Known for blending traditional Jewish themes with Reggae, rock and hip hop sounds, Matisyahu is most recognizable for being an orthodox Jew and writing a number of songs based on his faith and beliefs. Since 2004, he has released four studio albums as well as one live album, two remix CDs and one DVD featuring a live concert, and a number of interviews. Through his short career, Matisyahu has teamed up with some of the biggest names in reggae production including Bill Laswell and duo Sly & Robbie. The Tel Aviv'n Songfacts states several tracks of his fourth studio album, Spark Seeker, were recorded in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Since his debut, Matisyahu has received positive reviews from both rock and reggae outlets. Most recently, he was named Top Reggae Artist of 2006 by Billboard as well as being named a spokesperson for Kenneth Cole.
Matthew Miller was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA on June 30th 1979, corresponding to the Jewish date of the 5th of Tamuz 5740. Shortly after his birth, the Miller family moved to Berkeley, CA and eventually settled in White Plains, NY. Growing up, Matisyahu's parents sent him to Hebrew School a couple of times a week, but like many kids, he resisted the additional school hours and was frequently threatened with expulsion for disrupting the lessons.
By the age of 14, Matthew Miller slid comfortably into the laid-back lifestyle of a teenage hippie. Having fallen in with the "Dead-Head" crowd, he grew dreadlocks and wore his Birkenstocks all winter long. He played his bongos in the lunchroom and learned how to beat-box in the back of class. By 11th grade, despite his carefree days, Matisyahu couldn't ignore the void in his life. After nearly burning down his chemistry class, he knew his mission must begin immediately. He decided to set off on a camping trip in Colorado. Away from his suburban life in White Plains, Matisyahu had the opportunity to take an introspective look at himself and contemplate his environment. It was there in the awe-inspiring landscape of the Rocky Mountains, that Matisyahu had an eye-opening realization: there is a God.
After Colorado, his spiritual curiosity piqued and Matisyahu took his first trip to Israel. There, for the first time in his life, he felt a connection to the God he discovered in Colorado. Israel was a major turning point. Matisyahu relished the time he spent there, praying, exploring, and dancing in Jerusalem. In every nook he encountered, his dormant Jewish identity stirred into consciousness.
Leaving Israel proved to be a difficult transition. Once back in White Plains, Matisyahu didn't know how to maintain his new connection with Judaism. Feeling dejected, he fatefully dropped out of high school and began following Phish on a national tour. On the road, Matisyahu thought seriously about his life, his music, and his thirst for Judaism.
After a few months, burnt out and broke, he returned home. By this time his parents insisted that Matisyahu go and "straighten" himself out at a wilderness school in Bend, Oregon. The school encouraged artistic pursuits and Matisyahu took advantage of this time to delve further into his music. He studied up on reggae and hip-hop. He attended a weekly open-mic where he rapped, sang, beat-boxed, and did almost anything he could to stay creatively charged. It was then that he started to develop the unique reggae-hip hop sound for which he would one day become known.
After 2 years in the "sticks," the 19-year old Matisyahu returned to New York a changed man. He moved to the city to attend The New School where he continued honing his musical craft, and also dabbled in the theater. During this time, he happened on the Carlebach Shul, a synagogue on the Upper West Side, well known for its hippie-friendly vibe and exuberant singing. This encounter further fueled his soul-fire, turning him on to the mystical power of song in Hasidic Judaism. Now, instead of beat boxing in the back of the classroom, he was leaving the classroom to pray on the school's roof. (Religious or not, this guy ain't made for the classrooms.)
While studying at New School, Matisyahu wrote a play entitled "Echad" (One). The play was about a boy who meets a Hasidic rabbi in Washington Square Park and through him becomes religious. Shortly after the play's performance, Matisyahu's life strangely imitated his art. Indeed, years after the initial sparks were lit, Matisyahu met a Lubavitcher rabbi in the park, spurring his transformation from Matthew to Matisyahu.
A person who was once skeptical of authority and rules, Matisyahu began to explore and eventually fully take on the Lubavitch Hasidic lifestyle. He thrived on the discipline and structure of Judaism, making every attempt to abide by Jewish Law. The Chabad-Lubavitch philosophy proved to be a powerful guide for Matisyahu. It surrounded him with the spiritual dialogue and intellectual challenge he had been seeking for the past decade. The turmoil and frustration of his search subsided, and now, 2 years later, Matisyahu lives in Crown Heights, splitting his time between the stage and his yeshiva.
Drawing from the sounds of Bob Marley, Shlomo Carlebach, Buju Banton, and Sizzla, yet remaining wholly original, Matisyahu's performance is an uplifting, powerful experience for all in his presence. Even the most pessimistic in his audience is inspired by his ability to so honestly convey such a delicate topic as faith/spirituality. It is his dedication to his belief and openness to others that compels one to respect his artistry and message. It's in that fleeting moment when our skepticism melts and our souls open up, that Matisyahu enters with his booming sound of faith.
http://www.matisyahuworld.com/
King Crown of Judah
Matisyahu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm praying that my comrades all gonna get up out of Clinton
I'm in prison with a system and I'm thinking that I didn't
Deserve to be born in the first place cause of my pigment
Dark than the Caucasoid complexion kind of different
On a Harley David is King David sayin' my tehillin'
Pistol in my waste and I'm wrapped in my tefillin'
I'm on my own thing, yes Moses
I don't part the sea I fly the jet across the ocean
Yeah, God's the one that wrote this
I'm just an instrument so make sure that you listen in
I'm from the block where there ain't no scholarships
Forced to do things that if she knew would make my momma sick
Larry Hoover was my tutor
Now I made tshuva from the king crown of Judah
Now I'm running through the trees, I got you all screaming please
I slay wicked with my tongue I fire missiles when I breathe
I'll give you all one reason to leave me be, before I bring you to your knees
With great catastrophes, I cast off shackles as I bleed
Some room I need to breathe and blast off as I please
With verses of praise that I slay when I sing
And a double edge sword that swings low by my knees
No need to gas a blow I stay low and then I feed
But when the time comes to go, I'm like Rambo
I got my cross bow, the cross winds blow
I'm so, radio, this wave activation
It got me living in slow mo
But now I'm ready to blow
It's getting hot, I'm heat seeking, fire breathing
Believing scriptures that I'm reading while you're wailing at the wall
I stand tall, and battle y'all
While them Kingdoms fall
The lyrics to Matisyahu's "King Crown of Judah" explore themes of identity, religion, and personal struggles. The first verse begins with a reference to Matisyahu being seen as a "euphemism for a new religion," which may allude to his unique blend of reggae, hip-hop, and Jewish religious themes. He then references his "comrades" who he hopes will escape from "Clinton," which could be interpreted as a metaphor for societal or personal confinement.
The second line explores Matisyahu's feelings of being trapped within a system that is unjust, and he questions his own worth due to his skin color. He describes himself as "Dark than the Caucasoid complexion," and his use of religious symbols such as "tehillin" and "Ishmael" highlights his connection to his Jewish heritage.
The second half of the song focuses on Matisyahu's personal struggles, including his past involvement in illegal activities and his eventual path towards redemption. He references Larry Hoover, a notorious gang leader who he sees as a mentor and then highlights his own transformation with the line "Now I made tshuva from the king crown of Judah." The powerful imagery of running through trees and casting off shackles is a testament to his newfound sense of freedom and strength.
Overall, the lyrics to "King Crown of Judah" present a unique mix of religious symbolism, personal struggles, and powerful imagery that showcases Matisyahu's unique identity and voice.
Line by Line Meaning
They say that I'm euphemism for a new religion
People believe that I embody a new form of religion
I'm praying that my comrades all gonna get up out of Clinton
I hope that my friends can leave prison in Clinton, where they are unjustly held
I'm in prison with a system and I'm thinking that I didn't
I'm trapped within a justice system that I believe is flawed
Deserve to be born in the first place cause of my pigment
I question whether I should have been born into this world because of the problems associated with my skin color
Dark than the Caucasoid complexion kind of different
My skin color is darker than those of Caucasian people, making me stand out
On a Harley David is King David sayin' my tehillin'
I ride a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and, like King David, recite prayers from the books of psalms
Pistol in my waste and I'm wrapped in my tefillin'
I carry a gun and am wrapped in tefillin, a set of small black leather boxes containing scrolls with verses from the Torah
On a camel like an Arab because Ishmael is my siblin'
Like the Arab people descended from Ishmael, I too am their relative and ride a camel
I'm on my own thing, yes Moses
Like Moses, I do my own thing and follow my own path
I don't part the sea I fly the jet across the ocean
I don't perform miracles like Moses, but I have the technology to fly across the ocean
Yeah, God's the one that wrote this
I believe that this work is divinely inspired
I'm just an instrument so make sure that you listen in
I am simply a vessel for divine inspiration, so listen carefully to the message I have to share
I'm from the block where there ain't no scholarships
I come from a neighborhood where it's difficult to obtain scholarships for education
Forced to do things that if she knew would make my momma sick
I did things that my mother would find unacceptable if she knew the truth
Larry Hoover was my tutor
Larry Hoover, the leader of the Gangster Disciples, was my mentor
Now I made tshuva from the king crown of Judah
I have repented and transformed my life to become a representative of the House of David and the Israelite monarchy
Now I'm running through the trees, I got you all screaming please
I move swiftly through the forest and have people begging for mercy from my power
I slay wicked with my tongue I fire missiles when I breathe
I have a sharp tongue and powerful breath that can destroy evil
I'll give you all one reason to leave me be, before I bring you to your knees
I warn people to leave me alone or face the consequences of my power
With great catastrophes, I cast off shackles as I bleed
I have experienced significant hardships but have persevered to emerge stronger
Some room I need to breathe and blast off as I please
I require personal space and the freedom to pursue my own path
With verses of praise that I slay when I sing
Through my words of worship, I can defeat and conquer my enemies
And a double edge sword that swings low by my knees
I carry an effective weapon that can strike at close range
No need to gas a blow I stay low and then I feed
I don't use excessive force; instead, I bide my time and wait for the right opportunity to strike
But when the time comes to go, I'm like Rambo
When I need to act, I am like the action hero John Rambo
I got my cross bow, the cross winds blow
I am equipped with a crossbow and can use it skillfully even in difficult conditions
I'm so, radio, this wave activation
Through my words, I can activate significant change in the world like a radio transmission
It got me living in slow mo
My powers have caused time to seem to slow down for me
But now I'm ready to blow
I am prepared to unleash my power and change the world
It's getting hot, I'm heat seeking, fire breathing
I am on a mission and willing to use any means necessary to achieve my goals
Believing scriptures that I'm reading while you're wailing at the wall
I am reading and following scriptures while others are lost in sorrow and despair
I stand tall, and battle y'all
I remain strong and fight against all those who oppose me
While them Kingdoms fall
Other kingdoms and institutions may stumble or fall, but I will continue to fight and stand tall
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Allan Peter Grigg, Matthew Miller, Ravid Kahalani, Shyne Shyne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Takedownman
Lyrics
They say that I'm euphemism for a new religion
I'm praying that my comrades all gonna get up out of Clinton
I'm in prison with a system and I'm thinking that I didn't
Deserve to be born in the first place cause of my pigment
Dark than the Caucasoid complexion kind of different
On a Harley David is King David sayin' my tehillin'
Pistol in my waste and I'm wrapped in my tefillin'
On a camel like an Arab because Ishmael is my siblin'
I'm on my own thing, yes Moses
I don't part the sea I fly the jet across the ocean
Yeah, God's the one that wrote this
I'm just an instrument so make sure that you listen in
I'm from the block where there ain't no scholarships
Forced to do things that if she knew would make my momma sick
Larry Hoover was my tutor
Now I made tshuva from the king crown of Judah
Now I'm running through the trees, I got you all screaming please
I slay wicked with my tongue I fire missiles when I breathe
I'll give you all one reason to leave me be, before I bring you to your knees
With great catastrophes, I cast off shackles as I bleed
Some room I need to breathe and blast off as I please
With verses of praise that I slay when I sing
And a double edge sword that swings low by my knees
No need to gas a blow I stay low and then I feed
But when the time comes to go, I'm like Rambo
I got my cross bow, the cross winds blow
I'm so, radio, this wave activation
It got me living in slow mo
But now I'm ready to blow
It's getting hot, I'm heat seeking, fire breathing
Believing scriptures that I'm reading while you're wailing at the wall
I stand tall, and battle y'all
While them Kingdoms fall
@yh9801
Finally found some music that my soul also makes.
This song is very powerfull !
@demensdeum
I think this song is awesome. Powerful and aggressive just pure awesomeness srsly
@madcowdk
There have been songs of Matisyahu's that I didn't like at first and now I love them. Keep up the great work Matisyahu. Change always polarizes people.
@ihatejose2
This song is dope! Matisyahu's verse reminded me of his older days. The sample in this song was sick!
@mizmayo
WHAT HOW IS THIS SO UNDERAPPRECIATED??
@MultiWhat3ver
This album is awesome.
@gooberzor
What's with all the hate? He's an artist who is trying new things. If you don't like it that's fine, no one said you had to. Just show some respect for the artist and be on your way. Personally I think that this song is cool in a lot of ways, and I respect him for stepping out of his comfort zone.
@ozarksliving1927
This song just breaks barriers or sumn loll matisyhau on that next level
@karanbhullar2079
Best album ever
@gregoirevandewyer9246
Seigneur, Viens-nous en aide.