I will be light...

Matisyahu Miller, formerly known as Matthew Miller, of White Plains, New York is the subject of today's featured post. Growing up, Matthew Miller was just an average kid, who had trouble fitting in and settling on an identity. He grew up in a fairly liberal reform Jewish household, and lived a very average suburban life. However, Matisyahu soon became a troubled adolescent, and spent much of his time as a follower of the band Phish. While he had a passion for music, he had no direction and little ambition. He began to do drugs, and mix with the wrong kind of people, while following Phish. His parents recognized this volatile situation, and sent him to an-intense Jewish studies camp in Israel to discover his heritage. He was profoundly affected by this experience and was quickly exposed to the Orthodox sect of Judaism, while at the camp. He came back, graduated high school, and then moved to the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, NY. While in Crown Heights, he became very influenced by two things-reggae and Orthodox Judaism. He went to Yeshiva and became very spiritual; He then took up Hasidim but continued with his passion for hip hop and reggae music. He began using his Hebrew name "Matisyahu" and started performing his own style of music-spiritual Jewish Reggae/hip hop. His parents and friends were shocked by his transformation to Hasidim, and the Hasidic world became equally shocked that an orthodox jew was taking the stage to, of all things, rap and sing reggae. Matisyahu was the first of his kind, and his blend of spiritual Jewish Reggae gained him many followers. His following spread from New York to Israel and to all religious traditions.


Since 2001, Matisyahu has come out with three albums, and he has gone on numerous tours. He is well known for his amazing beat-boxing and his Hasidic appearance on the stage. Matisyahu does not perform on Friday night (because of the Sabbath), nor will he go on stage during the day on Saturday.

For those who are more visual, Check out the video about his life below. Also, take a look at a live performance video up above ( at 3:15-Best part of the performance). He is amazingly talented and definitely a great performer; I saw him in concert once and it was definitely one of the best I've ever attended.

Matisyahu
Favorte Album: Shattered EP

Favorite Songs:
King Without a Crown (Live at Stubbs)
Close My Eyes
Warrior
I will be Light
So High So Low
Time of Your Song
Jerusalem
Youth
Smash Lies

Favorite Quotes:
"I am searching for the shade of the tree. Heard about it from the tune in the breeze. They say it exists by the side of the road...which road...nobody was told"

Torah Beats and reggae Vibes from Matisyahu, a cultural and musical revolution.

Photos: Flickr (With some great pictures of the lighting at his shows)