Nikki Fakhimi
BLP Kosher, whose real name is Benjamin Landy Pavilion, is a 23 year old up-and-coming rapper from Broward County in southern Florida whose creative and distinct music style has garnered the attention of many fans, including myself, so here's an introduction from a fan of BLP Kosher.
He has gone viral for his unique lyrics, rhythmic flow, and consistent incorporation of his Jewish background. At first glance, it's clear the rapper embraces his Jewish identity with a traditional Kashket cap perched atop his head, paired with two wicks, similar to dreadlocks, that extend outward like antlers. In an interview with Complex Magazine, BLP explains how he originally had small payouts or curls on his head before his close friend Charmane “took out the crochet hook and he made the small regular payos I had into little mini wicks.” When Charlamagne sadly passed away, BLP decided he would keep the hairstyle in memory of his friend and doesn't plan to change it anytime soon.
This Kashket, which he often pairs with a beanie, accentuates his cultural pride and cleverly manages his unique hairstyle, blending heritage with street style seamlessly. His eye-catching hairstyle and his dedication to his heritage are what sets BLP apart. Aside from his image, Kosher has a distinct lyrical style that creates rhymes with a unique flow and attention-grabbing lyrics. This uniqueness and pride can be seen in his creative song titles like Hanukkahweek ½, Jew on a Canoe, Mazel Tron, and Dreidel Twins, some of my personal favorites such as Special K, Castle, and Iguanas.
Kosher pictured with his signature hair style and hat combo
On August 4th, 2023, BLP released his second studio album, "Bars Mitzvah”. It was released one day after my birthday—the perfect birthday gift! Once again, the rapper demonstrates his close ties with his Jewish background through the title of the album and with many of the 19 songs on it. In 2021, BLP had a small following below 10k before rapidly rising to fame in the rap industry. He now has almost 500k followers on Instagram and has been invited to do several interviews with notable channels such as Genius, Complex Magazine, Nardwuar, Our Generation Music, and more. The accomplishments did not stop there, as Kosher went from just performing in Florida to doing LA shows and going on a nationwide tour for his new album.
Once BLP began performing in Los Angeles, of course, I had to attend his first concert in June of 2023 at the Novo in Downtown LA. Seeing the rapper live while only a few feet away from him was a memorable experience that I had long awaited. His stage presence was captivating, creating an energetic, wild, and exhilarating atmosphere that had the crowd buzzing with excitement. Since I had such an amazing time, I immediately bought tickets for his second Los Angeles concert only 3 months later in September of 2023. This concert was a part of his tour for his newest album “Barz Mitzvah” held at the Fonda Theater in Hollywood. His lively performance style and engagement with his fans impressed me as I sang all of my favorite songs on his new album such as Special K, 2000’s Baby, Quite Frankly, and Miami Rainbows.
Cover of Kosher’s newest album titled “Bars Mitzvah”
BLP recently performed at the 2024 Rolling Loud Los Angeles held from March 15-17 of 2024. When the festival’s lineup was first released, I was excited to see BLP Kosher’s name on there because this was considered a huge accomplishment in the Hip-Hop world. Rolling Loud, a rap-based music festival in California with over 50k attendees, is famous for bringing in artists on the rise to fame while also inviting well-known artists like Travis Scott, Future, Lil Wayne, J Cole, and Wiz Khalifa. For BLP Kosher, appearing on the Rolling Loud lineup is a monumental achievement and demonstrates his rising popularity.
Kosher holding up the J sign to represent the Jewish community as he often does.
Overall, BLP continues to rise in fame and is slowly garnering a larger fanbase while also collaborating with other big artists like Baytron, Luh Tyler, and Certified Trapper to further boost his career. These invitations to collaborate with other famous artists and his performance at one of the biggest Hip-Hop music festivals in the world demonstrate his talent and the large number of people who support BLP Kosher’s music, cultural pride, and style as he continues up the ranks in the music world.
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