Now I understand how christians must feel about jars of clay

[endlessmike]

have any of you heard of hasidic reggae artist matisyahu? he is getting much airplay on the commercial radio station here, and at first i thought is was some random reggae singer, and then he starts to sing about hashem (what religious jews say so they are not throwing around lord's name in vain) in some faux jamaican accent...
it is sort of disconcerting to me to turn on my local clear channel station and hear "i want mashiach now" like i'm at lubavitch happy hour. somehow it is weirder than the hanukkah song, maybe because that is not religious (it's hilarious!)
what do you think?
http://www.mtv.com/bands/az/matisyahu/artist.jhtml

[Chaim Avi]

My friend played this song for me a few weeks ago under the heading "you'll like this because youre a jew Thomas Haden Church". However I cant vote in your poll because thats the only time ive heard it. I enjoyed it, but not enough to bother having it for my own. Ill stick with my Shlock Rock cassettes thx.

[Frank Stallone]

2legit to quit
_________________
I GOT IRATE AND FETCHED MY MAGIC MARKER AND WROTE "WORLDS INCORRECT GRANDMOM" ON ALL HER SUNDAY DRESSES

GATHER ROUND THE GOOD STUFF INDEED

[Adam]

A Jewish kid in my high school started a rap duo, but it failed, so now he brewing coffee.
_________________

[Jim]

I actually went to his website sometime last month. The guy seems really sincere about it, but it definitely smells of a gimmick. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say it's legit.
_________________

[Kyle]

I was only familiar with Matisyahu through my friend Zeke, who likes him a lot, and I just assumed it was all sincere, but after reading that MTV.com bio, I dunno. It seems like he tried to do the whole reggae/rap thing a few times and failed, so he decided on a hook. I mean, the dude's Matthew Miller of West Chester County. I don't doubt that he's a believer, but I can't help but be a little cynical about his persona (some straight up Notorious L.I.N.C.O.L.N. shit).
_________________
WHEN THE AFRICAN LION ATTACKS

[Adam]

[wee bull]

He's no GLC.

It's weird though, when someone like that sounds completely different to how you expect from what they look like. I'll put it down as legit though, just overly-playing on the fact that he's Jewish.

[tibber]

i haven't heard him, but i'm willing to bet he's better than cowboy troy.

[cxc]

I'm wondering if there's a bit of a double standard going on here. When a band writes songs mostly about stories of a particular religion, they're suspected of religious nuttery. But if a band writes songs mostly about hookin' up wit da ladies, they're not really seen as zealous lechers. Or if they mostly write about failed relationships and the subesequent depression, they're just another band.

So why is a passion for religion so much more suspicious or reprehensible than a passion for anything else? I'm not stating that it should or shouldn't be-- I'm just sayng that it might be, and I'm wondering what y'all think.


(Also, should I make the matisyahu album available for y'all to listen to?)

[endlessmike]

i should clarify: i am not suspicious of him, i think he is sincere. i am just surprised that he has the most requested song this week on a commercial radio station large city, so my "gimmick or not" question was more about the basis of his appeal.

[webber]

Not as good as Jew'Town (link to video down the bottom, may be broken).