Nearly Two Decades After It Was Recorded, the Israeli Rapper and Songwriter Is Bringing Neshika Stira to Major Streaming Services for the First Time
Israeli rapper and songwriter Noa Faran completed Neshika Stira, whose title translates as “Kiss Slap,” in 2008. Social media was still in its early days and Israel’s major record companies controlled much of the route between artists and listeners. Several labels expressed interest in the album, but industry barriers and bureaucracy kept it on the shelf.
The album features 11 tracks written and composed by Faran, with musical production by Johnny Goldstein, who was only 17 at the time. Israeli rappers Peled and Ortega appear as guests, while Faran also recorded a cover of “Lech Titregel Ita” by acclaimed Israeli singer-songwriter Etti Ankri.
The wider cast includes Dudush Klemes, Gilad Abro, DJ Mash and Tal Tamari. Across the album, Faran moves between sharp rap and sophisticated pop, bringing the same direct voice to its harder tracks and more personal songs.
The release arrives during the run of Black Gold: The Story of Israeli Hip-Hop, a documentary series on Kan 11, Israel’s public broadcaster. The series looks back at the artists and cultural shifts that shaped the local scene.
Almost twenty years after its completion, Neshika Stira now takes its place in the wider story of Israeli hip-hop and reaches the major streaming platforms at last.
