At first glance, the Hasidic Jewish Rap/Reggae artist Matisyahu may
seem like another gimmick pushed by the music industry in order to
make a fast buck. One can easily picture a bunch of A&R execs
thoroughly enthused at the marketability of an MC who sports a
yarmulke. However, his 2005 J-Dub Records release, Live At Stubbs, is
anything but a gimmick. Propelled by his recent Jimmy Kimmel Live
performance, the "King Without A Crown" video in heavy rotation on the
MTV U network, and a confirmed slot at this year's Bonnaroo festival,
Matisyahu is quickly making a name for himself in the music industry.
Since the days of Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, and the like, religious
lyrical content has long been a staple of Reggae and Dub music, and
Matisyahu is no exception. He delicately interweaves Yiddish lyrics
into his songs as well as incorporates spoken word pieces of Hasidic
teachings. During the breakdown of the song "Warrior," he describes
how every soul "basks in the rays of Godliness" before coming down to
earth. Even if you're not familiar with Hasidic Jewish teachings,
Matisyahu's message of peace and happiness through music and religion
is sure to be a welcome break from the violence and materialism
associated with most popular music today.
The live album format is a double-edged sword for Matisyahu. On many occasions, he struggles to hit the proper notes in the songs and his trademark "Yiggi Yigh Oh" call can become tiresome. Additionally, some of the extended jams can be a bit tedious when taken out of the live atmosphere. Conversely, the album captures the raw energy that Matisyahu brings to the stage. This is showcased on the aptly titled song "Beat Box," where he performs an incredible three minutes of solo beatboxing before being joined by his band.
Even though this his sophomore effort after last year's Shake Off The
Dust, it is still an introduction to the music of Matisyahu for most
listeners. Since both albums contain mostly the same songs, Live At
Stubbs will leave fans both new and old anxiously awaiting his next
move.
