“Everything I know about morality and the obligations of men, I owe it to football (soccer).” – Albert Camus 

In my life experience, there are two languages that I’ve found to be universal: Hip Hop and Soccer. These are the two crafts to which I’ve dedicated the most time in my life, in addition to work as an educator. Wherever I’ve traveled, I’ve been able to step into the proverbial cypher, be it on the stage or on the pitch, and get down with cats while transcending language barriers and cultural divides. I’ve felt the connection form through camaraderie over a shared canon and skillset. I’ve been inspired to further explore the parallels between Futbol and Hip Hop cultures, reflecting on all the places the game and the music have taken me, the mythological figures, the controversies, the voice given to  the voiceless, the corruption, the superstars, the tactics, the dreams…(this song serves as the prelude to the book I’m going to write someday fully delving into that topic). The initial inspiration is also rooted in the near-absolute disappearance of the ubiquitous boot, the Adidas Copa Mundial, from the World Cup field. Cleats are looking kind of crazy these days, and it has me harkening back to the era of the simple black and white kangaroo leather shoe that every young footballer dreamt of donning. And hey, I’m still rocking my Copas from ’99 in my weekly league games. This is “Hip Hop x Soccer x Geopolitics” over a banger produced by young gun Josh Pan. It’s got extra appeal for the soccer nerd, but hopefully strikes a chord with my Hip Hop heads and music lovers alike. 

“COPA MUNDIALS”
Written & Performed by Rabbi Darkside (S. Sellers)
Produced by Josh Pan
Arranged by Josh Pan & Rabbi Darkside
Recorded & Mixed by Kevin Augsburg
Artwork by Tafadzwa Chiriga 
Radio Edit download: http://rabbidarkside.bandcamp.com/track/copa-mundials-radio-edit

Every 4 years all ears to the Cup 
Superfans hooligans get that vuvuzela buzz
Dominance sponsorship underdogs on the ups
Whatever happened to the Copa Mundial for the clubs

I’ll take a pair of Stan Smiths over Air Force Ones
A pair of classic Sambas on an indoor rug
3 stripes and a mic as I’m hoisting the Cup
We used to do it for the passion ayo do it for the love
I remember when the Predator debuted as a shoe
We used to rock Umbros shorts with checkers that changed their hue
Stocked up on socks for making a fashion statement
Jog a couple blocks to a park to smash some training
Long balls PKs corner kicks half-volleys
Chest traps headers thoughts of playing in college
Varsity be the letterman seniors feeling like veterans
Captaining with benevolence caption in sports sections…
On the pitch eyes of a carnivore caught in the chasing
Soccer taught me the art of war and rules of engagement
School always adjacent but my mind always awander
NO IN SEASON SMOKING MARIJUANA 

Every 4 years all ears to the Cup 
Superfans hooligans get that vuvuzela buzz
Dominance sponsorship underdogs on the ups
Whatever happened to the Copa Mundial for the clubs

The beautiful game the simplest rules the open-est range
The mutual adoration and lucrative fame
The youth development teams opportunities overseas
African All-Stars ending up in Ukrainian leagues
World game filled with racism hatred and greed
Yet more people play it everywhere with unabashed glee
And footie in South America free kids from favelas
And futbol on paris streets bring out banlieue dwellers
Shit is complex but the language is universal
And we all speaking the same soon as the ball leaves the circle
Sip from the same chalice manipulate with aplomb
And all have a meltdown like Zinedine Zidane
When I first ventured abroad I connected through the sport
Playing pickup on the grass or on an asphalt court
Learned the lingo multilingual avoided getting embarrassing
Always left them impressed with my skills for an American

Every 4 years all ears to the Cup 
Superfans hooligans get that vuvuzela buzz
Dominance sponsorship underdogs on the ups
Whatever happened to the Copa Mundial for the clubs

I’m getting back to basics
The same boots and laces
That everyone from Maradona to Valderrama
Wore when they graced kits
Now cleats look like spaceships
And 4-5-1 is a regularly used formation
Field still regulation touchlines I still tip toe
Bout a decade since I even attempted a flip throw
My game change with age added time on the wristwatch
Sparks thoughts of parallels ‘tween soccer and Hip Hop 
Their cycles of creation the poverty gap the rivals 
Youth culture and colonies knocking off colonizers
The Great Unifier
Stage neutralizer
International debate forum
Suicide dives dudes'll die for
Freestyle in both and touch makes all the difference
Some’s game’s all toughness others deftness and quickness
Original can I kick it got thugs glocks and goals
Tour buses stuffed with sex drugs rock and roll
Yella Vamos Allez Ariba Ariba! 
Put a country on their back take ‘em to the top of FIFA
Play with panache fashion one touch passes
St. Pauli all day and muthaf#ck a fascist 

Every 4 years all ears to the Cup 
Superfans hooligans get that vuvuzela buzz
Dominance sponsorship underdogs on the ups
Whatever happened to the Copa Mundial for the clubs


Copa Mundials (produced by Josh Pan)

Rabbi Darkside Live @ 2015 Blue Note Jazz Festival
Saturday, June 6, 2015, Blue Note Jazz Club, New York City

Band:
Rabbi Darkside - Vocals & Technics 1200 Turntable
Lenny The Ox Reece - Drums 
Jesse Fischer - Keys
Justin Goldener - Bass
Kyla Moscovich - Trumpet

"Let's Get Ill" original version from the album "Break The Funk (Remixed)" produced by Bad Boe.
Available worldwide digitally on Breakbeat Paradise Recordings: https://pro.beatport.com/release/break-the-funk-remixed/255134

"Let's Get Ill" Live @ 2015 Blue Note Jazz Festival

DOWNLOAD: https://rabbidarkside.bandcamp.com/track/malala
LYRICS: http://genius.com/Rabbi-darkside-malala-lyrics

Our world is afire. Our heroes are fallible. Fear is a drug. Terror is a tool of manipulation. Corporate media is fueling divisiveness and propagating dangerous myths. Politics have failed. History is repeating itself before our eyes and too many opt for silence and complacency in the name of misguided self-interest. With Malala, Rabbi Darkside asks, “Where do we turn for leadership in times like this, when times like this are… all the time?” His answer is threefold: find inspiration in the lives and work of those whose stories have become lore, near legend. Those who have survived incomprehensible acts of hatred and violence and have done so with love as their weapon of choice. Secondly, look at our own lives and the warriors who populate our personal landscapes. Celebrate the heroes and heroines on the groundfloor, on our blocks, in our schools, in our families and cyphers; those whose daily existence is an act of revolution and whose work is fueled by a passion to transform and heal. Thirdly, we must find that light in ourselves. Follow the lead of these remarkable humans till the point when you choose to manifest leadership by example. Because at the end of the day, it is only with action that we effect change, only through experience that we learn and only with love that we win the war against humanity.

"Malala"
Written and performed by Rabbi Darkside (S. Sellers) for Emcee Scrolls Music (ASCAP) 
Produced and mixed by Mocce (soundcloud.com/mocce31-1) 
Guitar by Francesco Rogazzo 
Mastered by Kevin Blackler for Blackler Mastering
tags


Malala (Digital Single)

Malala

Malala (prod. by Mocce)

A Skeleton At A Typewriter FINAL MASTER MP3

Ayo White Folks

Post Post Malone

Sacred Space

The Idea of Me

Purity

"A Skeleton at a Typewriter" is a self-produced album I released at the end of 2019, celebrated in January with a live studio performance at HighBreedMusic. A solo project in every sense, I felt compelled to find out what would happen to the songs if the acapellas were let loose in the world and opened up to rebirth through collaboration. Humbled and thrilled by the possibilities we received in this remix context, grateful to all the producers round the world who submitted their interpretations. Very happy to present "A Skeleton at a Typewriter | The Remixes."

Please enjoy and pay what you can to support. All proceeds from sales of this album will be donated, divided between The Audre Lourde Project ( a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Trans and Gender Non Conforming People of Color center for community organizing, focusing on the New York City area) and split amongst Anti-Racism and Police Brutality Funds.
credits
released July 3, 2020

"The Idea of Me" remix produced by A Cee (Andrew Poland)
www.instagram.com/prawnsurf/

"Sacred Space" remix produced by Dale Novella featuring Mikal Amin
Instagram: @dalenovella
dalenovella.bandcamp.com
Instagram: @mikalamin_frm
freshroots.bandcamp.com

"Post Post Malone" remix produced by Al Polanski
soundcloud.com/alpolanski
Instagram: @Original_Al_Polanski

"Ayo White Folks" remix produced by Math Prime (Toliver Vachon)

"Flashbacks" remix produced by Rabbi Darkside (Sam Sellers)

"A Skeleton at a Typewriter" vocals:
Recorded, Mixed & Mastered by Willie Green at The GreenHouse Recording Co., Brooklyn, NY
Assistant Engineer: Sonca Nguyen

Cover photo and photo art by Tafadzwa M. Chiriga

A Skeleton at a Typewriter | The Remixes

Flashbacks (Darkside Wake Up Flip)

Ayo White Folks (Math Prime Remix)

Post Post Malone (Al Polanski Remix)

Sacred Space (Dale Novella Remix feat. Mikal Amin)

The Idea of Me (A Cee Remix)

“Prospect Avenue” is my new solo album, finished after 2 years of studio work, and ready for international release. These are my stories of teaching, learning and evolving in new millennium Brooklyn: an homage to New York City offered in a time of distress, a love letter laced with co-dependence, a tribute to social and civil servants, a prayer for students and teachers. It is written from the hallways of our public schools, from the stages of shuttered venues, from the expanses of bridges traversed on bicycle, from the bandstand and the cypher. From the front stoop of the house on 18th Street, where I’ve resided for 13 years, I’ve documented the city changing while growing within its confines; journeying to touch distant points on the globe, always returning, culminating with a ride on the R train to Prospect Avenue.

15-You and I and The Moon featuring DJ Rob Swift

Rabbi Darkside is a Hip Hop MC/DJ/Beatboxer/Educator, first appearing on wax and in NYC Public School classrooms in the year 2000. His movements and music aim to incite empathy and empowerment through social justice education and creative freedom. His prowess as a multi-elemental artist has led to 15 international tours, landed his latest album atop the CMJ Hip Hop charts and found him on MTV’s “Made,” Okayplayer, New York Times, the Today Show, CBS Early Show, HipHopDX, 2DopeBoyz, Showtime's "Nurse Jackie" and the Village Voice. Darkside blurs the line between Hip Hop, Jazz, Folk, Poetry and Progressive Soul, facilitated by his mastery of improvisation, vast influences and elastic collaborative abilities. Recent performance highlights include headlining the 2016 and 2015 Blue Note Jazz Club (NYC), 2014 SXSW, 2013 CMJ Festival, 2012 WNYC Battle of the Boroughs, while sharing stages and studios with Aloe Blacc, Antibalas, Black Sheep, Blue Man Group, Common, Da Beatminerz, DJ Rob Swift, Fishbone, Homeboy Sandman, J-Live, Prince Paul, Rahzel, Robert Glasper, Rosie Perez, Sadat X, Slick Rick, Soulive, Talib Kweli, The Coup and many others. He’s won every freestyle rap competition in NYC in the new millennium, including being the 20-time Freestyle Mondays “Off the Head Gameshow” Champion and 2010 End of the Weak MC Challenge U.S. Co-Champion. He is in his 3rd year as resident DJ at The Lesson, NYC’s acclaimed live Hip Hop jam session, and continues to prove himself one of the city’s favorite party rockers. Darkside is currently a professor at The New School (NYC), teaching seminars of his own design entitled “Hip Hop Pedagogy & Practice” and “Hip Hop Skills, Style & Science.” He is the co-founder of the Hip Hop Re:Education Project, a Hip Hop Education Fellow at the H2ED Hip Hop Ed Center at NYU, and the artistic creator of NYS Regents test prep program "Fresh Prep.” In 2015 he traveled to Kampala, Uganda as a Cultural Ambassador with the Next Level Initiative, a collaboration between the U.S. State Department and UNC-Chapel Hill, and in 2017 was the Visiting Artist at Universal American School in Dubai, where he ran workshops and performances focused on Artistic Voice in Cultural Communities. He is also a secular ordained minister and recently presided over his 7th wedding.

Rabbi Darkside

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