When Hasidic rapper met Marley
Chance meeting on New York City streets leads to spiritual connection, musical cooperation between Hasidic rapper DeScribe and Rohan Marley, son of legendary Jamaican musician
DeScribe, who usually answers to Shneur HaSofer, used typical Jewish chutzpah, walked up to the stranger, tapped him on his shoulder and asked: "Who are you?" Since this is New York we're talking about and not some Hasidic shteitel, the stranger turned in panic and asked: "Who are you? What do you want? Why are you asking?"
It was at this point that a very unconventional love story began between the Marley family and the Rastafarians and DeScribe and his tzitziot. Rohan Marley, son of the late and great singer Bob Marley and DeScribe wandered around New York's streets for over an hour, at the end of which DeScribe was appointed as Marley Coffee's (coffee with a green ideology) official Ambassador.
Spiritual connection
"We discussed Judaism and Rastafarianism, and connected on a spiritual level," DeScribe recalls.
"There is a connection between Rastafarians and Jews. They grow their dreadlocks for the same reason we grow side locks, because the Torah says that side locks must be kept," he said as he explained the essence of the connection.
"In fact, most of their religion is based on the Torah and there are many among the Rastafarians who believe in the Old Testament and even wear the Star of David.
"They don't believe in constructing borders between people, they believe all people are equal and they believe in nature, spirituality, peace, love and harmony. And that is what my music is based on when you open your eyes; you see there are people who listen, people you can talk to."
Spiritual Connection - DeScribe and Rohan Marley
DeScribe describes himself as a proud Jew and a proud Hasid – "but at the same time, a proud member of the Chabad movement. Chabad members try to be a living example to the world, which is the main reason I create my music," he says. "We need to publicize values like the Seven Laws of Noah. It's a mitzvah to make those laws public, one which hardly anyone ever does. "
Bringing good to the world
When work is something you love and that love is a mission – there is nothing that can't be accomplished. "I got the opportunity to accomplish my mission in life," says DeScribe. "I have a platform. I have the scope through which I can talk to nations around the world through music that they love, with a sense of divinity and knowledge of the creator.
"It seems that the world is ready for that message. The world is preparing itself for the coming of the Messiah. The nations of the world lack spirituality, which leads them to search for spirituality wherever they can."
The Rastafarian ideology of returning to nature, which embodies the war on chemical use and environmental contamination, led the Marley family to open a coffee farm. "Bob Marley grew up on a farm and his dream was always to return to that farm," says DeScribe. "His son fulfilled that dream. His farm operates according to the Rastafarian tenants – no chemical products in the fields. It's all organic, bringing good into the world – and that's what I do with my music."
International cooperation
As part of his appointment as Coffee Ambassador, the Marley family asked DeScribe to listen to the songs of the legendary Bob Marley. Influenced by Marley's One Cup of Coffee, DeScribe chose to combine Jamaican reggae and a hip-hop beat in a remix and created their anthem Livin' for the Grind.
"I don't know anyone who hasn't been affected by the Marley family in some way or another. I love Rohan because he is just such a good person, who by the way, won't take 'no' for an answer, even if it means it will take him years to get his way."
The duo's next step is to film a special video clip for the song together and launch a global PR campaign on the benefits of organic food. "We will have a wild time, lots of action," DeScribe promises. "We're just getting started. The company is thinking of expanding the project and getting some international singers to join the campaign."
And when that's where the wind is blowing it is clear why DeScribe believes this is his year, and promises, by the end of the year, "an album God willing" with a major record company.
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