Matisyahu brings message that goes beyond the music

By Jordan Davis     11/13/08 6:00pm

Who is Matisyahu?An Ashkenazi Hebrew and Yiddish pronunciation of the biblical name Matthew?

A conservative Hasidic Jew from the streets of West Chester, Pennsylvania?

Or a reggae-performing dancehall champion and beatbox king?

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Matisyahu need not be defined as any one of these things, when he is certainly all three and more.

Often described as the the rabbi of reggae rap, Matisyahu lends his powerful lyrics, most of which are derived from Hebrew prayers, to the voice and cause of Amnesty International. But he is more than just an artist or activist. He is a symbol of change and diversity with respect to what hip-hop and reggae can sound like and who they can represent. Having grown up as a troubled youth, he committed his life to finding God during his first trip to Israel, and while there he embraced his roots. These religious and cultural influences became the main inspirations for the music he makes.

Influenced greatly by reggae musicians like Bob Marley, Shlomo Carlebach, Buju Banton and Sizzla, he maintains a truly original sound. Using his own style of hip-hop, his Jewish faith and his spirituality, he harbors an openness of mind and belief that some see as betraying his faith.

Although he makes every attempt to abide by strict Hasidic Jewish law, including not allowing women to lead prayers, he embodies an artist who respects his religious traditions but allows the propagation of their opposites. He is a man of conflict, which is what gives him power and drive.

While Bob Marley styled himself as a warrior for political change, with dress and stage performances embracing this image, Matisyahu is seen as a warrior for social change. Though not quite as revolutionary as Marley, Matisyahu fights for peace and harmony for all humans, not just those of his faith.

After a two-year hiatus, the warrior returns with a new EP entitled Shattered, and his newest album, Light, has an expected release date of February 2009. He has not turned away from the rhythmical beats and rhymes for which he has become so famous, and they set the tone for both the EP and the album.

The exploration of current issues and life challenges turns this new material into a journey through what Matisyahu feels is wrong with this world and how listeners might fix it. The EP is darker when contrasted with some of his more feel-good songs, but it is also more experimental.

Choosing to develop his sounds and work with different patterns, Matisyahu has produced a unique blend of his original talent with an alternative feel without denying his jam rock roots. Fans will see evolution in his thought and creativity throughout the EP, beginning with the first song, "Smash Lies."

This song, like other songs on the EP, begins with a mixed and chopped electronic intro. Numerous sound effects further emphasize the beat of the music. This style contrasts sharply with his previous work, in which the words supported themselves against simple beats. A long introduction sets the stage for a lyrical explosion flanked by continuing electronic sounds.

Shattered continues with "So Hi So Lo," "Two Child One Drop," and "I Will Be Light," which are significantly slower and showcase Matisyahu's vocal range and lyrical themes. Greater detail is paid to the crisp instrumentals that provide the background for these tracks.

After buying Shattered on Wednesday, I felt blessed to attend his concert in Houston this past Monday. I went expecting to drift away to the smooth rhythms I had been listening to all week. I rallied some friends to go with me on that most waterlogged of Monday nights, and following drinks at the Flying Saucer, we made our way to the blue neon-lit corner underneath the sign for the recently built House of Blues, backlit by the red neon outline of the Toyota Center. Numerous security guards directed us to the third floor, where the concert was already going on. An electronica band named Future Rock finished up their set before the audience applauded them off stage in anticipation of Matisyahu.

The energy built as the roadies cleared the stage to make way for the main event. As promised at Hillel earlier that day, he burst onto the stage promptly at 10 p.m., amidst a roar of applause and a soft intro mix of electric guitar and bass.

With the first song, "Exaltation," Matisyahu had the crowd in the palm of his hand, giving them the spiritual, powerful side they craved. He certainly brought the strength that he had poured into his albums onto the stage, which made for quite an enjoyable dance party. His excellent crowd control and deliberate use of dervishes - those whirling motions with arms spread - propagated the enormous amounts of energy that seemed to bring the music into a realm of visible sound.

Showing the crowd his improvisational ability by remixing "Chop 'Em Down" right on stage, Matisyahu let the crowd's fervor direct where the song would go next. While the band took a break, he split off into what seemed to be a trance, performing a hypnotic 12-minute beatbox session. The man has a way with sounds. With nothing but his mouth to produce noise and his hand to keep time, fully immersed in the music he was creating, he barely seemed to notice the audience.

He ended his first set with the ever-popular song "Jerusalem." When a spirited fan jumped on stage and security made a charge for him, Matisyahu not only waved them off but also offered him a hand to get back on stage after he had fallen off. Multitudes of fans were dancing on stage with him as he was finishing up. The finale culminated with Matisyahu raised on the shoulders of fans and carried off stage.

After a short break, the artist returned for another one-hour set in which he performed his newer songs from the EP. Beginning with "Smash Lies," he again picked up the energy he had imparted in the first set. The song sounded a great deal more electronic than those in the previous set, and it was clear that this was a new direction for him, but the strength of his rhymes and the passion that he showed made it an instant crowd favorite.

I look forward to picking up his new album after listening to his most recent tracks and attending his concert. I can't wait to sit back, relax and let his creative genius paint me a picture when I close my eyes.

Jordan Davis is a Martel College senior.

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