matisyahu

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dudes got no flow and his lyrics suck

― cowbear (chaki), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 10:17 (7 years ago) Permalink

He's the Hassidic Snow, yeah.

― The Man in the Iron-On Mask (noodle vague), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 10:36 (7 years ago) Permalink

Yeah dude...If he spells it "G_d", Why doesn't he say that he worships "Gid"? That's what um I'm wondering...

I saw him recently, by the way...he has a couple of decent songs, at least!

― LoneNut, Tuesday, 31 January 2006 10:44 (7 years ago) Permalink

311's got the jew y'all

― cowbear (chaki), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 11:25 (7 years ago) Permalink

― cowbear (chaki), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 11:32 (7 years ago) Permalink

― cowbear (chaki), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 11:33 (7 years ago) Permalink

OK If you guys REALLY want to hear something funny, I was watching the Simpsons one day, and they were showing these "rapping rabbis". They all got clocks around their necks and then point to this pig saying, "can't touch this"! Later on at night I see this dude, Matisyahu, and I could not believe my freaking eyes!! It was like the joke had come to life!

― xgurggleglgllg (xgurggleglgllg), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 21:37 (7 years ago) Permalink

I'm happy that college students are being given a message of love and unity.

― Zwan (miccio), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 21:39 (7 years ago) Permalink

Cause G-d knows dorm halls could use a little more reggae.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 21:44 (7 years ago) Permalink

if i had that whole covenant with God going for me, i probably wouldn't be too caught up with my flow either.

― wolves (wolves), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 21:47 (7 years ago) Permalink

this guy is like the easiest target in ILM history

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 21:52 (7 years ago) Permalink

I'm telling you, I really could not believe my eyes!! The episode was a pretty old one, it almost seemed as if it predicted the future!

― xgurggleglgllg (xgurggleglgllg), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 21:54 (7 years ago) Permalink

I wonder if he's a hero to repressed Orthdox teens.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 21:56 (7 years ago) Permalink

this guy is like the easiest target in ILM history

Except for a former member of Gay Dad.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 21:57 (7 years ago) Permalink

Ok. I can see the irony is lost on all of you, I guess you had to be there....

― xgurggleglgllg (xgurggleglgllg), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 22:10 (7 years ago) Permalink

no, it's just not *that* funny.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 22:12 (7 years ago) Permalink

AAAAAAAA, WELL I NEVER!!......... So you're telling me the irony isn't lost then?

― xgurggleglgllg (xgurggleglgllg), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 22:15 (7 years ago) Permalink

Now I'm recalling the Simpsons episode where Homer perfects some technique that starts putting chiropractors out of business and when one of them starts to threaten him, Homer continuallu asks him to "note the irony."

Would that, in itself, be ironic?

― Brian O'Neill (NYCNative), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 23:26 (7 years ago) Permalink

"The irony! The IRONY!!"

― xgurggleglgllg (xgurggleglgllg), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 23:30 (7 years ago) Permalink

"It's like RAAAAAAAAAin..."

― Brian O'Neill (NYCNative), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 23:33 (7 years ago) Permalink

I couldn't remember if that was the Simpsons or Family Guy. Matisyahu works in mysterious ways!

― patita (patita), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 23:37 (7 years ago) Permalink

The mystery is that douches like Carson Daly are all like, "This is the new thing, this is great,oh, you gotta check it out," when the Simpsons did it first! :-)

― xgurggleglgllg (xgurggleglgllg), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 23:43 (7 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

He is a false prophet.

(so say his ex-managers who have been dumped)

― StanM (StanM), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 13:58 (7 years ago) Permalink

I stand before you today a remorseful Dr. Frankenstein.

woah, this dude is serious!

― grady (grady), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 15:53 (7 years ago) Permalink

http://www.slate.com/id/2138032/

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 21:09 (7 years ago) Permalink

great piece.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 21:11 (7 years ago) Permalink

good lord - my opinion of Laswell just plummeted to new depths.

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 21:18 (7 years ago) Permalink

because he produced an artist you don't like?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 21:21 (7 years ago) Permalink

nah he's done that before. I would just hope he would know better than to associate himself with the stupidest gimmick since the "SuperBowl Shuffle".

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 21:25 (7 years ago) Permalink

yeah jews should stick to the cantorials huh

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 21:27 (7 years ago) Permalink

Oh come on now. It is a gimmick, and calling it one is not a suggestion that everybody "act their race."

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 21:35 (7 years ago) Permalink

After reading (endlessly) the factoid that he no longer "slamdances" since he doesn't want to touch strange women, and his quote in Rolling Stone about turning down a chance to duet with Eve because the Torah forbids women to sing in public, I quickly went from thinking he was a bad novelty act to thinking he was a scary, hypocritical religious fanatic.

― T/S: Pinks/Oki Dog/Scoobys/Tail o' the Pup (Bent Over at the Arclight), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 21:38 (7 years ago) Permalink

Eeeew.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 21:39 (7 years ago) Permalink

before he was Matisyahu, he was Matthew Miller, White Plains, N.Y., native and student at the New School University in Greenwich Village. Most tellingly, he was a dreadlocked Phish fanatic

FALSE ALARM - IT'S JUST THOSE HIPPIES AGAIN

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 21:39 (7 years ago) Permalink

Yup. Rosen makes a rather courageous point about "Jewface."

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 21:42 (7 years ago) Permalink

i keep expecting to see "stay in school" flash across the screen when i happen upon that video of his

― latebloomer aka rembrandt, the fifth ninja turtle (latebloomer), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 21:44 (7 years ago) Permalink

fwiw i don't think he's faking his identity as a hasid

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 21:47 (7 years ago) Permalink

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 21:57 (7 years ago) Permalink

"fwiw i don't think he's faking his identity as a hasid"

Does that really matter?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 21:57 (7 years ago) Permalink

omg this site is a goldmine http://www.egokippot.com/personalized-kippah.htm

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 22:01 (7 years ago) Permalink

I'm Jewish, it is a gimmick, and I have massive issues with Hasids and their Jewish fundie schtick (which I find deeply offensive and oppressive)

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 22:03 (7 years ago) Permalink

I don't think he's faking it any more than Madonna believes she is a Kabbalah scholar. Matisyahu is a Lubavitcher Hasid - notorious as the guys who hang around street corners like Hare Krishnas whispering "Hey, are you Jewish?" to kids who "look Jewish" and "lost."

― T/S: Pinks/Oki Dog/Scoobys/Tail o' the Pup (Bent Over at the Arclight), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 22:07 (7 years ago) Permalink

Todd Barry has a great bit about yarmulkes with "fun" designs on them that I won't butcher here with paraphrasing.

― T/S: Pinks/Oki Dog/Scoobys/Tail o' the Pup (Bent Over at the Arclight), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 22:12 (7 years ago) Permalink

xpost those jews are LOCO

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 22:13 (7 years ago) Permalink

I'd have more respect for him if he'd affiliated himself with those superhero-costume black Israelites you see in Times Square.

― pdf (Phil Freeman), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 22:32 (7 years ago) Permalink

Normally I enjoy Jody Rosen's reviews, but I think he gets a little hysterical in this one. "minstrelsy"? - I don't think so. And I don't think the collaboration with P.O.D. is really anything to be alarmed about (except for possibly the lousy music it might produce).

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 22:47 (7 years ago) Permalink

I mean this is hardly the first time white folks have done reggae: Eric Clapton, UB40, the Specials, Robert Palmer - the list goes on and on. I don't see why it's so alarming just because the guy is Hasidic.

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 22:52 (7 years ago) Permalink

oh wow was he out of tune on conan. zero charisma.

― geoff (gcannon), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 22:53 (7 years ago) Permalink

>"minstrelsy"? - I don't think so.

Why not, exactly? I think he lays it out pretty ably. And I didn't feel like he was using the word minstrelsy in a damning way - just stating the facts.

― pdf (Phil Freeman), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 22:53 (7 years ago) Permalink

I think the Hasidic part is the alarming part. Well that and the fact that people seem to be buying it despite the fact that it's apparently not very good.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 22:54 (7 years ago) Permalink

Skipping 85 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I didn't read the article, but a clarification on the above: Torah does not forbid women to sing in public, but men are forbidden to listen to women singing. Something about igniting the yetzer hora (evil inclination). Women can sing for all-female audiences all they want.

This is one reason I never went all the way with being a ba'al teshuvah awhile back. A majority of my record collection features female vocals or players. I knew I could never make that leap.

― mike a, Wednesday, 15 March 2006 18:22 (7 years ago) Permalink

Right, right - thanks for clarifying that point.

― T/S: Pinks/Oki Dog/Scoobys/Tail o' the Pup (Bent Over at the Arclight), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 18:25 (7 years ago) Permalink

Note that I don't see Orthodox Jews as "wack-jobs" for believing this. They see the Torah as the supreme law, and would probably see us as the wack-jobs for believing otherwise. This is fine - the nice thing about Judaism is that it doesn't prosetlyze, and even if Lubavichers do try to appeal to unaffiliated Jews, it's not as if they're forcibly dragging you into the Mitzvah Mobile and driving you to Crown Heights against your will. You can say no.

Most ba'al teshuvah I've met are wonderful, non-judgmental people. It tends to be the newest, most rapid converts who are the most intolerant and judgmental - they're quick to judge even if they don't have the basic halachah down yet.

― mike a, Wednesday, 15 March 2006 18:28 (7 years ago) Permalink

fritz otm, mike a pretty otm too. despite my problems with various aspects of the hasidic community it still bothers me that they seem like the jewish group it's ok to talk shit about (esp among jews, actually)

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 18:32 (7 years ago) Permalink

I figure its my people, I can say whatever I want about them.

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 18:42 (7 years ago) Permalink

yeah - also, they started it.

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 18:51 (7 years ago) Permalink

(sorry, i have ultra-orthodox relatives and friends & i love them but they are indeed wack-jobs but mike's point is well taken)

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 19:00 (7 years ago) Permalink

are they really "your people"? is it ok for protestants to bash catholics?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 19:02 (7 years ago) Permalink

Ah, religion, only in America. And the third world.

― jimnaseum (jimnaseum), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 19:06 (7 years ago) Permalink

well according to them I AM one of them, just one who has "gone astray" - so don't act like I'm the only one casting aspersions here. When it comes to sectarian disputes within my religious community, I think I'm entitled to my opinion as a lifelong member - I've been bar mitzvah'd, I've read my tanakh, I've gone to high holy day services, my dad was president of the Temple, blah blah blah.

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 19:06 (7 years ago) Permalink

"despite my problems with various aspects of the hasidic community it still bothers me that they seem like the jewish group it's ok to talk shit about (esp among jews, actually)"

Really? I hear jews talking shit about other groups of jews all the time! Maybe the Hasids are the one group jews are most united in thinking are batshit crazy, but that makes them no different from let's say certain Mormon or Quaker sects or whomever in just being a little too off for most "mainstream" members of their own religion.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 19:13 (7 years ago) Permalink

"is it ok for protestants to bash catholics?"

What do you consider bashing? Treating with a great deal of skepticism and a fair amount of disbelief isn't the same as beating people senseless in bars.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 19:16 (7 years ago) Permalink

It's not like Christians are the only ones allowed to criticize fundamentalist Christians, or that Muslims are the only ones allowed to criticize fundamentalist Muslims, so it seems strange to me that one would have to be Jewish in order to criticize fundamentalist Jews. Hell, anyone can criticize any group, that's freedom of speech, right?

My problem with labeling Matisyahu as a minstrel is not that Hasids should be above criticism, but rather than it seems like he is drawing criticism specifically because of his religion. If he were not Hasidic, I don't think he would be drawing the level of criticism about his "authenticity" that he seems to be drawing.

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 19:19 (7 years ago) Permalink

All cultural sensitivities and supreme laws aside, I'll continue to feel free to talk shit about any group that holds such oppressive and aggressive views towards women (and/or homosexuals, nonbelievers, etc.).

And I take particular exception to the specifically onerous bigots who cynically pick and choose their battles in the name of their faith (i.e. - "duet with Eve? She's a woman!" vs. "throw "King Without a Crown" video on "TRL"? Sure, why not! Preach!"

― T/S: Pinks/Oki Dog/Scoobys/Tail o' the Pup (Bent Over at the Arclight), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 19:20 (7 years ago) Permalink

via Xhuck on the Teenpop thread:

>>For Immediate Release
March 15, 2006

MATISYAHU DEBUTS AT #4 ON BILLBOARD 200
WITH NEW ALBUM ‘YOUTH'

With Sales Of 119,000, ‘Youth,' Finds Matisyahu The Only Artist With Two Albums Currently In The Billboard Top 40

‘Youth' Captures #1 Spots On Top Internet Albums Chart, Digital Albums Chart And Reggae Chart As ‘Live At Stubb's' Lands at #3 On Reggae Chart

― T/S: Pinks/Oki Dog/Scoobys/Tail o' the Pup (Bent Over at the Arclight), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 19:24 (7 years ago) Permalink

Wait you don't think he would taking flack about his authenticity if he wasn't Hasidic? I don't see any evidence of that at all. See Snow above who relied way less on his whiteness than Matisyahu has on his religion as a marketing and who was way more connected and respected in the world of Jamaican music and who is STILL treated as a one note joke by people who know little to nothing about dancehall or reggae or Jamaica.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 19:25 (7 years ago) Permalink

also, we never would've heard of him.

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 19:30 (7 years ago) Permalink

re-posted from teenpop thread by request:

my son (who is totally excited about being jewish) got the live album as a present, but hasn't listened to it yet. he prefers the four tops, the klezmatics, p.funk, and the hairspray soundtrack.

-- Haikunym (zinogu...), March 15th, 2006. (later)

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 19:33 (7 years ago) Permalink

Well, if you have a problem with Matisyahu because he is espousing Hasidic values which you disagree with, then I think that's a valid perspective. I don't agree with it, but at least it seems self-consistent. (Personally, I think he's entitled to his faith, and I don't think that refusing to dance with a woman on stage necessarily makes him a misogynist.) However, what I would object to is holding him up to a different standard than other performers just because he happens to be from a certain faith.

Wait you don't think he would taking flack about his authenticity if he wasn't Hasidic? I don't see any evidence of that at all

Well, I was specifically referring to arguments such as the one that Jody made in his piece and others have made on this thread that somehow Matisyahu is using his Hasidic identity to make inroads into Caribbean authenticity, or some such ploy. That's the part I'm skeptical of. I think people are smart enough to realize that a white man wearing Hasidic garb is not some authentic expression of Caribbean culture.

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 19:33 (7 years ago) Permalink

To be sure, I am not holding this person up to any different standard than any other performer. Clearly it's impossible to separate the context of Matisyahu's faith from his feelings about women, but ultimately I would be just as troubled if, say, Fall Out Boy or something had given similar quotes.

― Tiki Theater Xymposium (Bent Over at the Arclight), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 19:50 (7 years ago) Permalink

Fall Out Boy are avowed Moonies

― latebloomer aka rembrandt, the fifth ninja turtle (latebloomer), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 21:24 (7 years ago) Permalink

(Personally, I think he's entitled to his faith, and I don't think that refusing to dance with a woman on stage necessarily makes him a misogynist.)

How is saying that it's not acceptable for a woman to sing in public anything by misognyist?

― Harmonica winds, Wednesday, 15 March 2006 22:14 (7 years ago) Permalink

xpost:

interestingly enough, some dudes in FOB used to be in RACE TRAITOR, an all-white, pro-black panther, marxist-leninist hardcore band.

― grady (grady), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 22:17 (7 years ago) Permalink

(or so the rumour goes)

― grady (grady), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 22:18 (7 years ago) Permalink

Race Traitor inspired the song "C. Thomas Howell as the soul man" by Botch.

― jimnaseum (jimnaseum), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 22:19 (7 years ago) Permalink

Botch>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Race Traitor>>>>>>>>>>>FOB>Matisyahu

― grady (grady), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 22:21 (7 years ago) Permalink

Agreed.

― jimnaseum (jimnaseum), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 22:22 (7 years ago) Permalink

This is hilarious -- I though I had never heard this guy and it sounded like he has a shtick of some sort that seems to work. Then I realized that I *have* heard him, it's that was on the radio that sounded like whiteboy reggae for Phish fans. (Yes, I thought "whiteboy reggae for Phish fans" before reading the thread.)

The song I heard on the radio sounds like some established band ad-libbing a mediocre live cover of a crappy reggae song. The thing about a nice patois is it gives you technique to turn your words more creatively. This guy has all of the affect and none of the cadence.

― mike h. (mike h.), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 22:39 (7 years ago) Permalink

it's nice to see cybele here! who do you write for in montreal, c? i'd love to read some of it.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 22:43 (7 years ago) Permalink

montrealmirror.com

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 16 March 2006 00:01 (7 years ago) Permalink

Unless you're Jamaican or Sting circa 1979, don't adopt a Jamaican asshole. It just makes you an asshole.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 19 March 2006 21:30 (7 years ago) Permalink

'don't adopt a jamaican asshole' - the new hit from vybez kartel

― j blount (papa la bas), Sunday, 19 March 2006 21:38 (7 years ago) Permalink

Hommophobia inna dancehall style...

― latebloomer is a belly with a guy pierce in it (latebloomer), Sunday, 19 March 2006 21:51 (7 years ago) Permalink

Hahahah, oh man.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 19 March 2006 21:54 (7 years ago) Permalink

2 months pass...

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 9 June 2006 19:28 (6 years ago) Permalink

sigh

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 9 June 2006 19:29 (6 years ago) Permalink

my friend's 14 yo daughter was totally excited about Matisyahu and was disappointed that I thought he was horrible. really I didn't know where to begin...

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 9 June 2006 19:35 (6 years ago) Permalink

Unless you're Jamaican or Sting circa 1979, don't adopt a Jamaican asshole. It just makes you an asshole.

-- Alex in NYC (vassife...), March 19th, 2006 4:30 PM. (vassifer)

hahaha

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 9 June 2006 19:36 (6 years ago) Permalink

Adopt-an-asshole: they need love too

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 9 June 2006 19:41 (6 years ago) Permalink

matisyahu is a total cuntrag?

― Marmotdeth (marmotwolof), Friday, 9 June 2006 21:29 (6 years ago) Permalink

lol matisyahu is hueg

― Q('.'Q) (eman), Friday, 9 June 2006 21:35 (6 years ago) Permalink

Can Matisyahu play games and chat on Xbox Live with women?

― Marmotdeth (marmotwolof), Friday, 9 June 2006 21:37 (6 years ago) Permalink

8 months pass...

apropos to nothing ...

― Eisbaer, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 04:48 (6 years ago) Permalink

"Oy it's so humid/Oy-Oy It's So Humid/Oy It's So Humid/It's Like a Sauna In Here"

Even when I was in 6th grade that album wasn't funny.

― Hurting 2, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 04:52 (6 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

What's the name of the guy who sings Jewish-themed reggae?

― am0n, Friday, 4 July 2008 00:34 (4 years ago) Permalink

jimi hendrix

― jhøshea, Friday, 4 July 2008 00:52 (4 years ago) Permalink

4 years pass...

I see someone is trying to make himself over:

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 13 September 2012 18:07 (8 months ago) Permalink

Yeah, he's going through some crisis of faith, apparently.

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 13 September 2012 18:11 (8 months ago) Permalink

"Wow, I believe I kinda stink and I want to start looking like the Beastie Boys circa the late nineties or so."

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 13 September 2012 18:19 (8 months ago) Permalink

He supposedly had blonde hair for a while there.

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 13 September 2012 18:26 (8 months ago) Permalink

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