Sëla

"Pedal to the Side"

by John Vettese

As this city's bicycle-love continues to climb to unprecedented heights, it's tempting to call Sëla's "Pedal to the Side" a hip-hop anthem for the Philadelphia cyclist circa 2009. Dig the slow and low synthesizer pulse, the creeping beat, the infectious hook — "Kick, step, kick, step/ pedal to the left, pedal to the left/ kick, step, kick, step, pedal to the side/ pedal to the side." It would totally match the brisk back-and-forth push of a ride up Pine Street's new bike lane. But no — Philly's premier sci-fi rap collective is talking about trying to peddle smart lyrics, and how it's increasingly difficult in a diluted industry. "Who knew these cats would turn wack and go to YouTube?/ They don't even rap no more, they're reciting monologues." Part meta-commentary, part braggart flow, Sëla spins the image of navigating the streets to meditate on navigating the rap game.

Bike to Temple and catch Sëla with Poetic Republic and Lady, Fri., Oct. 23, 8 p.m., $7, The Draught Horse, 1431 Cecil B. Moore Ave., draughthorse.com.