Shneur Hasofer, aka DeScribe, was brought up in a Chabad family in Australia. Y-Love, aka Yitzchak Jordan, on the other hand, had Roman Catholic parents. One is white, the other black. One staunchly right-wing, the other a left-wing progressive. The two are now observant Jewish rappers who recently teamed up to release the four-song EP, Change.
By Elad Nehorai
Meet DeScribe and Y-love. Two observant Jewish rappers with seemingly nothing in common.
They grew up in opposite ends of the world. One had religious Jewish parents, the other had Roman Catholic parents. One is a Chabad chassid and the other a follower of the Bostoner chassidic dynasty. One is white, the other black. One staunchly right-wing, the other a left-wing progressive.
Despite all this, they recently teamed up to release the four-song EP, Change, named after their first single. Within one month, the video of their first video shot up to forty thousand hits. As each song has been released, their popularity has increased markedly.
What brought these two polar opposites together? And why have they managed to make music that seems to be so broadly popular?
why do u have to print this. this is totaly not what lubavitch is about. where are the pictures of chassidishe lubavitchers that daven like a chosid etc. not this goyishe stuff.please have rachmonies on the children .do they have to see this???
(3/22/2009 4:59:13 PM)
2
just curious old mama's friend
is shneur married? if yes to whom?
(3/22/2009 5:32:01 PM)
3
ummm
is he devora hasofer's son? and, uh, interesting. it says one of them is a bostoner chassid - is that yitzchak? kinda unusual proffession for a bostoner chassid...
(3/22/2009 6:11:04 PM)
4
A C.H.
Not my taste but I must say the music sounds GOOD! are these guys lubavitch?
(3/22/2009 6:30:16 PM)
5
I Enjoyed
I really enjoyed...it's different .... powerful message. My question is... 1) why the anger and the swinging of fists and kicking? Rap is a style of music ... but as Chassidim do we have to take the Chitzoniyus? 2) Do I want my chold acting out such faces of anger when he sings?
May you continue to grow .. but make a difference ... Be the Rap that is Happy! Just being Hassidic won't cut it .. being different will!
(3/22/2009 7:45:55 PM)
6
Why do you put up such pictures?
(3/22/2009 7:48:03 PM)
7
Good stuff
They've got talent...you gotta love it...
(3/23/2009 12:47:03 AM)
8
The 4 Questions
Why should we care? Why are all these seemingly talented young men going down this goyishe music path? Can't they get a proper job? Is (G-d forbid) this the direction Chabad is really going?
(3/23/2009 12:55:33 AM)
9
To # 6
Just relax
(3/23/2009 2:40:38 AM)
10
Where is HaSofer's Regular Yarmulka
Are we "selling out"?
(3/23/2009 2:58:27 AM)
11
JUST WONDERING
Isn't the website's name 'CHABADONLINE(COL)LIVE'. Please ask yourself before posting anything - Does this represent Chabad and do I want to give the children the impression that it does???
(3/23/2009 3:13:03 AM)
12
Love it!!
Not really the type of music for chasidim but for everyone else - it's great
(3/23/2009 3:16:00 AM)
13
To 11
The article was published on CHABAD.ORG !!!!!!
(3/23/2009 3:16:33 AM)
14
#3 Devorah's son
I'm sure it's Devorah's son. She has a beautiful voice and plays the guitar, so that is where he would get his musical talent from.
I 'm glad he found his way back .
(3/23/2009 3:26:49 AM)
15
OY VAY
'Lubavitch are setting themselves up for the worst experience of the Jewish people - failed expectations, a reaction they won't be able to control.'
(3/23/2009 4:56:48 AM)
16
Great Job!!
Very impressed!! U sure have talent!!
(3/23/2009 5:12:22 AM)
17
moshiach now
Wow this is an amzing stroy of how hashem is always guiding us through everything and how our pintele yid will always strive for the truth amazing vidieo and kol hakavod to describe and y love
(3/23/2009 5:19:55 AM)
18
Wow
What amazes me the most is the narrow-minded comments here, that's the biggest problem right now in Lubavitch, and kids are gonna keep on going off the derech because of it.
signed a kid going off the derech
(3/23/2009 6:27:26 AM)
19
not impressed
Totally retarded! i think this is becoming a "BUSHA" whats going on in Jewish music, theres Jewish Music/CHasideshe music, and theres theres not, there is no middle, the minute you cloud the two, your have erred!
(3/23/2009 10:17:11 AM)
20
dont look at the chitzoniyus
is there pnimiyus for us?
this would be great from chabad on campus website!
NOT HERE
(3/23/2009 10:49:23 AM)
21
LYRICS LYRICS
if the article would post the lyrics people would see the toichen and the comments though they might not be of a different opinion the flavor would definitely taste different
PUT LYRICS ON THE ARTICLE LIKE benashers
(3/23/2009 10:53:25 AM)
22
Dont post not nice comments!!
If you dont like this hip hop music then dont you dont have to post nasy comments because it is not a nice thing to do!
(3/23/2009 12:00:58 PM)
23
Message to Y-Love
Pick up your mail!!! Change your mailing address!!!
(3/23/2009 12:08:39 PM)
24
where does farkash come in from? why is it their house....? just curios
(3/23/2009 12:25:13 PM)
25
When will you stop!
do any of you ever think of whats really stoping Moshiach from coming! Ya ofcourse being Chasidish is important but having Ahavas Yisroal is the main part of being JEWISH WE GOTTA STOP AND LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE DOING! And by the way i love the song!
(3/23/2009 2:07:50 PM)
26
wow!
(3/23/2009 2:12:02 PM)
27
wow!
this music is amazing its so amazing that this music is so expressive in a jewish way! wow keep it up. im sure many ppl will really benifit from it
(3/23/2009 2:12:51 PM)
28
funny
...everyone wants to be a matisyahu....
(3/23/2009 2:27:08 PM)
29
ABE
I love it! I know Shneur Hasofer, he's a great guy. I also do recording and this is GOOD music, very well done! I wish him alot of luck.
(3/23/2009 3:46:12 PM)
30
Its good stuff
a fan,
all you negative posters go get a life
(3/23/2009 4:52:20 PM)
31
Rochel Leah
Describe and Y-Love, Thank you for being role models of courage and perseverance - your stories are very honorable. Wishing you much luck spreading the light with your unique talents - the messages are great...stay empowered!
(3/24/2009 2:45:41 AM)
32
Here are the lyrics:
(Describe) Crown Heights!! Chosen Few crew! Describe! modular Y- Love! Prodezra in the building, building! Prodezra Beats now…Prodezra Beats now… He’s a genius I’m tellin’ ya… if i forsake you Jerusalem….ayyy….yoooo!! (Chorus - from Psalm 137:5-6) àí àùëçê éøåùìéí úùëç éîéðé Im eshkachech Yerushalayim Tishkach Y’mini úãá÷ ìùåðé ìçëé Tidback leshoni lichiki lichiki àí ìà àæøëé -- àí ìà àòìä àú éøåùìéí Im lo ezkarechi im lo a’aleh et Yerushalayim Jerusalem (Jah!) òì øàù ùîçúé Al rosh simchati àí àùëçê éøåùìéí úùëç éîéðé Im eshkachech Yerushalayim Tishkach Y’mini Spit fire! Now my brothas you can just roll with me àí ìà àæøëé -- àí ìà àòìä àú éøåùìéí Im lo ezkarechi im lo a’aleh et Yerushalayim Jerusalem (Jah!) òì øàù ùîçúé Al rosh simchati (Describe Verse) Yooooooo! It’ a new world advanced technology Everybody got access, can you feel the energy Satellites and televisions, straight up infinity Look at all the changes man, can you see the prophecy àí àùëçê éøåùìéí úùëç éîéðé (Im eshkachech Yerushalayim Tishkach Y’mini) àðçðå çééí áòåìí ëì-ëê àëæøé (Anachnu chaim ba’olam kol kach achzari) It’s the real deal, black & white, BOOM! In your face Do the One Two step, and slow down the pace aye, Describe!!! With the lyrical vibe Wake up and smell the napalm cuz the world is alive We’re far from perfect, yeah I know, but we’re movin’ too slow So I’m rappin’ bout a change, feel the beat, let’s go! All I wanna do is change a little bit of you By making music that can spread out some light, Ooo Ooo It’s real dark , we just need to light a spark, And the fire will just blaze up, d’ blaze up the night! (Chorus) (Y-Love Verse) òéø ä÷åãù - ùåøä ùîå ùí (Ir ha'kodesh, shoreh shmo sham) - The Holy City, He will rest His Name there! ìëì - äùåøù (La'kol - ha'shoresh) - The source of everything! On the ground, the stones shine! The water gon' flow - check the fire in the sky! Then the horn gon' blow, then we all gon' fly... Connect to the Redemption! Walk into the sunrise, Go across the Wi Fi, download the Most High! Believe in the dream, both eyes to the prize The place that all nations gonna praise One G-d Materialistic think its gonna reign perpetual Destruction comes eventual, we tryin’ to rise for festivals Nation that originated here on these streets, Inspiration that’s contained in this mp3 Bring the opposite of apocalypse, the positive uprisin’ Soul directed towards the úìôéåú (Talpiyot), with quotes from the Prophets Words on the scroll in the remainder of the Temple Yeah, the 34th meridian stays central to the mental! (Chorus) (Describe) Yaaaaooooooooooo!!!! While we livin’ in a reality that’s physical I gotta look and internally to reveal the spiritual, man Make ya hands go (clap), bring it back now Feel ya heart go (bump bump) , and ya soul goes….y oooo! (Y-Love) The digital reality, the soul into technology The unity the policy to bring that new theology Now clap for me, now bring it down for me Come on clap for me, now bring it back for me (Describe) Yo! Don’t go political with all the individual Divisions that be splittin’, don’t be trippin’,that be infantile ya hands go (clap), bring it back now Feel ya heart go (bump bump) and your souls goes…Jyaaaaaa!!! (Y-Love) Yo I can’t help but be political, and keep it individual But when we on the spiritual, yo one is indivisible, Now clap for me, now bring it down for me Now just clap for me! (Chorus) Yo! Describe with the lyrical vibe The Chosen Few…yeah yeah yeah…The Chosen Few! Y-Love go beyond the norm, my eyes directed towards Tziyon (Zion) We on, be on! Describe with the lyrical vibe, we give power to the people Spreadin’ light, Da power’s on! Y-Love, the Modular, the function, we risin’ With gumption, I gotta say something I’m runnin’!
(3/24/2009 8:36:45 AM)
33
Shemspeed
I had no idea there was such Lashon Hara in the Chabad Community. This song and video was made to uplift the lost souls. We thought that uplifting the mundane was a Chassidic thought. I still believe that and I hope that the Chassidim who are posting this negativity could find something else to uplift and try and bring the redemption.
http://shemspeed.com/daily
(3/24/2009 3:40:54 PM)
34
Rock on!
You guys are amazing dont listen to any DUMB ppl. who are trying to put u down! i NEVER heard such good music in my life! keep on doing what ur doing and dont give up! You are lighting up ppls. life with your music and your AMAZING story! this is NO busha, Just something to be proud in and take pride in! Go Shnay! U ROCK!
love, me!
(3/24/2009 3:48:26 PM)
35
Shneur IS Devorah's Son
To answer commenter #3, Yes Shneur HaSofer is the son of Australian singer Devorah :)
(3/25/2009 3:58:27 AM)
36
From Y-Love
I'm going to address these ùåðàéí (haters) individually:
Commenter 1: Precisely what IS Lubavitch about then, if not using new inventions and media to bring people closer to G-d and Torah? When the Internet first came out in the 90s, Chabad was right there with chabad.org, when the .info domain came out, Chabad was right there. When Litvish people were crying over TVs, Chabad was making telethons. Why don't YOU have rachmanus on the children who you would deprive of hearing Torah messages in a 21st-century format?
Commenter 3: I'm actually not a Bostoner chassid, I was learning under the Bostoner auspices when my bio was written in 2005, no updated versions of my bio contain a reference to it -- my rav is Sephardi (his chacham is a musmach from R' Ovadia) and I've taken on his nusach, etc;
Commenter 19: Precisely what IS Jewish music then? I have lectured nationwide on varying definitions of Jewish music, and very few are as restrictive and outdated as that which you seem to have. The producer Yossi Green, when asked what Jewish music is, said "where a melody is joined with a specific lyric that familiar or not familiar, to teach a certain message, to convey a feeling, that makes you closer to G-d. That basically what we consider as Jewish music." That's my definition and I'm sticking to it.
Commenter 23: I'm sorry! This week G-d willing :)
Commenters 6, 8, 11 - It is truly lamentable that one would be such a baby pining for 19th century Europe in the midst of a klal Yisra'el that faces a 50%+ intermarriage rate, and where only 1 in 7 are Orthodox. If you think that now is the time to restrict media in which Torah messages can be disseminated, you are being horribly counterproductive at best, and antithetical to your entire sect at worst. If you think that now is the time to say where Torah CAN'T be, then it makes me wonder which side (ñèøà) you are actually on.
Now is not the time to be an anachronistic stick-in-the-mud. Now is not the time to place walls around other people's hearing words of Torah in formats they identify with, and actually like (because honestly, of his 297 videos, just to pick a heimish example, Avraham Fried only has 6 which have more YouTube views than "Change", news flash: kids today don't dig klezmer). Niggunim are being remixed, hiphop is being made, change has already come.
Those of us who are living in the now are saying "Moshiach now." Feel free to build a time machine and go back to a time you feel more comfortable in.
If you would like to address me personally, feel free to contact me on twitter. http://twitter.com/ylove
(3/25/2009 4:14:46 AM)
37
Jewish Music
To all of you who say that this isn't Jewish music, what do you call Jewish music? What you call "Jewish Music" is in fact europop from 60s and 70s. Just because you're used to hearing and never bothered to find out who wrote it, doesn't make it Jewish.
Go lock yourself in the closet and sing modei ani, though who knows if that's Jewish music or a goyish tune from several centuries back.
http://blog.ookamikun.com
(3/25/2009 4:45:14 AM)
38
y-love
kudos for taking the time to explain your position on these issues
(3/25/2009 5:12:08 AM)
39
to y-love
can you explain the dialoge you and describe have in the song?
(3/25/2009 5:17:38 AM)
40
to all the haytaz:
Divisions that be splittin’, don’t be trippin’,that be infantile
(3/25/2009 6:23:35 AM)
41
From Y-Love
Dialogue? What do you mean?
(3/25/2009 6:36:37 AM)
42
Kids today DO dig klezmer!
(3/25/2009 11:07:19 AM)
43
Jews hating Jews
Lets have some unity here people.
(3/25/2009 11:45:39 AM)
44
from Yesod
Thank you Y-Love and DeScribe for the beutifull music,how precious it is for our youth and elders to have such songs,may G d bless the work you do,and may we continue to be blessed by your music,,,,,,,,love,,,,,,,yesod
(3/25/2009 12:43:47 PM)
45
Change
To those people out there that dont like the music DO NOT listen to it no 1 is making you.......Im a teenager ..... Teenagers do not not listen to mordechai ben david, avram fried. idk wat world ur in but teeagers listen to non jewish music and I have stopped because i listen to Describe, Y- Love , and Matisyahu because i feel very spiritual u mite not understand and their songs have meaning that no 1 else has. So i thank them for wat the have done!!!!! Good luck cant wait to hear the new 1's!!!!!!!!!
(3/25/2009 2:31:00 PM)
46
Thank You Y-love
thank you ylove for going out and doing what you believe in , you accomplish so much ... you make us all proud to be frum jews and empower us everyday... may you go from strength to strength and may we all be inspired to be proactive and motivated to change like describe and Ylove we love you!! and what is a chossid if not for a revolutionary; chassidim have never been afraid to challenge the status quot
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and, uh, interesting. it says one of them is a bostoner chassid - is that yitzchak? kinda unusual proffession for a bostoner chassid...
May you continue to grow .. but make a difference ... Be the Rap that is Happy! Just being Hassidic won't cut it .. being different will!
Please ask yourself before posting anything - Does this represent Chabad and do I want to give the children the impression that it does???
I 'm glad he found his way back .
signed
a kid going off the derech
i think this is becoming a "BUSHA" whats going on in Jewish music, theres Jewish Music/CHasideshe music, and theres theres not, there is no middle, the minute you cloud the two, your have erred!
this would be great from chabad on campus website!
NOT HERE
PUT LYRICS ON THE ARTICLE LIKE benashers
all you negative posters go get a life
Crown Heights!! Chosen Few crew!
Describe! modular Y- Love! Prodezra in the building, building!
Prodezra Beats now…Prodezra Beats now…
He’s a genius I’m tellin’ ya…
if i forsake you Jerusalem….ayyy….yoooo!!
(Chorus - from Psalm 137:5-6)
àí àùëçê éøåùìéí úùëç éîéðé
Im eshkachech Yerushalayim Tishkach Y’mini
úãá÷ ìùåðé ìçëé
Tidback leshoni lichiki lichiki
àí ìà àæøëé -- àí ìà àòìä àú éøåùìéí
Im lo ezkarechi im lo a’aleh et Yerushalayim
Jerusalem (Jah!)
òì øàù ùîçúé
Al rosh simchati
àí àùëçê éøåùìéí úùëç éîéðé
Im eshkachech Yerushalayim Tishkach Y’mini
Spit fire! Now my brothas you can just roll with me
àí ìà àæøëé -- àí ìà àòìä àú éøåùìéí
Im lo ezkarechi im lo a’aleh et Yerushalayim Jerusalem (Jah!)
òì øàù ùîçúé
Al rosh simchati
(Describe Verse)
Yooooooo!
It’ a new world advanced technology
Everybody got access, can you feel the energy
Satellites and televisions, straight up infinity
Look at all the changes man, can you see the prophecy
àí àùëçê éøåùìéí úùëç éîéðé
(Im eshkachech Yerushalayim Tishkach Y’mini)
àðçðå çééí áòåìí ëì-ëê àëæøé
(Anachnu chaim ba’olam kol kach achzari)
It’s the real deal, black & white, BOOM! In your face
Do the One Two step, and slow down the pace aye,
Describe!!! With the lyrical vibe
Wake up and smell the napalm cuz the world is alive
We’re far from perfect, yeah I know, but we’re movin’ too slow
So I’m rappin’ bout a change, feel the beat, let’s go!
All I wanna do is change a little bit of you
By making music that can spread out some light, Ooo Ooo
It’s real dark , we just need to light a spark,
And the fire will just blaze up, d’ blaze up the night!
(Chorus)
(Y-Love Verse)
òéø ä÷åãù - ùåøä ùîå ùí
(Ir ha'kodesh, shoreh shmo sham) - The Holy City, He will rest His Name there!
ìëì - äùåøù
(La'kol - ha'shoresh) - The source of everything!
On the ground, the stones shine!
The water gon' flow - check the fire in the sky!
Then the horn gon' blow, then we all gon' fly...
Connect to the Redemption! Walk into the sunrise,
Go across the Wi Fi, download the Most High!
Believe in the dream, both eyes to the prize
The place that all nations gonna praise One G-d
Materialistic think its gonna reign perpetual
Destruction comes eventual, we tryin’ to rise for festivals
Nation that originated here on these streets,
Inspiration that’s contained in this mp3
Bring the opposite of apocalypse, the positive uprisin’
Soul directed towards the úìôéåú (Talpiyot), with quotes from the Prophets
Words on the scroll in the remainder of the Temple
Yeah, the 34th meridian stays central to the mental!
(Chorus)
(Describe)
Yaaaaooooooooooo!!!!
While we livin’ in a reality that’s physical
I gotta look and internally to reveal the spiritual, man
Make ya hands go (clap), bring it back now
Feel ya heart go (bump bump) , and ya soul goes….y oooo!
(Y-Love)
The digital reality, the soul into technology
The unity the policy to bring that new theology
Now clap for me, now bring it down for me
Come on clap for me, now bring it back for me
(Describe)
Yo! Don’t go political with all the individual
Divisions that be splittin’, don’t be trippin’,that be infantile
ya hands go (clap), bring it back now
Feel ya heart go (bump bump) and your souls goes…Jyaaaaaa!!!
(Y-Love)
Yo I can’t help but be political, and keep it individual
But when we on the spiritual, yo one is indivisible,
Now clap for me, now bring it down for me
Now just clap for me!
(Chorus)
Yo! Describe with the lyrical vibe
The Chosen Few…yeah yeah yeah…The Chosen Few!
Y-Love go beyond the norm, my eyes directed towards Tziyon (Zion)
We on, be on!
Describe with the lyrical vibe, we give power to the people
Spreadin’ light, Da power’s on!
Y-Love, the Modular, the function, we risin’
With gumption, I gotta say something I’m runnin’!
http://shemspeed.com/daily
love,
me!
Yes Shneur HaSofer is the son of Australian singer Devorah :)
Commenter 1: Precisely what IS Lubavitch about then, if not using new inventions and media to bring people closer to G-d and Torah? When the Internet first came out in the 90s, Chabad was right there with chabad.org, when the .info domain came out, Chabad was right there. When Litvish people were crying over TVs, Chabad was making telethons. Why don't YOU have rachmanus on the children who you would deprive of hearing Torah messages in a 21st-century format?
Commenter 3: I'm actually not a Bostoner chassid, I was learning under the Bostoner auspices when my bio was written in 2005, no updated versions of my bio contain a reference to it -- my rav is Sephardi (his chacham is a musmach from R' Ovadia) and I've taken on his nusach, etc;
Commenter 19: Precisely what IS Jewish music then? I have lectured nationwide on varying definitions of Jewish music, and very few are as restrictive and outdated as that which you seem to have. The producer Yossi Green, when asked what Jewish music is, said "where a melody is joined with a specific lyric that familiar or not familiar, to teach a certain message, to convey a feeling, that makes you closer to G-d. That basically what we consider as Jewish music." That's my definition and I'm sticking to it.
Commenter 23: I'm sorry! This week G-d willing :)
Commenters 6, 8, 11 - It is truly lamentable that one would be such a baby pining for 19th century Europe in the midst of a klal Yisra'el that faces a 50%+ intermarriage rate, and where only 1 in 7 are Orthodox. If you think that now is the time to restrict media in which Torah messages can be disseminated, you are being horribly counterproductive at best, and antithetical to your entire sect at worst. If you think that now is the time to say where Torah CAN'T be, then it makes me wonder which side (ñèøà) you are actually on.
Now is not the time to be an anachronistic stick-in-the-mud. Now is not the time to place walls around other people's hearing words of Torah in formats they identify with, and actually like (because honestly, of his 297 videos, just to pick a heimish example, Avraham Fried only has 6 which have more YouTube views than "Change", news flash: kids today don't dig klezmer). Niggunim are being remixed, hiphop is being made, change has already come.
Those of us who are living in the now are saying "Moshiach now." Feel free to build a time machine and go back to a time you feel more comfortable in.
If you would like to address me personally, feel free to contact me on twitter. http://twitter.com/ylove
Go lock yourself in the closet and sing modei ani, though who knows if that's Jewish music or a goyish tune from several centuries back.
http://blog.ookamikun.com
So i thank them for wat the have done!!!!!
Good luck cant wait to hear the new 1's!!!!!!!!!
may you go from strength to strength and may we all be inspired to be proactive and motivated to change like describe and Ylove
we love you!!
and what is a chossid if not for a revolutionary; chassidim have never been afraid to challenge the status quot
Yishar Koach!
Fascinating stuff!
Zalman Shimon,C.H