It is the latest in a growing Middle Eastern hip-hop scene. Israeli and Arab rappers are using beats and lyrics to express a political urgency not often heard in hip-hop.

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Unusual Rap Duo Teams Up

Matisyahu is an observant Lubavitcher from Crown Heights who uses Hasidic chanting and reggae grooves to spread a message of love.

"This spirituality and concept of Godliness should be spread out through the entire world," he said. "Anyone who has any talents or can do anything publicly should go and do it, and that's how were going to spread the concept."

Sharing the stage with Matisyahu is Kenny Muhammad, a human percussionist and beat boxer, who is also known as the human orchestra.

"Without even saying words, people can feel. They can understand where I'm coming from, and it opens them up and it makes them feel free," Muhammad said.

He says his whole motive for what he does is to uplift humanity. "Me performing with Matisyahu, he's Jewish, I'm Muslim, by us coming together, we're showing that there is one God. There are many religions, but there is only one God," he said.

Their performance is part of the Celebrate Brooklyn Festival, a festival designed to celebrate the cultural diversity of the borough. The concerts are held in Prospect Park's band cell.

"Whether it's music from Africa, South America or American roots, or music from the Middle East, that's what Celebrate Brooklyn is all about," said Jack Walsh of the Celebrate Brooklyn Festival. "We create these performances where people can come together in a harmonious setting and experience these different musics and cultures."

The unity performances are the concept of Aaron Bisman, who founded the first non-profit Jewish record label -- Jdub Records.

"The unity sessions came about because I really saw a need to bring people together that don't normally come into the same space: Jews, Muslims, Arabs, Israelis, Palestinians…" Bisman said. "Not so we can say we all stand together with one meaning, one voice, but we can come together, share our different voices, say our different things, but stand on one stage, come together in one audience. There really is a whole underground culture with Israelis, Palestinians, learning to develop their voices, not voices with violence or hands, but with their voice, their minds, their mics, DJing, beat boxing and learning to express themselves."

So far the concept appears to be working. Celebrate Brooklyn will be holding concerts every weekend through Aug. 10, and Matisyahu is releasing his debut album this fall.