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RABBI DARKSIDE is a Buffalo-born Brooklyn-based Hip Hop Artist/Educator, rocking the world as MC, DJ and Beatboxer. His new album, “Prospect Avenue,” reached #4 on CMJ Hip Hop Charts, where it remained in the Top 20 for 16 weeks and finished #20 Overall for 2013, and #1 on College Radio Charts Hip Hop. “Propsect Avenue” was featured on HipHopDx, 2DopeBoyz, MTVHive, URB Magazine, DJBooth and RapReviews while receiving heavy international radio and video play. With a discography spanning a decade and fresh completion of his 12th international tour, Rabbi D continues to grow his global reputation and fan-base. Recent performance highlights include the 2013 CMJ Festival, the 2012 WNYC Battle of the Boroughs and headlining the 2012 Atlantic Antic. The 2008 release of his internationally acclaimed debut LP, “Building the Better Bomb,” and starring role as Head Coach on MTVs “Made” bolstered his rep, while touring consistently has allowed him to connect with the Global Hip Hop community. He has performed at major venues and festivals around the world, and is responsible for bringing the Hip Hop Subway Series to Europe.
A renowned freestyle artist, Rabbi Darkside has won a number of prestigious MC battles and been repeatedly called upon as host for high-profile events (18-time Freestyle Mondays Off The Head Gameshow Champ; End Of The Week 2010 Challange of Champs Co-Winner; 2004 NYC Kool Mixx Finalist; 2-time Whose Rhyme Is It Anyway Champ; 2-time A to Z Emcee Champ). As DJ, he has spun from New York’s most esteemed clubs to multi-million dollar lofts to middle school proms. His beatboxing is featured on MTV.com in instructional tutorials, and in countless live performances online. In addition to his artistry, he has worked for 10+ years in the New York City Public Schools, evolving from History Teacher to Teaching Artist to curriculum specialist, most recently developing the groundbreaking rap-based test prep program “Fresh Prep” (as seen in the New York Times and CBS Early Show), featuring guest vocalists Talib Kweli, Sadat X and Dres performing his lyrics. He was honored this year by being selected as one of the first Hip Hop Education Fellows by the H2ED Center at NYU Steinhardt School.
On his global journey, he has appeared alongside Afrika Bambaataa, Antibalas, the Blue Man Group, Common, DMC, Fishbone, J-Live, Kanye West, The Last Poets, Rahzel, DJ Rob Swift, The Roots, Slick Rick, Talib Kweli, and Weldon Irvine, among many others. He has been featured in publications such as URB Magazine, TV Guide, the Village Voice and the New York Times, while appearing on CBS, MTV, MTV2, BET, NBC and Showtime’s “Nurse Jackie.” He is an ordained secular officiant and recently performed his first wedding, and is an official brand representative for BluBlocker sunglasses.