blog.

In December 2009, JDub announced a strategic partnership with Nextbook

Nextbook

Nextbook is a nonprofit, Jewish organization founded in 2003 to promote Jewish literature, culture, and ideas. The organization sponsors public lectures, commissions books on Jewish topics, and publishes an online magazine, Tablet Magazine....

 which publishes books in collaboration with Random House's Shocken imprint, and produces Tablet Magazine

Tablet Magazine

Tablet Magazine is a two-time National Magazine Award-winning online publication of Jewish life, arts, and ideas. Sponsored by Nextbook, it was launched in June 2009. Its Editor in Chief is Alana Newhouse....

. According to the JTA: "Under the partnership, the two organizations will remain separate and will still produce their own records and books and cultural materials, but JDub will essentially become Nextbook’s in-house marketing and PR department."

Artists

• Balkan Beat Box
  Balkan Beat Box
  Balkan Beat Box is an Israeli musical group founded by Tamir Muskat, Ori Kaplan of Firewater and Big Lazy, and Tomer Yosef . As a musical project they often cooperate with a host of other musicians both in the studio as well as live...
  
  
• Golem
• The LeeVees
  The LeeVees
  The LeeVees is a rock band from New York City featuring Adam Gardner of Guster and Dave Schneider of the Zambonis. The band was formed when the two bands went on tour together. The latter band only writes songs about hockey...
  
  
• Soulico
• Michael Showalter
  Michael Showalter
  Michael English Showalter is an American comedian, actor, writer, and director. He is a member of the sketch comedy trio Stella. Showalter first came to recognition as a cast member on MTV's The State, which aired from 1993 to 1995...
  
   (comedian)
• Girls in Trouble
• The Macaroons
• Socalled
  Socalled
  Josh Dolgin, aka Socalled, is a Canadian rapper and producer, known for his eclectic mix of hip hop, klezmer and other styles, for example drum & bass and other types of folk music. A pianist and accordion player, he has taught the latter at Klezfest London, where he has also run workshops in...
  
  
• Sagol 59
  Sagol 59
  Sagol 59 is a Jerusalem-based hip-hop MC. Raised on a Kibbutz in Israel, Khen Rotem took the name Sagol 59, or “purple 59,” from his personal Kibbutz laundry bag tag. After his required 3 year stint in the Israeli Defense Forces, Sagol turned to music, beginning his career in blues, funk and rock...
  
  
• DeLeon
• Tomer Yosef (lead MC of Balkan Beat Box)
• The Sway Machinery
• The Wailing Wall
• Steve "The Gangsta Rabbi" Lieberman
  Steve Lieberman
  Steve Lieberman is a Jewish-American punk rock singer, musician, composer and producer residing in Long Island, New York...