Matisyahu A Short Documentary

*Video working now*



A reminder by Rhapsody:

Matisyahu Born Matthew Miller in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Matisyahu spent his youth as an itinerant hippie, following Phish and searching for meaning in his life. On a trip to Israel, Matisyahu rediscovered Judaism. After penning a play entitled "Echada," about a boy who meets a Hassidic rabbi in Washington Square Park in New York, Matisyahu's life oddly imitated his art, and he met a Lubavitch rabbi in the park, spurring his name change from Matthew to Matisyahu, one of the heroes of the Chanukah story. After a few false starts, Matisyahu became deeply immersed in the Hasidic tradition of mystical singing. It took just a few leaps to arrive at his current incarnation, as what may be the world's first Hasidic reggae singer.

Matisyahu Live Beatboxing

Matisyahu beatBox @ Bogart's Cincinnati - March 2006

Matisyahu - Live At Stubbs - Close My Eyes - lyrics

Matisyahu - Close My Eyes - lyrics

No matter where I am bless me with all your light,
I'm on the train brain vexed connect and the I feel blessed
Whether day or night I'm on the street midtown New York City
Let me stop praise your name I need room to breath
I want to feel your peace; I got to feel your ease
Screaming' down on my, because my insides bleed
My hearts on fire witnessed all the vampires
Yes I came hear on a to inspire

[Chorus:]
Close my eyes and take a ride inside
Feel the breeze blow by yo I'm getting' you high
Bob Nesta said it best everything will be all right
Introspect connect the sect's and let this music make you fly

I listened' to the wind whistle in a channel of sound
my ear like a vacuum begin to boom
glisten like the sun heats a drum,
cursing' all of them doomed rising' up from the ground
growing full like the moon
Said I'm planting like a seed yes sir
them get up and get up and grow and I'm firm like a tree,
well I know that's all I know,
that some their colors wonderful like it was a rainbow
Let me tell you one time if you didn't know

[Chorus]

Moonlight enlighten my way at twilight
from the heights of my roof I send praise then poof
I'm looking up at the night
and ask for help to get up and get up and get up and get up and get it right

Jerusalem you take me high make me fly like arrow in the sky

Luciano teams up with Jewish DJ sensation (Matisyahu)

Luciano teams up with Jewish DJ sensation (that would be Matisyahu)

Here is a report from the Jamaica observer. To be honest I have no idea who is this Luciano guy, but I like the fact Matisyahu is collaborating with other artists

Luciano teams up with Jewish DJ sensation

Observer Reporter Thursday, March 23, 2006

Luciano. has earned praise for his conscious messages

Roots singer Luciano will shortly collaborate with Hasidic DJ Matisyahu, one of the hottest acts currently on the international music scene. The track is slated to be included on Luciano's upcoming disc for VP Records.

The 'Messenjah' and 'Matis' first met in the summer of 2005 when the latter opened for Luciano on his east coast US tour. Recently, the two combined to tremendous applause on the west coast during Matisyahu's show at the Long Beach Arena. The performance attracted the attention of the entertainment section of the Los Angeles Times newspaper.

The track has reportedly been laid by Luciano's Jah Messenjah band, with Dean Fraser at the helm, and sent to the Jewish DJ in California.

A native of the White Plains section of Brooklyn, New York, Matisyahu first became hooked on reggae music as a teenager listening to the sounds of Bob Marley. He so far has recorded two albums, a live set, Live at Stubbs, that was certified gold, and a studio follow-up, entitled Youth, that entered the Billboard 200 Albums chart at #4 its first week of release (March 6). The single, King Without A Crown, was a recent Top 40 hit.

Matisyahu. became hooked on reggae music as a teenager

One of the most revered reggae artistes to emerge over the last decade, Luciano has earned raves for his conscious messages and highly personal style of performing. His best-known albums include One Way Ticket, Where There is Life and Messenjah.

Matisyahu - Youth - Time Of Your Song - lyrics

The world is moving to the song I hear,
Who’s that singing, wind is rushing in my ear,
Mind gushing memories almost lost everything,
Felony and fellows running in my dream,
We were in the van where the hits were driving,
Saw myself In the highlands at age 13
And im asking questions to the present day me,
Moving backwards down the hill see we were posting.

[Chorus]
Moonlight illuminate my night and my days sunray make the people say
Had a vision somethings missing so they're screaming out loud
Keep my feet on ground and my head in the clouds.
I'm the arrow, you're my bow, shoot me forth and I will go
And I know and I go and I go get up and go
Make me feel its for real tell me what you know.

I don’t mean to glorify,
Ate the apple of the tree and tried to lie,
In the garden ill remember
That’s when I started to sing
I said death brings life into uncertain things,
Classroom's not for me
Sun setting autumn breeze
Sound is moving like a chorus
Keep hearing that melody,
Check the radio but theres nothing playing,
Check the radio again but theres nothing playing.

[Chorus]

Rewind…

Dub-wise!

Swing low, sweet chariot of flames
Change my name, No!
It Was always the same,
Till if only what you find when you climb,
Check the radio but of all that shines theres no time,
My life is making your mind work in overtime,
But along the line youll have to pay for the crime.
Slow it down You turbo too soon,
Vroom vroom then you want to blast off unto the moon,
But you might get trapped in a temple of doom,
You might get trapped in a temple of doom.


[Chorus]

Matisyahu - Exaltation - lyrics

Matisyahu - Live At Stubbs - Exaltation:

Heavens rejoice and the earth will exalt
Oh no, come swing back like a catapult
The sea and its fullness will roar
He is our help and our shield our soul yearns for the lord
Burning G-d of Yaacov everlasting stronghold
Break down the door I can't hold back no more
Wait all night long, until the early morning
Like night watchmen wait for the dawning

Chorus
Exaltation, my G-d of salvation
The field and there in will be filled with jubilation
The lord's name will be proclaimed amongst the Nations
We don't have no time for patience

Arise, be our help
Place my trust in your kindness
It's a must hoping in the G-d of deliverance
Since way back when before time began
Existing eternally, everlasting, rejoice in the name of his majesty so we sing

Chorus

Chant sweet melodies, utter hymns and sing praise to his name
For he's alone exalted holy,
Performing mighty deeds and making new things,
Sowing righteousness and creating healing
He spoke, the world came into being
Master of praise, renews each day
Redeems and saves, continuously, blessed is his name
Making great lights, creating luminaries
Abounding in mercy
Won't you grant me
Understanding
To perceive, all the teachings in your Torah of love, existing eternally, lead me

(I love this song, and the live performance of this song.)

Matisyahu on CBS and cool Matisyahu poster

DO NOT MISS MATISYAHU ON CBS SUNDAY MORNING!

Be sure to catch Matisyahu's profile segment this weekend airing on CBS Sunday Morning
THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 26
ON CBS: 9-10:30AM.
Check your local listings so you don't miss it!


I loved "Roots In Stereo" and I'm still waiting to hear P.O.D and Matusyahu's song "Strength Of My Life", If someone got a link to the song let me know, please. check out this cool poster:

Matisyahu Live At Red Rocks

This is a full-length live performance is about one hour long....
(This video was uploaded by Mobis)

Backstage pass: Matisyahu Youth behind the scenes

check out the making of Youth video:

MTVU - Matisyahu behind the scenes

Matisyahu - WP (White Plains) - lyrics

Matisyahu - Youth - WP (White Plains) :

slap me dap, we sat down in the back of the class

diseased knowledge we don't need, I forgot my late pass
but I'm early to arrive with beatbox, you got raps?
meet me on the football field, don't sleep on Phil the quarterback
no one clapped when we locked in, it was removal of our clasps
but my flag got captured and I fell between the cracks
my tool for inspiration turned into a handicap
no matter how I tried, I just couldn't fill the gaps
those whipper snappers, they got trapped, old chap
they lost the way, they never had the right map
needed a sneak attack to slap the demons off my back
so I packed for the shtetl, dreamed big I wouldn't settle
put the pedal to the metal and returned to fundamentals
I'll never forget running through the hall with all y'all rebels
roaming through the highlands, young bucks invincible
echoes in my brain, Ipkiss report to the principle

substance dulls the mind
traife wine clouds the heart
you can't sew a stitch with one hand
while you're taking it apart
bright lights might look nice
but they sure won't make you sharp
you can't sew a stitch with one hand
while you're taking it apart

yeah, misty morning and my mum's a mess
to make matters worse dog my pops is stressed
life is a test, make the grade or catch an F
now death is all that's left to ponder
I wander off hoping to catch my breath
and hold it, mold my memories from untold scripts
and roll up in a tornado twist, now I'm certain
there's a pertinent reason I'm on this earth
seasons change in white plains, but we remain alert
when new school years appear, fools fear for a failure
and crawl away in tears
I play Popeye the Sailor and stay with spinach
we walk the halls with a grimace
yeah they gossip in groups
I try to mind my business and tell the truth
for instance, I listen, see it all with basketball court vision
ignoring ignorance in fields of fiction
we lean back in the calmest position
and embrace the honesty found within our tension

what's good?

substance dulls the mind
traife wine clouds the heart
you can't sew a stitch with one hand
while you're taking it apart
bright lights make you blind
but they sure don't leave you sharp
you can't sew a stitch with one hand
while you're taking it apart

trapped in the elevator of your mind
is it real, what will you find behind the door
your imaginations put you in a bind
around you there's a cloud of gloom
swallow the key, lock yourself in a room
can't see outside of your Universe

no more war, there won't be anymore hunger
no jealousy, not even competition

let go, release, you hold the keys
time we evaporate into the breeze
we are nothing, we are something
let go, release, you hold the keys
it's time we evaporate into the breeze
we are nothing, we'll be something
welcome to the desert of my soul
you can stay if you like
there's room for one more
there's room for one more

Matisyahu - Fire of Heaven / Altar of Earth - lyrics

Matisyahu - Youth - Fire of Heaven / Altar of Earth:

Fire descends from on high in the shape of a lion
Burn the sacrifice of pride and ride on to Mount Zion
2x

Rub me the wrong way, taking the highway
Rubbing sticks together but your fire's man-made
Capitalize on hot air, soar like an airplane
Yearn to rise in the sky quick high like cocaine
False pride is suicide but you've got nothing to gain
Babylon's buildings rise like flames
Drowning in their champagne
Explosion pulled the pin in the hand grenade
Soul stain blowing up in your own domain
Firecrackers ooh and ahh but they never maintain
Fire's burning, flames are dancing, don't burn the house down low
Heavenly fire only resides on an altar made from the ground

Fire descends from on high in the shape of a lion
Burn the sacrifice of pride and ride on to Mount Zion
2x

One pair of eyes; but see two different things
One person cries while the other one sings
Walk around like everybody owes you something
Take what you got, thank G_d for all that life brings
The poor man has it all but not content with anything
While the rich man's hands are empty but he's sitting like a king

Fire's burning, flames are dancing, don't burn the house down low
Heavenly fire only resides on an altar made from the ground

Backpack's getting heavy, moving at a steady pace
Carrying bricks on your shoulders and lead around your waist
Making way, run in haste
There's no time to tase what you ate
We should be grateful, got a plateful
Fire burns like ice morsels falling fire like rain

Fire descends from on high in the shape of a lion
Burn the sacrifice of pride and ride on to Mount Zion
2x

You should be more subtle
You could keep your hustle
Keep your laughing
Keep your chuckle
Flashing muscle brass knuckle
Bust your bubble gum pop
Take off the muzzle
Hate to ruffle feathers
? ?
Struggle through the rubble
Concrete jungle
Brisk and brustle
Slip and shuffle
Stumble into trouble
Spirit rumble in the Temple
Mumble nothing
You should be more humble
In the continental call your bluff
Your puffin' smoke is fundamental
In this ocean you're a pebble

Fire's burning, flames are dancing, don't burn the house down low
Heavenly fire only resides on an altar made from the ground

(?? = have no idea what he said there)

Get To Know Matisyahu - Matisyahu On AOL Music

Matisyahu On AOL Music

There are three types of people:

1- poeple who know Matisyahu.
2- poeple who think they know Matisyahu.
3- poeple who don't know Matisyahu.

Now, if you are one of the people listed above you would like this one. AOL music has done a piece about Matistyahu, bio, live exclusive videos, live sessions (which are grate) (check out the beatboxing piece) and some questions and answers on video. I liked it alot and I think you will too.

I must say, the more I listen to his music, the more I like it ..... (I hope you don't think I'm obsessed)

take a look: Matisyahu on AOL Music


(You can also check him out on Rhapsody)

*UPDATE*
I've seen all the videos on AOL Music, it'll just grate .... i've seen them over and over .... I just love it ....

*ANOTHER UPDATE*
check out the video of "Exaltaion". In that video you must pay attantion to the music for a very special 20 seconds from 01:50 to 02:10. just mind blowing .... close your eyes and feel the music .... what can I say .... Matisyahu is number ONE!

Here is the link again Matisyahu on AOL Music

Matisyahu Skyrockets

Is it a bird? is it a plane? NO it's Matisyahu

Number one on the BillBoard's top internet albums


And number 4 (soon to be number one?) on Rhapsody. Speaking of which, you can register for a free trial and get unrestricted access to the entire 1,500,000+ songs!!! did I say it's free?
Click here to get a free 14-day trial of Rhapsody



If you do not live in the USA you can register for a RealOne SuperPass Free Trial

Have fun, and , you are welcome ...

Matisyahu - Jerusalem lyrics

Matisyahu - Jerusalem lyrics

Matisyahu - Youth - Jerusalem

[Chorus]
Jerusalem, if I forget you,
fire not gonna come from me tongue.
Jerusalem, if I forget you,
let my right hand forget what it’s supposed to do.

In the ancient days, we will return with no delay
Picking up the bounty and the spoils on our way
We’ve been traveling from state to state
And them don’t understand what they say
3,000 years with no place to be
And they want me to give up my milk and honey
Don’t you see, it’s not about the land or the sea
Not the country but the dwelling of his majesty

[chorus]

Rebuild the temple and the crown of glory
Years gone by, about sixty
Burn in the oven in this century
And the gas tried to choke, but it couldn’t choke me
I will not lie down, I will not fall asleep
They come overseas, yes they’re trying to be free
Erase the demons out of our memory
Change your name and your identity
Afraid of the truth and our dark history
Why is everybody always chasing we
Cut off the roots of your family tree
Don't you know that's not the way to be

[chorus]

Caught up in these ways, and the worlds gone craze
Don’t you know it’s just a phase
Case of the Simon says
If I forget the truth then my words won’t penetrate
Babylon burning in the place, can’t see through the haze
Chop down all of them dirty ways,
That’s the price that you pay for selling lies to the youth
No way, not ok, oh no way, not ok, hey
Aint no one gonna break my stride
Aint no one gonna pull me down
Oh no, I got to keep on moving
Stay alive

[chorus]

(I'm sure you've heared the purple text before)

NYTimes - Hasidic Reggae Singer Surprises His Managers

Hasidic Reggae Singer Surprises His Managers

By BEN SISARIO

Published: March 14, 2006

When Aaron Bisman met Matthew Miller about five years ago, they were music-obsessed college students in New York who had an unusual goal: to make innovative music that was proudly Jewish. Mr. Bisman, at New York University, started a nonprofit record label, JDub, and his friend at the New School, who called himself Matisyahu, worked on his reggae toasting skills.

"He was still wearing track suits," Mr. Bisman said, "and just growing out his beard."

As Matisyahu's love for hip-hop and his dedication to Orthodox Judaism grew, he hit the clubs in a black suit, hat and full beard, and with JDub behind him made one of the most unlikely rises in pop music history. He is surely the only Hasidic reggae singer to sell out 2,000-to-3,000-seat concert halls regularly around the country, and last week he released "Youth" (JDub/Or/Epic), his major label debut, which is widely expected to make it high in the Top 10 when the charts are compiled later this week.

But a few days before "Youth" was released, Mr. Bisman and his partner, Jacob Harris, received an unexpected phone call from their prize talent, telling them their management services were no longer required. "He was in Kansas," Mr. Bisman said. "He said, 'I don't know if you guys are old enough or have enough experience.' "

For Mr. Bisman, 25, and Mr. Harris, 26, it was a shock from an old friend and a potential blow to their business. They had shepherded Matisyahu through his early career, setting up gigs and handing out fliers and the like — with the added duty of defining just what a pro-Jewish act would do. "He was the embodiment of what we thought was possible," Mr. Harris said. "Proud, authentic Jewish artists."

And while JDub has not been Matisyahu's record label for two years, Mr. Bisman and Mr. Harris had remained his managers, and Matisyahu's engagements bring in a substantial part of the company's revenue.

The two men said they still have nearly three years left on a four-year management contract, and are consulting with their lawyers on how to proceed. "There has to be some sort of legal action," Mr. Bisman said in an interview at the JDub offices at the Edgar M. Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at New York University.

Matisyahu's lawyer, Valerie Marcus, declined to comment.

JDub has an annual budget of nearly $1 million, about half of which comes from grants and the rest from the label's revenues. It has a handful of other acts and promotes concerts around the country, but Matisyahu was central to the company's finances. "We really thought of this as an endowment to do this for a long time," Mr. Harris said.

Both men said that JDub's finances were strong enough to continue but that the loss would be painful.

"This is the music business, I guess," Mr. Bisman said.

(taken from NYTimes)

Check out who I think is Matisyahu's number 1 fan

Check out who I think is Matisyahu's number 1 fan.
here is a post from his blog:

Matisyahu is Coming to Town -- I Just Can't Get Enough!

So I think everyone knows how much I look up to Matisyahu (almost as much as I look up to Shlomie Chein, I'll put it that way). I'm pretty sure I've been his biggest fan at various times, as this past summer when I was the only person who stalked bumped into him from California to Kansas to 770 in New York. And that was before he really blew up on KROQ and MTV. So, finally, Matisyahu is coming to my little corner of galus: smoky Santa Cruz! He's performing this Thursday night, February 23rd, at the Civic Auditorium. By the way, I happen to know of two people who still have tickets to sell, if anyone needs.

Of course, me and six of my dear Jewish-slug friends just spent this past Shabbos at Jewlicious at the Beach v2.0 in tha LBC with Matisyahu, his wife Tahli, and their son Levi Yitzchok (that's Tahli and Levi Yitzchok on the left). It was was trippy to have them just chilling there. This past summer, back in Overland Park, Kansas, Matis gave a little beat-box performance Friday night for the NCSY kids, but these days he's a busy man, B"H, and saves his voice for when it counts. Although he did give over a d'var Torah, which started with a question that Matis had asked to a certain Breslov chassid who was present.

The question was, "Why was Rabbi Nachman acting so strangely on his journey to Israel?" Essentially, the answer was this: "It is a well known fact that one must lower himself in order to proceed from one step to a higher one. At this time, one must make use of childishness and absolute simplicity…. The Rebbe neverremainedd on one level, but constantly raised himself step by step. His understanding of these concepts was therefore very profound—deep, deep, who can discern it?" In other words, going to Israel is literally considered "going up" for many reasons. To take full advantage of the spiritual potential in Israel, one must be prepared spiritually (but hopefully FedoraBlack can explain a bit better).

This is my little brother Dylan and Matis. They played basketball, and I hear Matis dominated. So, during Jewlicious, the last panel on Shabbos was "Jews Who Rock on Jewish Music in the age of Matisyahu." Matisyahu, So Called, Rav Shmuel, and Rabbi Yonah all sat on the panel. It was a little awkward, I felt, because most of the questions were directed toward Matis. And what's funny is, I think me and Rav Shmuel have both been mistaken for Matisyahu before (if you didn't know me last year, you don't have to believe me). And one thing I found profoundly interesting is that Matis and Rav Shmuel both didn't think of their music as "Jewish music," but rather just the music they they, as Jews, make. So Called, on the other hand, felt his music to be very Jewish. So what's the point of this post? In less than 24 hours, I'm going to be standing in one very smoky Civic Auditorium looking up at Matis. Which is always something to be excited about.

And, just because the JewniProj hooks you up like that, here's a reminder that Matisyahu will be performing again in the Bay area for Purim at Purimpalooza (what looks to be the biggest Purim celebration on the West Coast--tell me if I'm wrong). Also, the JewniProj's once-exclusive copy of Matisyahu's upcoming title-track "Youth" is still available for download, but the CD is coming out any day now. In fact I ran into Shmueli Marcus of 8th Day at KoSushi on Robertson on Monday, and he was already blastin' "Youth" from the minivan (he's got the hook-ups). And lastly, the new youth video is available on Matisyahu's myspace here. And, Jewschool has an exclusive hour-long video of the performance at Red Rocks 8/20/05.

you can visit his blog here

Kipa with Matisyahu logo ??

whats up with that ? a Matisyahu kipa??
This kips is on sale on Ebay.



Is that even o.k. with Matisyahu? can i print my own Matisyahu shirts? or even boxers?

Article - Matisyahu: Spiritual and Spirited

Matisyahu: Spiritual and Spirited
By Bram Teitelman Feb 23, 2006, 10:10 GMT

Of all the artist-development stories to emerge in 2005, Matisyahu`s was perhaps the most unique. Not only was his breakout album, 'Live at Stubb`s,' hastily recorded for $8,000, its first single, 'King Without a Crown,' is a modern rock smash - a nearly unheard-of feat for a reggae track. And then there is Matisyahu himself: a Hasidic Jew whose reggae- and rock-tinged sound celebrates his faith.

Yet while the 26-year-old artist is devoutly religious, he is not letting that stand in the way of getting his music heard. 'Who doesn`t want success?' he asks. 'There`s some artists that say they don`t, and they`re not looking for it, but I`m not one of those artists.'

Clearly his music is resonating with the public. 'King Without a Crown' moves to No. 7 this week on Billboard`s Modern Rock chart and is now starting to react at top 40. 'Live at Stubb`s' has topped Billboard`s Top Reggae Albums chart for eight weeks. It has sold 340,000 copies so far and is No. 43 on The Billboard 200.

On March 7, his new studio album, 'Youth,' comes out on JDub/Or/Epic. Sources say the initial shipment for the album, produced by Bill Laswell, Jimmy Douglass and Ill Factor, will be 400,000 units.

Is Matisyahu an artist with staying power or a novelty? Believers say he has longevity.

'Is it novelty? Of course it`s not. It`s too real to be novelty,' declares Bruce Warren, assistant GM for programming at the influential noncommercial WXPN Philadelphia, which was one of the first stations to play 'King Without a Crown.'

'It was our sense that this was the kind of musical discovery our listeners listen to public radio for,' Warren says. The song is 'very spiritual, and it touches people regardless of what their race or religion is. It reminds me of Bob Marley in that Matis has a universal message and some great grooves to match.'

' `Live at Stubb`s` has sold well since release,' says Dave Alder, senior VP at Virgin Entertainment Group. 'It was a title that emerged through our developing-artist program, Virgin Recommends, and we have seen accelerated sales trends over the past few months. Much of the success of the album has been down to positive word-of-mouth. There is certainly a strong buzz on the new album.'

Matisyahu`s debut album, 'Shake Off the Dust . . . Arise,' was released with relatively little fanfare in 2004 on JDub, a nonprofit label and event production company. When Michael Caplan, co-founder and then-president of Or Music, first heard of Matisyahu, he wrote him off as a novelty. But several months later, 'I watched a clip of him performing on the Jimmy Kimmel show, and my reaction was like most people`s: The first 30 seconds, it`s novelty, and 90 seconds in, you realize it`s real,' he says.

Caplan, who is now senior VP of A&R for Sony Music, got in touch with JDub and found out Matisyahu was playing at a Jewish high school the next day. Impressed by his live show, Caplan and his partner, Larry Miller, signed him to Or Music (now Or Media Group).

Caplan thought that the studio album did not represent where Matisyahu was artistically, so one of the label`s first moves was to have him record 'Live at Stubb`s.'

There was a strategy to taping in Texas. 'Austin was perfect because it screams `goyim,` ' Caplan says with a laugh. 'It wasn`t like taping it in Crown Heights. I wanted to show it works here too.'

Indeed, Caplan says that so far, Matisyahu is playing well to the mainstream. 'This is an informal observation, but secular Jews have more of a problem with it than [non-Jews]. In the larger world, people are yearning for spirituality. Some people are going, `Is this a Christian song?` '

The clip of Matisyahu performing on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' was also circulated on the Internet. Digital success continued when mtvu.com embraced the live video of 'King Without a Crown': The song ended 2005 as the Web site`s most downloaded video.

After 'Live at Stubb`s' sold 20,000 units, it was upstreamed from Or Music to Epic. At 35,000 units it moved from RED, Sony`s independent distribution arm, to Sony Distribution.

With Matisyahu`s jump to the majors came the difficult task of getting radio to view him as more than a gimmick. His appearance and beliefs never struck him as something that might hinder his success, however. 'I became religious, and that was a very serious thing for me, and music was always a serious thing for me, so this was just an expression of my life - the decisions I made and the music that I make,' he says. 'I was never worried about it.'

Calling every week she has worked 'King Without a Crown' a breakthrough week, Epic VP of modern rock promotion Jacqueline Saturn says the project has been an uphill climb.

'There`s been nothing easy about working this record,' she says. 'The one thing that`s been undeniable is [that] if that song gets on the air one time, the phones blow up.' To that end, the label did not have an official add date, and many times, Epic`s goal was to get just one spin and let audience reaction take over. That is exactly what happened at modern rock KNDD Seattle, where Saturn says that one spin led to 30 phone calls asking about the song.

Modern rock KROQ Los Angeles has a similar story. 'We threw it on and it got immediate phone response,' music director Lisa Worden recalls. 'Lyrically, it`s really striking a chord with people.' For several weeks, 'King Without a Crown' was KROQ`s most-played song.

Matisyahu won over Leslie Fram, PD of modern rock WNNX Atlanta, after performing live on the station`s morning show. WNNX still hesitated to add 'King Without a Crown,' but feedback and sales information, combined with the song`s uniqueness, convinced Fram and music director Jay Harren to add it. 'In a time when modern`s most-played artists are shared by other formats,' she says, 'it`s important to have one of our own.'

Caplan credits RED, and especially RED VP of artist development Danny Buch, with starting the ball rolling. 'Danny just wouldn`t let it go,' Caplan says. Although the live album was initially seen as a 'steppingstone' to the new studio album, RED`s staff persisted in showing that it could be a stand-alone project.

Epic VP of marketing Scott Carter says the label is taking a grass-roots approach to setting up 'Youth.' 'Even though radio is stepping up, and our video spins will step up, we still have an online presence,' he says. 'That`s where his fans have been so far.' Carter says that about 33 percent of the tickets Matisyahu sells are bought online; his e-mail list is more than 30,000 strong. He is already confirmed to play the Coachella and Bonnaroo music festivals. Two shows at New York`s Hammerstein Ballroom (March 6-7) are sold out.

Considering that at the end of 2004 Matisyahu was doing a regional Hanukkah tour, he has enjoyed the past year. 'I didn`t know what to expect,' he says of his success. 'I`ve always been a lover of music, and I`ve always wanted to be able to perform and make music. When it`s just an idea or a dream, you`re not aware of the details of the process, what goes into it.'

And there continues to be a fine line to tread between pushing the music and observing his beliefs. Because of his religion _ Matisyahu belongs to the Chabad-Lubavitch branch of Hasidism _ he cannot touch women or sing romantic love songs, which means his days of audience diving may be over _ unless there is advanced planning.

When he made the first low-budget video for 'King Without a Crown,' he asked his rabbi if he could jump into the crowd, Caplan recalls. 'The rabbi said, `Sure.` He tries not to jump on a woman. His wife says, `I don`t think you can do it.` The rabbi comes back and says, `What? There`s women in the crowd? No, you can`t do that.` ' So, Caplan adds, for the 'Youth' video, the audience that Matisyahu jumps into is all male: 'His religion is the most important thing to him.'

© 2006 VNU eMedia. All Rights Reserved

(taken from monstersandcritics, thanks to Chaim)

O.A.R. with Matisyahu at Madison Square Garden

check out this live concert:

O.A.R. with Matisyahu at Madison Square Garden

(pics from Greg)

Matisyahu on Jimmy Kimmel - 3rd Appearance

In the last post I talked about how Matisyahu's live performance of "Youth" was not soo good (it was bad realy). I said it is only true the only one song (youth), and now as if to make my point comes another live performance, this time on Jummy Kimmel, and this time Matisyahu was doing "King Without A Crown" and "Jerusalem", both were pretty good, here see for your self:

Jerusalem:


Kind With Out A Crown:


External links:
Here is King Without a Crown

Here is Jerusalem.

It turns out that Chaim has alot of spare time, he is the one who is uploading these files. good work Chaim

Matisyahu performing Youth on Conan O'Brien's late night show

Matisyahu sang "Youth" on NBC's Conan O'Brien on the 7th of march 2006.

External links here and here.




Now, after you saw the clip, let me just say this:
you now I like Matisyahu very much, BUT, this song ("Youth") doesn't come out too well on live performances. I saw it on Conan's O'Brien show and on MTV live (I think) . I'm very sorry, but his voice doesn't shound good enough to pull it off. just listen to Mastiyahu when he sings: "youth is the engine of the world". Again let me just say, I love his music, it's just this song on live performances. Maybe he should sing it in a differet way....

Let me remind you "youth" is still a good song, here, look for yourself: Watch the new video here (pc) or here (mac).

Hey let me know what you think....

(thanks to Chaim)

Matisyahu lets reggae celebrate his faith - an article

Matisyahu lets reggae celebrate his faith

By MICHAEL D. CLARK
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

Matisyahu does not sport the flashy duds and jewelry of your everyday pop superstar. Instead of gold chains around his neck, he sports a long beard and simple horn-rimmed glasses. Instead of the latest styles by chic hip-hop fashion lines, he prefers the streimel and wool bekeshe, the hat and long tailored coat that are common to his Hasidic Jewish faith.

In the mainstream reggae world of Daddy Yankee and Sean Paul, Matisyahu (born Matthew Miller) clearly is an oddity. Dig a little deeper, though, and faith-filled discipline in his lyrics is like classic reggae through and through.

Take reggae patriarch Bob Marley: His devotion to the Rastafarian religious movement permeated his rhythmic chants. Fast-forward 30 years and Matisyahu's approach on his debut album Shake Off the Dust... Arise and the new Youth, released yesterday, is not all that different in spirit. Rather than Rastafarianism, his music celebrates his faith, Hasidic Judaism.

"I think Marley's adherence to his beliefs is part of the reason why I was attracted to him and this music," says Matisyahu, 26. He'll perform a sold-out show at Warehouse Live this Sunday.

"I sort of have this holistic image of him in my mind. He woke up in the morning, cooked breakfast for everyone and talked with his family and made music.

"Religion was very much a part of all of that."

Still, a Hasidic reggae star? Credit music fans for keeping open-minded about Matisyahu.

Two years ago Shake off the Dust... Arise was considered little more than a novelty release on the small New York label J-Dub. Last year's concert recording Live At Stubb's and a buzzy South by Southwest Music Conference appearance officially launched the cult of Matisyahu.

Recorded at the small amphitheater behind Stubb's Bar-B-Q in downtown Austin, Live at Stubb's sold more than 500,000 copies and peaked at No. 32 on Billboard's pop chart. Highlight song King Without a Crown also made a splash on forward-thinking rock and college stations; the track reached No. 7 on U.S. modern rock chart.

Those numbers are more in line with the hip-hop-tinged reggaetón or dancehall forms of reggae that have become popular recently. Traditional reggae, even by established international reggae stars, rarely breaks out beyond the world music charts.

Other artists are looking to capture his vibe. Rock-rap group P.O.D recently recruited Matisyahu to lend vocals to several songs on its latest album Testify.

But the effect on Matisyahu's day-to-day has been minimal.
"My lifestyle is different, but I think philosophically the Hasidic core is not very confining," says Matisyahu who, along with his wife and their son belong to the Lubavitch Hasidic Community in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. "I pray three times a day, I eat kosher, I don't do drugs and I don't hang out with women after shows.

"But this is already a part of who I am. I don't even think about it. I think Hasidic culture and Judaism is cool."

(taken from chron.com)

Matisyahu news and in-store appearances

MATISYAHU'S YOUTH HAS ARRIVED!

And it's taken over the #1 slot on iTunes Essentials
You can also get the cd online here and in stores everywhere.

CATCH MATISYAHU MAKING THESE TV APPEARANCES!
* Late Night With Conan O'Brien TONIGHT - Tuesday, 3/7 -- at 12:35pm on NBC
* Jimmy Kimmel Live on March 8
* CBS Sunday Morning profile on March 12
Check your local listings!!

CALLING ALL SO. CAL'ERS:
Be sure and come out for Matisyahu's in-store appearances at Tower in Northridge, CA on March 9 and at Lou's Records in Encinitas, CA on March 14. Get details here.

MATISYAHU INTERVIEWED:
Check out this interview with Matisyahu on MTV.com's Overdrive.
You can also learn more about Matis by reading his AIM chat.

SCORE THE MOTHERLOAD
Matisyahu teamed up with Comedy Central to give you a chance to win a Sony PSP & a Portable DVD Player, plus his new CD and more! Get all the details and enter to win here.

MEET MATISYAHU!
At the following in-store appearances!

Thursday March 9th @ 6 pm
Tower Northridge
19320 Nordhoff St, Northridge, CA 91324 Phone: (818) 993-4911
FREE Parking Lot Performance and Special CD signing.


Beginning Tuesday March 7th, the first 400 people to purchase the new CD Youth at Tower Northridge will receive a wristband guaranteeing admittance to this special performance and CD signing. The new CD includes a Tower exclusive bonus 5 track dub EP. An additional quantity of wristbands will be given out FREE for the outdoor performance only. (Weather permitting) Get there early! Space is limited-contact store for details.


Tuesday, March 14th @ 4 pm
Lou’s Records
434 North Coast Highway 101 Encinitas, CA 92024 Phone 760.753.1382
CD SIGNING ONLY


Beginning Tuesday, March 7th the first 400 people to purchase "Youth" at Lou's Records, will receive a wristband guaranteeing admittance to the CD signing. Contact store for additional details.

M on M—Hasidic Reggae Superstar

A new era requires a new voice, one that speaks the truth, speaks it from the heart, and has the magic to appeal to the masses. If you haven’t heard of Matisyahu, it’s time that you did. Twenty-five-year-old Hasidic reggae star Matisyahu is emerging as an important new voice on the Jewish scene. Performing in full Hasidic garb—black hat, black suit, and flying tzitzis —Matisyahu wears his Judaism on his sleeve, and instead of turning people off, this has proven the ultimate turn on. His music—a unique combination of profound spiritual poetry and a wild reggae beat—is drawing audiences of all ages and religious backgrounds. Couple his authenticity with repeat performances on national TV, lengthy write-ups in the world’s most prestigious papers, musical collaborations with some of the biggest names, countless sold-out performances, and a booking rate that is climbing into the tens of thousands of dollars, and you have the makings of, well, a bona fide Hasidic reggae superstar. You’re a warrior fighting for your soul Taken from the world above And brought down to the world below The beginning I started performing as “Matisyahu” about two years ago. I had recently become religious and was in yeshiva when I got the initial request to perform. I asked a real Crown Heights rabbi, and he gave me permission. That first time my rabbi heard me play, I remember doing what I do, with my eyes closed, not because I was envisioning the music, but because I was really afraid to see what his reaction was going to be. When I opened my eyes at the end, Rabbi Goldberg had a glimmer in his eye that said “Ah, Matisyahu!” He had seen I wasn’t just some yeshiva kid who wanted to go to a club but understood that I have some kind of talent. From the forest itself comes the hand for the ax Split this wilderness listen up this ain’t where it’s at Clear a path so that you could find your way back Chop ‘em down, chop ‘em down; chop ‘em down, chop ‘em down The Name My secular name is Matthew Paul Miller. My parents gave me a bris and a Jewish name but forgot the name. In Hebrew school they improvised with Matisyahu because my name was Matthew. Much later, my parents found the original certificate from the bris. I consulted a rabbi: “What’s my Jewish name? My parents found my bris certificate, and the name on there is Feivish Hershel. I’ve been called Matisyahu for the last few years; I have been called to the Torah as Matisyahu.” The Rabbi said, “Nobody knows you as anything but Matisyahu, your name is Matisyahu.” Patterns engraved not so easily erased, still wandering trying to find your place Playing the game I see pain on your face nowadays the yiddin like children sold as slaves Strange ways running through the maze, strange ways always Lost in the desert trying to find your place, lost in the desert trying to find your place The journey Five years ago, I had a band, and we were playing in college bars in Eugene, Oregon. I remember playing music and looking around. No one was really listening to what we were saying. One guy was talking to his girl in the corner, these other guys were getting drunk over there, and I’m jumping around on the stage like some kind of clown. It was hard to imagine that what I was doing had any meaning. Then I went to college, at New School University in New York City. By then, I knew I believed in G-d, and I felt some kind of connection to my Judaism. I just wanted to explore ways of getting closer to G-d and was not sure how. I was taking classes on spirituality; I got a prayer book from a synagogue and started sneaking up to the roof of the building after school with a tallit (prayer shawl) and prayer book. I prayed that G-d should show me what’s real and what’s true. I was willing to do anything that He showed me, if He showed it to me clearly enough. Then the whole path just opened up for me. I started going to the Carlebach Shul and really loved it. They have music there and a nice atmosphere, so it made sense to me to go to services. But afterwards, I didn’t want to sit with anyone at the Shabbat table because it sounded boring. Strip away the layers and reveal your soul Got to give yourself up and then you become whole Finding Hasidic philosophy–– the soul of his music I met some Chabad people, and I started learning Hasidic philosophy, and a lot of it rang true to me—like the ideas about G-d and the soul. I also connected to the idea in Hasidic thought that in order to get outside of yourself you have to do something that doesn’t necessarily feel right; but once you jump out of your comfort zone and try something else, then you can make a more honest decision. It’s like you have your own way of seeing, and in order to see differently sometimes you have to just try something out, and then it just grows on you. Shift my trust to You it’s like a crystal clear night Expand in all directions get the sections to unite Hashem’s rays fire blaze light my way light of my life And these days we’ll wait no longer night. I said I know its hard, inside is empty galus (exile) cuts like a knife Internalize Torah vibes bound to feel alright On Judaism and music In the secular world, many musicians and artists almost replace their soul with music and the arts. Before I was religious, to me music was soul. I always had headphones everywhere I went, and I looked at the world through the lens of whatever CD I was listening to. In Judaism, there’s another type of food for the soul, another type of spiritual sustenance that comes through the mitzvahs and Torah learning. In Judaism, praying and learning what you love to learn changes the lens that you have without using something external. Like an ancient memory Remember how it used to be Close your eyes and breathe in That’s the scent of freedom Ringing across the sea On success I think part of the reason for the success is just the music itself. It’s good music! Before I was religious, I used to go to an “open mike” and do my thing, and people were really into it. But the Hasidic thing definitely adds something and makes it even better. Hasidic reggae—I never planned it this way, but it works really well. Aish tamid eternally A fire burns continuously Wondering where you been Won’t you come on home to me? On looking “Jewish” The first time I wore a yarmulke in public was one of the greatest feelings. I felt for the first time I was wearing my own clothes; I felt like I was representing something true. That felt so good! The next day I bought tzitzis, and two days after that I stopped shaving. There were times that I’d walk down the street and I’d just feel negative vibes from the people around me. I would look at the person next to me and I could see that they were anti-Semitic, and I would think to myself, “You must not like Jews because obviously I am Jewish.” What I did notice a lot more was a feeling of respect that I got from people. I think it’s because they see that you’re doing your thing. You’re really “doing you,” like a hip hop phrase “do you do you.” It’s really doing you. I’m not trying to be something that I’m not. Being religious and coming across as a Jew—I’m not lost and assimilated into the culture. I feel that a lot of times people really respect that. You’re a warrior fighting for your soul Taken from a world above and brought down to a world below Re-united, re-united return the princess to the king, Re-united, re-united she’s been taken for so long Re-united, re-united and then she’ll be filled with joy Re-united, re-united like the days of her youth.

(taken from kosherspirit.com)

Matisyahu - GIANT Magazine Review

MATISYAHU

YOUTH
Date: January 31
Label: Epic/JDub
p. 100 MARCH ’06 Reviewed by Alison Prato

Crown Heights’ Jewish rapper keeps the faith on his phenomenal third CD.

At the 2005 mtvu Woodie Awards, Orthodox Jewish reggae star Matisyahu waltzed on stage wearing wire-rimmed glasses, a long, black, curly beard and traditional Hasidic male garb: a white button-down shirt, a long black robe, stiff black pants, a prayer belt and a yarmulke secured tightly to prevent slippage while dancing. As he launched into his hip-hop reggae hit, “King Without a Crown,” the crowd went wild. They didn’t stop jumping up and down until his dancehall set ended 20 minutes later.

Born Matthew Miller in 1979, Matisyahu (Hebrew for Matthew) developed a thirst for Judaism after taking a trip to Israel as a confused teenager. Unsure what to do with his newfound spirituality, he dropped out of high school and hit the road to follow the hippie jam band Phish. After a few months, he returned home and was enrolled in a wilderness school in Oregon by his parents and began studying reggae and hip-hop and attending open-mic nights, where he honed his talents as a performer.

In 2004 he released his first extraordinary album, Shake Off the Dust...Arise, and the New York Times called him “a latter day Doug E. Fresh, attracting Jews and non-Jews alike.” His second album, Matisyahu: Live at Stubbs, was recorded at the famous music venue in Austin, Texas and further showcased his impressive ability to rap, scat, sing and beat box to thick dancehall reggae beats. Matisyahu even got the thumbs up from reggae experts in the summer of 2005 when he was the only white act to perform at an annual reggae event on New York’s Randall’s Island.

Now married with a child and living in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Matisyahu’s third album, Youth, is his most uplifting and powerful to date. Produced by world-music guru Bill Laswell (Mick Jagger, Herbie Hancock), the album includes two tracks from Live at Stubbs“Warrior” and “King Without a Crown,” but it also delves into dub reggae and rock. At times, the words roll out of his mouth so quickly you can’t tell if he’s scatting or saying actual words (it’s usually the latter).

“At the end of the day,” he says, “I hope people take from my music what I took from music growing upthat it gave me strength, hope, peace, stability and inspiration.” Consider us inspired.

Grade: A+


(taken from giantmag.com)

Listen to Youth online now - one day left

You have one day and 16 hours to listen to the intire youth album online for free.
I have listened to it many time in the last few days, and all I can say is it is grate. I'd like to get some reviews from people who have listened to the album too.

here is Youth's track list:

01. Fire Of Heaven/Altar Of Earth
02. Youth
03. Time of Your Song
04. Dispatch The Troops
05. Indestructable
06. What I'm Fighting For
07. Jerusalem
08. WP
09. Shalom/Saalam (Interlude)
10. Late Night in Zion
11. Unique In My Dove
12. Ancient Lullaby
13. King Without A Crown

here is the link again: listen to youth

Matisyahu melds Marley and Matzo

click on the image to enlarge.....

Matisyahu on Satellite Radio

Today I registered to SIRIUS Satellite Radio (free trial), I was listening to one of their pop channels, the channel is called "SIRIUS Hits 1" (The songs at the top of the charts and the latest pop hits). And what do I hear? Yes, you guessed it, Matisyahu's "King without a crown". I'm not sure if Matisyahu is really "pop" but nevermind. I keep listening hoping to hear new songs from "Youth".

You too can register for a Free 3 Day Trial-Listen to SIRIUS' 100% Commercial-Free Music Online


Have fun ....

Matisyahu - live music for free (legal)

It turns out that archive.org has many audio files of Matisyahu live.


It's all free, you can just go there and download the files. If you like Matisyahu, you'll love these audio files which are recordings of some of Matisyahu's live shows.
Hear him sing, hear him talk about our culture, about judaism and more.



December 25th, 2004 at BB King's in New York, NY

November 10th, 2005 at The Gothic Theater in Englewood, CO


2006 (6):

Matisyahu live at Madison Square Garden January 14th, 2006

Matisyahu live at Madison Square Garden January 14th, 2006

Matisyahu live at Newport Music Hall January 15th, 2006

Matisyahu live at The Showbox February 6th, 2006

Matisyahu live at Avalon February 12th, 2006

Matisyahu live at Starland Ballroom February 13th, 2006


2005 (58)

2004 (6)

Watch live performance of Matisyahu's "Youth" on mtvU

Now, I must say, I've seen much better performances of Matisyahu....

Matisyahu on mtvU

Waiting your turn is usually a good thing. But not when it comes to hearing highly-anticipated new music. Which is why we are once again beating "the industry" to the punch and letting you hear Matisyahu's entire album, Youth, before it hits stores. Go ahead, Matis is cool with it. In fact, you can watch him perform exclusive live versions of the songs from Youth, a new one every day until the release of the album. Not only that, he'll take you behind-the-scenes of the album's first video on Backstage Pass.

Live Leak
Watch exclusive live performances as Matisyahu takes the stage to introduce you to the new songs live on Unveil. Watch everyday to see a new song performed, only on mtvU.com's Über. Watch Now!