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He is a member of the [[Chabad Lubavitch|Lubavitch]] Hasidic Community in the [[Crown Heights]] section of [[Brooklyn]], [[New York]]; a community made famous by its leader, [[Rabbi]] [[Menachem Mendel Schneerson]]. Matisyahu was born in [[West Chester, Pennsylvania]] and his family eventually settled in [[White Plains, New York]], he was brought up a [[Reconstructionist Judaism|Reconstructionist Jew]], and for some time during those years he played by the alias "MC Truth" for MC Mystic's [[Soulfari]] band [http://web.archive.org/web/20000520225957/mcmystic.com/mctruth.htm] [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/B00000GBUE/ref=dp_proddesc_0/002-6057669-9184007?_encoding=UTF8&n=5174] [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/9363668/matisyahu_hasidic_hot_stepper], however he turned to [[Orthodox Judaism]] around [[2001]] and began playing with the Jewish band
He is a member of the [[Chabad Lubavitch|Lubavitch]] Hasidic Community in the [[Crown Heights]] section of [[Brooklyn]], [[New York]]; a community made famous by its leader, [[Rabbi]] [[Menachem Mendel Schneerson]]. Matisyahu was born in [[West Chester, Pennsylvania]] and his family eventually settled in [[White Plains, New York]], he was brought up a [[Reconstructionist Judaism|Reconstructionist Jew]], and for some time during those years he played by the alias "MC Truth" for MC Mystic's [[Soulfari]] band [http://web.archive.org/web/20000520225957/mcmystic.com/mctruth.htm] [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/B00000GBUE/ref=dp_proddesc_0/002-6057669-9184007?_encoding=UTF8&n=5174] [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/9363668/matisyahu_hasidic_hot_stepper], however he turned to [[Orthodox Judaism]] around [[2001]] and began playing with the Jewish band
[http://www.PeyDalid.com/ Pey Dalid]. Matisyahu learned intensively in [[Hadar Hatorah]], a [[yeshiva]] for returnees to Orthodox Judaism, and he wrote and recorded his first album while still a student there. He counts among his musical inspirations [[Bob Marley]], [[Phish]], and Rabbi [[Shlomo Carlebach]], while giving credit to Simon Jacobson's book ''Toward A Meaningful Life''[http://www.meaningfullife.com], for the lyrical inspiration to the title song of his new album, Youth. His band has a unique sound, mixing reggae, traditonal rap, and guitar solos typical of rock music. His fans are of different walks of life, religions, and ethnicities. He sometimes performs with [[Kenny Muhammad]], a [[Islam|Muslim]] [[Beatboxing|beatboxer]]. He also provides vocals on the songs "Roots in Stereo" and "Strength of My Life" for the 2006 album ''[[Testify (P.O.D. album)|Testify]]'' by [[P.O.D.]], a predominantly Christian group.
[http://www.PeyDalid.com/ Pey Dalid]. Matisyahu learned intensively in [[Hadar Hatorah]], a [[yeshiva]] for returnees to Orthodox Judaism, and he wrote and recorded his first album while still a student there. He counts among his musical inspirations [[Bob Marley]], [[Phish]], and Rabbi [[Shlomo Carlebach]], while giving credit to Simon Jacobson's book ''Toward A Meaningful Life''[http://www.meaningfullife.com], for the lyrical inspiration to the title song of his new album, Youth. His band has a unique sound, mixing reggae, traditional rap, and guitar solos typical of rock music. His fans are of different walks of life, religions, and ethnicities. He sometimes performs with [[Kenny Muhammad]], a [[Islam|Muslim]] [[Beatboxing|beatboxer]]. He also provides vocals on the songs "Roots in Stereo" and "Strength of My Life" for the 2006 album ''[[Testify (P.O.D. album)|Testify]]'' by [[P.O.D.]], a predominantly Christian group.


His reggae vocal style is along the lines of traditional [[Rasta]] Roots stylings mixed with [[Dub music|dub]] sound. The easiest comparison would be similar to the conscious and cultural sides of [[Buju Banton]], [[Sizzla]], [[Capleton]], or [[Junior Kelly]], but with the upbeat message of [[Luciano]], [[Bushman]] and Everton Blender, and vocal dexterity of [[Barrington Levy]]. The production of the tracks draws from [[King Tubby]], [[Augustus Pablo]], [[Mikey Dread]], and [[Linval Thompson]]. Similarities to the Foundation Sound of the late [[1970s]] and [[1980s]] would be accurate, and comparisons to [[Morgan Heritage]] likewise, would not be wrong. However, he mixes in contemporary stylings of [[hip hop music|rap]] and [[beatboxing]], similar to [[Sublime (band) | Sublime]], as well as the traditional [[Hazzan]] style of [[Jewish]] cantors and Hasidic [[nigun|nigunim]].
His reggae vocal style is along the lines of traditional [[Rasta]] Roots stylings mixed with [[Dub music|dub]] sound. The easiest comparison would be similar to the conscious and cultural sides of [[Buju Banton]], [[Sizzla]], [[Capleton]], or [[Junior Kelly]], but with the upbeat message of [[Luciano]], [[Bushman]] and Everton Blender, and vocal dexterity of [[Barrington Levy]]. The production of the tracks draws from [[King Tubby]], [[Augustus Pablo]], [[Mikey Dread]], and [[Linval Thompson]]. Similarities to the Foundation Sound of the late [[1970s]] and [[1980s]] would be accurate, and comparisons to [[Morgan Heritage]] likewise, would not be wrong. However, he mixes in contemporary stylings of [[hip hop music|rap]] and [[beatboxing]], similar to [[Sublime (band) | Sublime]], as well as the traditional [[Hazzan]] style of [[Jewish]] cantors and Hasidic [[nigun|nigunim]].

Revision as of 10:09, 6 March 2006

Matisyahu
File:Matisyahu.JPG
Background information
OriginWest Chester, Pennsylvania, USA
Years active2001—present
MembersMatisyahu Miller, Aaron Dugan, Josh Werner, Jonah David

Matthew Paul Miller (born June 30, 1979), more commonly known as Matisyahu, is a Hasidic Jewish reggae artist.

He is a member of the Lubavitch Hasidic Community in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York; a community made famous by its leader, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Matisyahu was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania and his family eventually settled in White Plains, New York, he was brought up a Reconstructionist Jew, and for some time during those years he played by the alias "MC Truth" for MC Mystic's Soulfari band [1] [2] [3], however he turned to Orthodox Judaism around 2001 and began playing with the Jewish band Pey Dalid. Matisyahu learned intensively in Hadar Hatorah, a yeshiva for returnees to Orthodox Judaism, and he wrote and recorded his first album while still a student there. He counts among his musical inspirations Bob Marley, Phish, and Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, while giving credit to Simon Jacobson's book Toward A Meaningful Life[4], for the lyrical inspiration to the title song of his new album, Youth. His band has a unique sound, mixing reggae, traditional rap, and guitar solos typical of rock music. His fans are of different walks of life, religions, and ethnicities. He sometimes performs with Kenny Muhammad, a Muslim beatboxer. He also provides vocals on the songs "Roots in Stereo" and "Strength of My Life" for the 2006 album Testify by P.O.D., a predominantly Christian group.

His reggae vocal style is along the lines of traditional Rasta Roots stylings mixed with dub sound. The easiest comparison would be similar to the conscious and cultural sides of Buju Banton, Sizzla, Capleton, or Junior Kelly, but with the upbeat message of Luciano, Bushman and Everton Blender, and vocal dexterity of Barrington Levy. The production of the tracks draws from King Tubby, Augustus Pablo, Mikey Dread, and Linval Thompson. Similarities to the Foundation Sound of the late 1970s and 1980s would be accurate, and comparisons to Morgan Heritage likewise, would not be wrong. However, he mixes in contemporary stylings of rap and beatboxing, similar to Sublime, as well as the traditional Hazzan style of Jewish cantors and Hasidic nigunim.

Most of his songs are almost entirely in English with just a few words of Hebrew and Yiddish sprinkled in. Matisyahu is also known for not performing in concert on Friday nights or Saturdays, as working on the Sabbath is forbidden for Jews.

After a short period of much underground buzz, Matisyahu is getting some success in the mainstream with the live version of the song 'King Without a Crown', which has broken into the Modern Rock Top 10; an accompanying video and new album produced by Bill Laswell are due on March 7, 2006.

Origin of the name 'Matisyahu'

Matisyahu refers to the Hasmonean leader, Mattathias (in Greek), who began the revolt against the Seleucid army during the second century BCE. Its meaning is "gift of God". 'Matisyahu' is the Yiddish (or Ashkenazi Hebrew) pronunciation. This name was changed into the name we know as Matthew used in the early Church by Latin speakers referring to the author of the Gospel of Matthew whose original name was the Hebrew one (accounting for the peculiar spelling, as in Mat[i]t[ya]hew).

Matisyahu's album Youth is scheduled for release on March 7, 2006.

Matisyahu Miller explained the origin of his personal use of the name in an interview in Kosher Spirit Magazine [5] (a Chabad Lubavitch publication) as follows: His full secular name is Matthew Paul Miller, and the legal Hebrew name he received at his bris at eight days of age was forgotten. In Hebrew school it was assumed to be Matisyahu because of the reason given above. The original certificate from the bris was located and he discovered that his actual name was Feivish Hershel, but the advice he received was to continue using the Hebrew name he had grown up with.

Discography

Album Cover Date of Release Title Label US Billboard Peak US sales
2004 Shake Off the Dust...Arise JDub Records Did not chart
File:MatisyahuLiveAtStubbs.jpg
 April 19, 2005 Live at Stubb's (live) JDub Records #32
March 7, 2006 Youth JDub/Sony Not yet charted
March 7, 2006 Youth Dub JDub/Sony Not yet charted

Download a Sample of "King Without A Crown"

Singles

Year Title Chart Positions Album
US Hot 100 US Modern Rock UK Singles Chart US Adult Top 40
2005 "King Without a Crown" 69 7 - - Live at Stubb's
2006 "Youth" - - - - Youth

Appearances

  1. Jimmy Kimmel Live (August 24, 2004)
  2. Last Call with Carson Daly (2004)
  3. Steve Harvey's Big Time Challenge (2004)
  4. The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (2005)
  5. Late Night With Conan O'Brien (2005)
  6. World Cafe (NPR) (aired: July 29, 2005)
  7. The Late Late Show (CBS) (November 15, 2005 1:40AM EST)
  8. mtvU Woodie Awards 2005 (performed: November 2, 2005, aired: November 10, 2005)
  9. MTV 10 Spot (December 6, 2005 10:00PM PST)
  10. MTVU : Uber (December 19, 2005)
  11. Late Show with David Letterman (January 16, 2006)

Band members

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