Musical Legacies: Hip-Hop, Klezmer, and Spanish Songwriting Icons

Mohamed Sharif Mendez Fernandez: A Hip-Hop Journey

Born January 17, 1980, Mohamed Sharif Mendez Fernandez began his artistic journey early. “I think it was back in '92 when I started writing my first poems, at 12 years old, just learning to live,” he recalls. During that time, he also met his crew, Tha Posse, and began to leave his mark in ink. It wasn't until '94 that they recorded their first song, titled “4 Devils in the Micro,” for a compilation called Zaragoza Zulu.

Four more years passed before they recorded what would be Tha Posse's first album, “Too Much Honor for Hunger.” This work earned them recognition and respect, crafted with a passion and sincerity that can only be achieved when writing from the heart. Since then, Sharif never stopped writing, contributing songs to Hazhe's Tha Posse album, “With Microphone in Hand,” and collaborating with Rapsusklei on “The Real History More of Your Lives” and “Sons of Put Ra All.”

A special mention goes to the compilation “Zaragoza Reality,” where he recorded his first solo song, “Sick of Solitude.” After touring half of Spain as Rapsusklei's performer, the next project, recorded more for fun than profession, was a demo entitled “20 Minutes,” again with Tha Posse and a handful of friends.

In 2006, together with Pablo and Luthorz Lex, he formed the group Tr3s Monos. Their first release was a self-released album called “Music For Your Eyes.” This work captured people's attention, standing out with its soulful style in music and deeply serious lyrics, unlike anything done before. Following this, they released a two-song maxi-single, “Love” and “Emsis.” Capitalizing on its popularity, they created a video clip for “Emsis.” The last project with Tr3s Monos was a collection of versions and rarities called “Finding Simone Staton.”

Now, with October 29 approaching, Sharif is set to record his first solo album, featuring beats from Luthorz, Hazhe, and Lex. He proudly states, “Well, I'm proud to have got here, people around me, and I hope to give people goosebumps with my songs.”

Klezmer: The Expressive Music of Ashkenazi Jews

Klezmer is the traditional music of the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe. In the fifteenth century, secular groups developed this music, distinct from liturgical forms, and its practitioners were termed klezmorim. They drew inspiration from the Old Testament to create songs with themes of celebration and joy. Originally, the term klezmer referred to the musical instruments themselves; however, it later expanded to encompass both the genre and the music, with the musicians still referred to as klezmorim.

Klezmer is easily recognizable by its characteristic expressive melodies, reminiscent of the human voice, often incorporating sounds like laughing, crying, and howling. The klezmer tradition assimilates Hasidic music and incorporates the sounds, instruments, and interpretative modes from the countries where Diaspora Jews lived.

While contemporary klezmer typically features three basic instruments, historical documents show that it originally included a wider array of string, wind, and percussion instruments.

José Antonio Labordeta Subías: Spanish Singer, Writer, Politician

José Antonio Labordeta Subías (Zaragoza, March 10, 1935 – September 19, 2010) was a Spanish singer, writer, and politician. He is considered one of Spain's foremost singer-songwriters, having recorded 16 albums. Labordeta also stood out as an artist of immense cultural breadth. A high school history teacher, he authored several novels, short stories, poems, memoirs, travel books, and newspaper articles.

He began his musical career in 1968 with the album Andros II. This was followed by the poetry book Fuendetodos: Singing and Silence (1971). His extensive discography includes:

• Timeout (1975)
• Songs of the Inland (1976)
• Do Not Dawn for Nothing (1978)
• Cantata for a Country (1979)
• The Four Seasons (1981)
• What's Left of You, What Is Me (1984)
• Enduring the Storm (1985)
• Do We Do (1987)
• Trilce (1989)
• You, Me, and Others (1991)
• Songs of Love (1993)
• Count (1995)
• Landscapes (1997)
• Labordeta, New Vision (1999)
• With the Voice at the Expense (2001)

His songs often explored themes of his homeland, imbued with a melancholic tone, as he himself acknowledged. Among his most important songs are Song of Freedom, Aragon, Us, and Broken Flags.