Hasidic Jewish Rapper Takes Spirituality and Music to a New Level
by Tamara Gilkes
Few people can even conceptualize what a cross between a Hasidic Jew and Bob Marley would be, but after discovering Matisyahu, that thought becomes a reality.
Matisyahu, born Matthew Miller, is a Hasidic Jew with a passion for reggae whose music has created quite a stir. At the age of 14, he was drawn to the lifestyle of dreadlocks and Birkenstocks and eventually began to assume the reggae culture. As a junior in high school, though, Matisyahu began to search for something more. While away from the suburban lifestyle in White Plains, NY and instead under the open stars and in the Rocky Mountains, Matisyahu came to a certain revelation. He came to the conclusion that there must be a God.
After this experience, Matisyahu went to Israel, solidifying his previously shaky foundation of faith. This discovery, however, was not as easy as one might assume. He had a difficult time upon returning to the United States and his parents decided that he should attend a wilderness school in Bend, Oregon to figure things out. Through the encouragement of the environment at the school, he began to explore music and dove straight into studying hip-hop and reggae. He also attended a weekly open mic session, allowing him to flex his creative muscles.
After two years at the wilderness school, Matisyahu returned to New York and attended the New School. As a student, he began to practice the Lubavitch Hasidic lifestyle, leaving class to pray. The frame of mind that Matisyahu attained under the Chabad-Lubavitch philosophy served as a backbone for him to keep on a steady spiritual path.
Matisyahu is now known for his combination of Bob Marley, Shlomo Carlebach and his own unique style and so has become known to many as the reggae rapping Hasidic Jew. According to his web site, “even the most pessimistic in his audience is inspired by his ability to so honestly convey such a delicate topic as faith/spirituality.”
Matisyahu’s music is produced by reggae and dub producer Bill Laswell, with Jimmy Douglass and Ill Factor providing additional support. His debut album, “Live at Stubb’s,” sold over 100,000 albums. Blender magazine sites his music as a mix of “’70s-era reggae with hip-hop raps, lyrics about Judaism and the occasional guitar solo.” His newest 11-song album “Youth,” released on March 7, spans a variety of styles from songs with acoustic guitar to ones with a strong African beat.
Matisyahu’s popularity has grown quite rapidly, as he has everything from Instant Messenger buddy icons available on AOL to the support of iTunes for the debut of his album for possible admirers. Fans can pre-order the album on iTunes and get the bonus track “Warriors,” but only through pre-order, as well as the bonus video "Old City Beat Box" and a special iTunes interactive booklet.
Many musicians in the past have been labeled as original, distinctive, or different from the mainstream, but few can vouch for all those characteristics as highly as Matisyahu. His fan base has grown, as he and the band have gone from performing at bar mitzvahs to performing live shows at substantial venues (while vowing never to perform at bar mitzvah’s again).
The unique combination of using a raw, against-the-mainstream musical style such as reggae and keeping the mainstream and religious values (such as abstaining from the marijuana culture that is so prevalent in reggae culture), is roping in fans while not having to go against his personal spiritual tenants. Matisyahu has created a style that is making big waves.
Sources
http://www.hasidicreggae.com/
http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=1863
http://www.matismusic.com/
