Hasidic rapper who rhymes about God bursts into mainstream, saying fans ‘want more meaning’ from music
nypost.comFlorida born-and-bred Hasidic rapper told The Post in an interview last week.The detail is one of many unexpected distinctions between the bearded frum rhymer and the overwhelming majority of his industry counterparts.
While much of the current hip-hop industry revels in the secular pursuit of fame and its trappings, the devout Jew’s music focuses on getting right with God.But despite his jarring deviation from mainstream norms, Reuven’s brand of sonic piety has gradually expanded his popularity well beyond the shul and into the streets.He has now amassed 1.7 Instagram followers, earned Billboard chart spots and shared a recording studio with Julian Marley, the son of reggae icon Bob Marley.“I think there are people out there who want something more out of music than what they get a lot of the time,” Reuven said. “They want more meaning.
I just thank God that people from all backgrounds have gravitated to my music.”Unlike most Hasidic Jews, Reuven was not raised in an especially religious home.
As a teen, he would indulge in much of the same mischief as his irreligious peers, including the occasional drink or two at a party.During one of these episodes, Reuven said someone spiked his drink with some sort of potent intoxicant — perhaps codeine — which rendered him unconscious.He said he interpreted this “near-death’ experience as an entreaty from God to live a more righteous existence before it was too late.“The realization was that I wasn’t living the right way,” he said. “I didn’t want to leave the world like that.
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