Vancouver, B.C. – Brooklyn’s own Matisyahu — the ultra-Orthodox Jew with the unorthodox calling — wowed the Vancouver Olympics last night with his own unique brand of Hasidic reggae.
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The 30-year-old from Crown Heights marries Jamaican reggae, hip hop and rap to the religious ecstasy of the Hasidim to great effect: He currently has three of the top ten albums on the iTunes reggae charts.
“I celebrate shabbos, keep kosher and pray every day, but I have another musical life,” said the former Matthew Miller, whose stage moniker is the Hebrew version of his first name.
“Bob Marley was it for me.”
His latest album, “Light,” topped reggae charts for over 10 weeks, an unheard-of Caucasian crossover into traditionally West Indian cultural territory.
NBC chose its lead single, the catchy and inspirational “One Day,” to soundtrack its promotional ads for the Olympics in Vancouver, where Matisyahu performed last night in Yaletown.
“I feel really blessed,” Matisyahu said the other day after bringing down the house at his sons’ day-care center. He and his wife, Talia, are the parents of Shalom, 3, and Laivy, 4.
Most Matisyahu gigs attract an older, more diverse crowd.
His annual Festival of Light, a series of packed clubland concerts celebrating Chanukkah, drew rebel yeshiva boys, boozy frat packs and jam-band regulars digging a more spiritual groove.
“Kids who are searching, who aren’t in touch with their heritage, relate to me,” he said, stroking his long curls and full beard. “I’m always moved.”
Matisyahu is no stranger to wandering in the wilderness.
After dropping out of high school, the White Plains kid from a secular Jewish home dropped acid and hitchhiked across the nation following the Grateful Dead-inspired jam band Phish.
“I was on a quest for spiritual meaning, for some kind of godliness,” he said, recalling the days when he free-styled under the name “MC Truth.”
“I knew I was Jewish, but I didn’t know what it meant.”
The hippie became a Hasid and married the Hasidic Talia. They live just a block away from Chabad Lubavitch, the center for Hasidim in New York City.
He acknowledged that bohemians normally flee conservative enclaves, instead of seeking them out.
“It’s a reversal,” he said. “What you have here is a real spiritual community, not just religious rules and restrictions. It’s creatively inspiring.”
After laboring on the jam band circuit, Matisyahu broke through with “King Without A Crown,” a Modern Rock top 10 hit. Collaborations with Trey Anastasio of Phish, jazz production big Bill Laswell and reggae rhythm legends Sly and Robbie have given him a legitimacy that won’t quit.
He has heard the LA music industry’s siren call, but dismisses it.
“I love Brooklyn,” Matisyahu said. “The realness of New York. You can’t get that anywhere else.”
Wow, I give him a lot of credit, albeit with great caution. He’s put himself squarely in the jaws of the secular entertainment industry, but he’s been very strong so far….
#2 ….lipa has no where near the exposure, sucess and money this guy gots
you feeling me?
Great story! I love matisyahu, his music all has very good vibes and messages not to mention the awesome beats and outstanding vocals. He is truly a gift to the jewish music world. One day one day!! Ayayayayoooo ayayyayoooo!!!
He mimics the vocalizations, movements and sound of Jamaican reggae artists to a T. If the Olympic committee wanted a true reggae artist, couldn’t they have reached for the real thing instead of this suburban wanna-be plastic performer?
I personally do not care for this type of music, but he has a great talent and I hope that his Yiddishkeit helps him stay grounded and protects him from the terrible influence the music industry has.
What does reggae and chasid have in common? Dont get me wrong I love Matisyahu!
In this world there are few people who bring any sort of real joy to the world. He does. Kids today could be listening to filthy, obscene, sexually-charged music but many are turning to a guy who sings about finding his way through Torah and his faith in H”.
There are 100% true stories of young Jewish men who have sought out frumkeit as a result of this message.
While it is not for everyone, and may not be a good thing for everyone of us to listen to, the message is clear, personal and honest…. that will always bring people in. If it reaches those who need to be reached, it is good.
I just want to say for all you haters this guy inspired me to come back to yiddushkeit and actually make a connection with hashem more than any of you could say. If you want to spew negativity please dont cus this man is amaing, I met him 5 times and he’s an amazing individual and vry nice, not stuck up like mot celeberties. I understand if you dont like his music, or if you dont want your kids going t his concerts, bur please refrain from saying any negative tings about this man. You know it is lshon hara, you have no idea how many souls mtisyahu has touched jews and non jews alike. With all the bd press jews are getting in the media lately it’s a breath of fresh air to see this man inspiring other people and making a good name for judaism.
Mattisyahu is a great jew, and deserves alot of credit for staying totally frum and staying in NY.
It’s like listening to a pack of coyotes howling,for 6;44 minutes .
“They live just a block away from Chabad Lubavitch, the center for Hasidim in New York City”
This makes no sense. It should read “…770, the center of Lubavitch hassidus in new York…” There are many more Hasidic centers in brookly, many are more holy than 770 considering the garbage that goes on there today.
Gevald. Do you think he is finally raising the sparks within the Olympics after two thousand years?
Probably in the audience are some Jews hiding their yiddishkeit. They may be inspired by this yid’s pride in his heritage, and his willingness to perform for this crowd while visibly maintaining his Jewish outward appearance (tzizis, beard, etc.). This, in addition to reaching their neshamas with his music.
All you yenta’s commenting to the NEGATIVE about Matis are simply jealous and likely having many deficits in your life – its easy to knock him. Bottom line he’s a BT, a star, and popular…while most of you won’t ever get it – this is what Chabad encourages and in the end of days we’ll see who has the last laugh.
Some of you folks gotta come out of your little 2×2 sheltered box 😉
Hashem has many shelichim who have many looks and many facets to them. You would never know if you were talking to one of Hashem’s shelichim or malochim so don’t be so quick to judge. Anyone who does Hashem’s work or Hahsem’s bidding is as valuable as the next guy or even YOU. So be careful what you SAY and most especially what you THINK of a fellow JEW because YOU have no idea who he is or what his mission is all about.
G-d bless this young man.
If he can reach one Jewish kid to get back to our religion of “true Judaism” than he will have done a world of good.
He will have done more than 1000’s of so called Jewish Schnorrer Groups who are pretending to save Jewish youth with their constant appeal for funds to ensure “Jewish Continuity”.
I have stopped contributing to these “Jewish Groups” years and years ago..
They are useless.
Congragulations Matisyahu..You are doing G-d’s work.
#21 - I want to tell you something. I didn’t knock him and would never knock anyone but.. and this is going to shock you.. I have no interest whatsoever in being a star or famous and neither do 99% of the population.
For sure young Jewish kids are saying that you can be an Orthodox Jew and be cool as well. Who would believe this phenonoma would be possible?
what happened to his black hat that he usually wears when he performs?
I have met Matis, and can tell all of you, I was shocked how personable and low key he is. I stopped him in the street and he had took the time to have a conversation w me an hour before he went on stage… I was and continue to be amazed. Being this is V.I.N. I will put it on proper terms… What a mentch!