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/
Youth Dub
Matisyahu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some of them are running
Some of them are looking for fun
Some of them are looking for a way out of confusion
Some of them don't know what to be
Some of them don't know where to go
Some of them just got instincts that something's missing from the show
Some don't fit society,
Some of them teachers quash the flame before it had a chance to grow
Some of them embers do glow
Them charcoal, hushed and low
Some of them come with the hunger suppressed, not fed
Them feel a death blow
Young man, control in your hand
Slam your fist on the table and make your demand
Take a stand
Fan a fire for the flame of the youth
Got the freedom to choose
Better make the right move
Young man, the power's in your hand
Slam your fist on the table and make your demand
You better make the right move
Focus your own energy
Into a laser beam
Streaming shattered light
Unites to pierce
Between the seams
And it seems
In a world open
Peering, the children see
Rapid fire for your mind
The "truth" is just a lie
They refuse them a way
Then say "now why you fall behind?"
Some of the children disconnect without the concept
This wine is spiritual
Emptiness of the youth
Said, no respect
Young man, control in your hand
Slam your fist on the table and make your demand
Take a stand
Fan a fire for the flame of the youth
Got the freedom to choose
Better make the right move
Young man, the power's in your hand
Slam your fist on the table and make your demand
You better make the right move
Freedom to choose
Better make the right move
Got the freedom to choose
Young man, control in your hand
Slam your fist on the table and make your demand
Take a stand
Fan a fire for the flame of the youth
Got the freedom to choose
Better make the right move
Young man, the power's in your hand
Slam your fist on the table and make your demand
You better make the right move
In Matisyahu's song Youth Dub, he speaks to the struggles and confusion that many youth face while growing up, encouraging them to take control of their own lives and make choices that will positively impact their futures. The song begins by describing the different types of youth present in society. Some are happy-go-lucky, looking for fun, while others are struggling to find their place and meaning in life, feeling something is missing from the show. There are also those who feel disconnected from the world, lacking any concept of spirituality or respect, and those who have had their flames of passion for life quashed by teachers or society.
Despite the various struggles and challenges youth face, the chorus of the song calls on them to take action and make their voices heard. The power to control their own lives lies in their hands, and they must slam their fist on the table and demand the changes they want to see. Matisyahu urges them to focus their energy and unite to break through the seams of society, which often fails to understand them or meet their needs. Ultimately, the song emphasizes that each individual has the freedom to choose their path in life, but must make the right moves to achieve their goals and find true fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Some of them come now
There are people coming to join the cause
Some of them are running
Some people are not wasting a minute to join the cause
Some of them are looking for fun
Some people are here to have a good time
Some of them are looking for a way out of confusion
Others are here looking for a solution to their confusion
Some of them don't know what to be
There are people who don't really know who they want to be in life
Some of them don't know where to go
Others are lost and don't know what direction to take
Some of them just got instincts that something's missing from the show
Some people have a feeling that something is not right and needs fixing
Some don't fit society, Insides are crying low
Some people just don't fit in with society and feel like they are missing out
Some of them teachers quash the flame before it had a chance to grow
Some teachers put down their students and kill their creativity
Some of them embers do glow
On the other hand, some students are still burning with creativity
Them charcoal, hushed and low
Other quiet students are waiting for their moment to speak up
Some of them come with the hunger suppressed, not fed
Some people come with unfulfilled dreams and desires
Them feel a death blow
They feel like they are dying inside because their dreams are being ignored
Young man, control in your hand
As a young person, you have the power to make a change
Slam your fist on the table and make your demand
Assert yourself and make your voice heard
Take a stand
Stand up for what you believe in
Fan a fire for the flame of the youth
Encourage and motivate other young people to join the cause
Got the freedom to choose
You have the power to make your own choices
Better make the right move
Make sure you make the right choices
Focus your own energy
Use your own energy and power to make things happen
Into a laser beam
Concentrate your energy and focus it like a laser beam
Streaming shattered light
Combine your energy with other like-minded people to create a powerful force
Unites to pierce
Together, you can cut through any obstacle
Between the seams
Find the hidden truths in between the lines
And it seems In a world open Peering, the children see
The younger generation can see the world for what it really is
Rapid fire for your mind
The media bombards you with fast-paced, confusing information
The "truth" is just a lie
What you think is the truth is often not the whole truth
They refuse them a way
Some people are denied opportunities to succeed
Then say "now why you fall behind?"
And then they wonder why some people can't keep up
Some of the children disconnect without the concept
Some children are not able to understand the deeper issues at play
This wine is spiritual
But for those who can see it, this is a spiritual awakening
Emptiness of the youth
Young people often feel empty and unfulfilled
Said, no respect
And they often feel like they are not respected or valued
Freedom to choose
As a young person, you have the freedom to choose your path
Young man, the power's in your hand
The power to create change is in your hands
You better make the right move
It's important to make the right choices
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOSHUA WERNER, MATTHEW MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rommer Herrera
No conozco a nadie que le guste el Dub más que a mí
Max Redline
Thanks a million never delete this track been lookin for years
Max Redline
No way dude finally
Max Redline
Smoking 3 strains to this atm
Golan Lavi
Cool
Charlie Dingle
!!
stefano corbi
Que pastaaaaaasaaaass
tzvi munk
Thanks