What first draws you into listening to a new song? Is it the beat? The lyricism? Or the intoxicating hook? All of these elements, without a doubt, are central to the structure of our favorite songs. But what makes you replay a track eighteen times in the same hour? What compels you to share that song with all your friends or add it to your desired playlist? For many of us, the emotional connection we first establish with a track, or an artist, will determine if we will press rewind on the last seconds of the song or press next and move along the queue. That connection we feel with music is exactly what Noah Shufutinsky, the hip-hop rapper and producer known as Westside Gravy, aims to have his listeners experience.
Growing up in San Diego, Noah listened substantially to West Coast rappers whose artistry enabled him to experience the celebration and happiness, as well as the sadness and struggle, of their stories. “Their music allowed you to feel a connection to their art, and hopefully, understand the world better. That’s what I want people to feel [with my music]. I want people to feel a connection to the story, for it to resonate, even if you didn’t have the same lived experiences.” Noah aims to illustrate the authenticity of his experiences and love for hip-hop as the artist Westside Gravy. “Westside Gravy is someone who is unapologetic about being a hip-hop rapper and producer. I want to share the different elements of my experience whether it be a celebration of my cultures as a Black and Jewish artist or the difficulties I have personally experienced with being Black and Jewish.”
Currently based in Hadera, Israel, Noah’s music is reflective of the old-school rap and West Coast hip-hop that surrounded his teenage youth. “The personal storytelling aspect of hip-hop have always been important to me. Sometimes the topics [I address] range from moving around as a child, addressing cultural changes, or rapping about being Black and Jewish. I think the West Coast roots are always there, but I also draw inspiration front the chords, scales, or instruments of Mizrahi Israeli music or the huge Chicano influence found in the city and culture of San Diego. I try to incorporate elements of that to show respect to my background in the city I come from.” The international genres prevalent throughout Noah’s music can be found in his latest release “Too Hot” with Israeli artist Ben Lulu. “I tried to incorporate Mediterranean elements into the sound and beat while ensuring it’s a fun summer song.”
Q: What are your fondest musical memories?
WESTSIDE GRAVY: One of my fondest musical memories is opening for a rapper named King Lil G. He’s an artist from California and I started listening to him when I was 11 years old, and have been listening to him since then. I appreciate the holistic element of his music and how he brings up a window into his life. Being able to open for him, meet him in person, and having the show go well, it was the best thing I could’ve asked for as an artist. It meant a great deal to me to be able to open for him and I always look back on this memory happily.
Q: If you had to pick one of your songs to define you right now, which would it be?
WESTSIDE GRAVY: The songs ‘40 Acres’ and ‘Yahud’. These songs go together for me because they are reflective of the roots in my background. Whether it’s the West African instrumentation in the background of ‘40 Acres’ or the musical inspirations from the Levant here in Israel where my roots come from, laid the foundation for the lyrics in ‘Yahud.’ These songs really express my attitude on the racism and antisemitism I’ve seen or experienced while also aiming to celebrate the identities and the cultures of who I am.
Q: What does your music mean to you?
WESTSIDE GRAVY: My music is a reflection of my thoughts. It’s a way for me to organize my thoughts and how I express myself. My music, to me, really creates a space where I can express myself and be really conscious and reflective of the way I work through my own thoughts.
Q: Where do you see the future of your music going?
WESTSIDE GRAVY: Where I am now is not something I could have imagined, and not in a bad way. From the topics I address to the types of performances I’ve done and the different styles I’ve worked on, I can’t exactly pinpoint where [my music is] going to be. I’m really excited about the development and working with international people. Every time that I am able to work with a new sound it makes me feel really happy and accomplished, even if I don’t release it. I see my future continuing on that path, continuing to draw inspiration from a variety of different genres of music and experiences I’m having, and creating snapshots of everything that is going on in my life into songs.
Q: Any advice for anyone starting out?
WESTSIDE GRAVY: Try new things and put stuff out there when you are comfortable doing so. Don’t put pressure on yourself to share something if you are not ready. At the same time, recognize that if you’re happy with a product, you should release it. There are so many songs that I go back to listen to and realize I wouldn’t be happy with it if I released it now. But at that moment the song was a snapshot of a certain moment and I was happy with it then. You don’t have to have complete foresight into whether or not you are going to be happy with a song in five years, because the answer is always no. If you are doing it right and improving then nothing you did five years ago will make you happy in the present, but it’s still important to have that as documentation of your story. So I would make sure to live in the present and make sure you are enjoying the moment, release, and enjoy the fact that you should be proud of yourself for releasing it.
To keep up with the latest from Westside Gravy follow him on Instagram and Spotify.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
