Instantly forcing every music journalist in the world to update their stock, glib descriptors, hirsute Hasidic reggae-rapper Matisyahu has revealed that he is no longer hirsute nor Hasidic. In an announcement on his website, Matisyahu wrote, “No more Chassidic reggae superstar”—bringing an official end to at least two of the words that have been associated with Matisyahu—as a follow-up to clean-shaven photos he posted of himself earlier today on Twitter. He then offered this lengthy explanation:
Sorry folks, all you get is me…no alias. When I started becoming religious 10 years ago it was a very natural and organic process. It was my choice. My journey to discover my roots and explore Jewish spirituality—not through books but through real life. At a certain point I felt the need to submit to a higher level of religiosity…to move away from my intuition and to accept an ultimate truth. I felt that in order to become a good person I needed rules—lots of them—or else I would somehow fall apart. I am reclaiming myself. Trusting my goodness and my divine mission.
Get ready for an amazing year filled with music of rebirth. And for those concerned with my naked face, don't worry…you haven't seen the last of my facial hair.
Is that some sort of parting, implicit threat that you may answer your door one night, only to be leaped upon and strangled by Matisyahu’s mustache? Probably. But anyway, this is good news, because that whole “Hasidic” gimmick was really holding Matisyahu back from finding his true path to reggae-rap stardom as a regular old Jew from White Plains. [via Washington Post]