Jewish rapper’s song celebrates Knicks mania in NYC

The Jewish rapper Kosha Dillz released a song on Sunday celebrating the mania for the New York Knicks that is gripping New York City — including the city’s Jews — as the NBA team makes a run for the championship.

The Knicks are leading the San Antonio Spurs 2-0 in the NBA finals and the city is saturated with excitement, with the streets awash in the team’s blue and orange ahead of Monday night’s game — the first NBA finals game in New York in 27 years.

Kosha Dillz, the stage name of Rami Even-Esh, is an Israeli-American who often raps about Jewish and Israeli themes and freestyles at events from the annual Israel parade to a gathering for Holocaust survivors.

His latest music video, “Parade,” was filmed during pre-game gatherings and post-game celebrations for the second round of the series.

The video shows Kosha Dillz celebrating with Knicks fans, wearing an orange blazer and an oversized Knicks chain.

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The track has its fair share of Jewish references, mentioning Katz’s Deli and Lower East Side bagels, connecting the bagels to the 1990s hip hop group the Lox.

The video opens with Kosha Dillz and a man in a kippah blessing what appears to be a loaf of rainbow-colored bread while a basketball spins on top of a Knicks flag overhead.

Throughout the video, Kosha Dillz wears a Hebrew shirt for Knicks guard Jalen Brunson.

The song’s chorus echoes the Knicks’ anthem, “Go New York Go,” by Jewish rapper-turned-entrepreneur Jesse Itzler, who recorded the track in his closet and sold it to the Knicks for $4,000 in 1993.

The song also features non-Jewish city references, from one-liners about the New York marathon to an appearance by Leh-Boy, a street character known for riding bicycles while balancing basketballs, other bicycles and assorted large items on his head.

Kosha Dillz said the track is an entry for a Knicks “fan album” competition. The team will assemble the contest’s “grand prize winners” in a mixtape compilation.

The song was not the only intersection between Knicks mania and Jews.

Kosher websites directed Jews to kosher watch parties. Orthodox Jews held gatherings with Knicks-themed live music, worked the team into the hit song “Thank you Hashem,” and danced in the streets.

My Knicks Jewish https://t.co/omrfSplqCp pic.twitter.com/6Ww02jUfyO

— Rabbi Mordechai Lightstone (@Mottel) June 7, 2026

“I’ve seen Hasidic Jews breakdancing with Black kids outside the stadium. This is the greatest unification you’ve ever seen of this New York City in your life since 9/11,” said the rapper Fat Joe, who once freestyled with Kosha Dillz on a sidewalk.

Fans have portrayed Knicks player Mikal Bridges as the “basketball messiah,” riffing on the Chabad movement’s ubiquitous stickers on the city’s streets.

This is so NYC specific it’s insane ???????????? https://t.co/2IjAXhdIVY

— Joe Holder (@JoeHolder_) June 6, 2026

Former Knicks player Amar’e Stoudemire, who converted to Judaism in 2020, discussed the finals in an interview with rows of the Talmud behind him, sparking a conversation about Jewish study.

The WFAN sports radio program on Friday hosted a series of calls from Jewish listeners debating the “massive problem” of how to watch game two of the finals, which took place during Shabbat.

WFAN took three calls today discussing loopholes for how Jews can watch the Knicks game on Shabbat tonight ???????????? https://t.co/iSz5WylyMg pic.twitter.com/hZ9G7mIixs

— Max Mannis (@MaxMannis) June 5, 2026

A fan’s ecstatic slogan, “My mayor Muslim, my bagel’s Jewish, my Christian Dior, Knicks in four,” followed by footage of a robot dancing to Pop Smoke’s “Dior,” has gone viral online. The slogan has been picked up by local lawmakers. and appeared on hats and shirts.

Knicks fans are insane ????????????

“My Mayor is Muslim, my bagel is Jewish, my Christian’s Dior… Knicks in 4!!!” pic.twitter.com/WiAC1GdoRL

— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) June 4, 2026

The third game of the series, taking place on Monday night, is expected to be attended by US President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

If the Knicks win, they can clinch the championship in the fourth game of the finals on Wednesday.