South Side Of The Synagogue by Etan G

Most of his early professional experiences, however, were focused on educating children in the Jewish community. Etan spent summers as a camp counselor at Jewish camps and spent the school year leading Jewish youth groups and teaching Judaic studies. Later, he would obtain a Master's degree in General Education.

While working as a teacher, Etan used music as a fun way to educate kids. As a youth in his local NCSY (National Conference of Synagogue Youth) chapter, Etan became famous for cleverly changing the words of popular songs to fit Jewish themes. His charisma, good looks and positive outlook attracted the attention of many. During this time, Lenny Solomon and his Shlock Rock band became the house band for Etan's region of NCSY. At every weekend retreat, Shlock Rock would play and Etan G would perform one or two songs. He could also be found breakdancing and rapping in the lobbies of many synagogues. Eventually, Lenny Solomon invited Etan G to become a regular member of Shlock Rock. Now, Etan tours with Shlock Rock to over 40 live engagements per year, where he shows off his rapping skills and his self-choreographed dance moves inspired by such movies as "Saturday Night Fever," "Purple Rain," "Wild Style", "Beat Street," and "Breakin."

Through his experience with Shlock Rock, their international success and his various jobs with Jewish children, Etan G began to appreciate the huge influence rap has on kids and society. What he did not like was the way in which kids embraced the negative values embodied by some of rap's most popular personalities, particularly those who promoted drugs and violence. Etan G discovered that he could use music and his rapping skills to unify people and create a positive community - where it is cool to be yourself and have fun. This vision is what drives Etan G's solo work, including his new album release, South Side of the Synagogue.

In some ways, South Side of the Synagogue is a departure from Etan's earlier work, which was exclusively geared toward Jewish youth. South Side was produced with the help of Grammy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated Cedric Samson and Macy Gray's producer Daryl "D-Style" Swan. The album, which also features the talents of blues guitarist Jonny Childs and a soulful gospel choir, is a crossover album, taking Etan G out of an exclusively Jewish market and into the mainstream in a positive and fun way. His songs have been in several movies. He has attended the 2003 Grammy Awards and the 2nd and 3rd Annual BET Awards and has appeared on The Howard Stern Show. While promoting his new album, Etan G completed a 20-city, 22-show tour with Shlock Rock and will be touring with them again this winter. He will also be completing a solo winter tour. Etan G is already working on a second solo album, which will be completed as South Side makes waves across the globe.

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