Kosher Rock

I have a new favorite artist... and he's an orthodox Jew. Move over Death Cab and Ben Folds. Make way for Matisyahu (Hebrew for “Matthew”). He’s a twenty-five year old Hasidic Reggae singer and, in the grand tradition of Bob Marley, has put the God back into Reggae (sugared up with a little touch of hip hop).

I first heard of Matisyahu last fall on NPR. I’d meant to look into him at the time, but I got lost in the Fall Interview Program whirlwind. Luckily, I’m friends with BA, who sent me selections from this Pennsylvania native’s Live at Stubbs album long after I’d forgotten all about the NPR segment. He is forgotten no longer though... Toda, Brian, toda.

Matisyahu, with his flat-brimmed hat (ala The Chosen) and that big bushy beard (ala Tevye), has now moved himself into the coveted top spot on my ipod playlist. His peppy reggae raps about HaShem, King David and Joseph of Egypt are exactly what I’d been craving; a little unorthodox "orthodox" for the soul.