Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Brooklyn's Ultra-Orthodox Jew Matisyahu brings unorthodox Hasidic reggae to Winter Olympics
Brooklyn's own Matisyahu -- the ultra-Orthodox Jew with the unorthodox calling -- wowed the Vancouver Olympics Monday night with his own unique brand of Hasidic reggae.
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.
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2010/02/16/2010-02-16_brooklyns_ultraorthodox_jew_matisyahu_brings_unorthodox_hasidic_reggae_to_winter.html
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.
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2010/02/16/2010-02-16_brooklyns_ultraorthodox_jew_matisyahu_brings_unorthodox_hasidic_reggae_to_winter.html
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