This “rabbi” worships the god of dance.
Genre-bending hip-hop artist Rabbi Darkside — who spits politically-tinged freestyle raps to smooth, jazzy beats — is crafting on-the-spot songs using prompts from audience members at an outdoor concert during the Atlantic Antic Street Festival.
The Brooklyn-based rapper said he’ll call on folks in the crowd to toss out words and hold up objects to inspire his improvisational lyrics, then just let the words flow.
“It’s all about expanding your vocabulary, your basis of reference, and use of rhyme,” said the performer, whose legal name is Samuel Sellers. “Everything you read becomes fodder.”
Sellers, who appeared on the MTV reality show “Made,” is not a real rabbi — he’s actually a teacher. But he did recently become an “ordained secular officiant” so he could marry his best friend. In fact, he picked up the stage name in high school because he “was the Jewish kid.”
For the show, Sellers is teaming up with beat-masters Afrika Bambaataa to showcase tunes on an outdoor stage in front of the vegan eatery Maimonide Of Brooklyn, alongside the festival’s top-notch food vendors, beer brewers, and retailers.
Other bands featured during the festival include Max Caddy, Inky Jack, and the Windsor Terrors.
“Expect new material and plenty of beat-boxing,” Sellers said.
Rabbi Darkside and other performers [525 Atlantic Ave. at Third Avenue in Boerum Hill, www.atlanticave.org]. Sept. 30, 12-6 pm. Free.