2 Live Jews

2 Live Jews were a novelty hip-hop duo from New York, active in the early 90s. A parody of the popular rap group 2 Live Crew, they flipped the script, trading raunchy lyrics for humorous takes on Jewish culture and traditions. Instead of booty-shaking beats, they offered up playful rhymes over samples often incorporating klezmer music. They gained notoriety for albums like *As Kosher As They Wanna Be*, a parody of 2 Live Crew's *As Nasty As They Wanna Be*, and *Goy Toys*, a playful twist on *Boy Toys*. While their career was relatively short-lived, 2 Live Jews carved out a unique niche in the music world, offering a lighthearted and often satirical take on Jewish identity.

Beyond their musical output, 2 Live Jews also leaned into the comedic aspects of their persona. They often appeared in costume, sporting fake beards and exaggerated yarmulkes, further emphasizing the parodic nature of their act. While some criticized them for potentially playing into stereotypes, others embraced their humor as a refreshing and self-deprecating take on Jewish culture. Ultimately, 2 Live Jews left a small but memorable mark on the early 90s music scene, proving that even the most seemingly disparate cultural elements, like hip-hop and Jewish tradition, could be blended together for comedic effect.

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