Youtube We get a lot of music submissions from independent musicians here at…
Matisyahu Shaves Beard, Says 'Chassidic' Days Are Over -- Photos
- Posted on Dec 13th 2011 1:47PM by Kenneth Partridge
Douglas Marshall
"At the break of day I look for you at sunrise When the tide comes in I lose my disguise," he tweeted. Following those words were links to the below pictures of the 'King Without a Crown' singer sporting a freshly shaved face and head (click the photos to see the full-size image).
Now, Matisyahu has given his explanation: "No more Chassidic reggae superstar."
That announcement comes via a post on his website, whereby he explains his new outlook on religion.
"Sorry folks, all you get is me ... no alias," the statement reads. "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," he added. "And for those concerned with my naked face, don't worry ... you haven't seen the last of my facial hair."
- Filed under: News
Matisyahu, Hasidic Faith: Jewish Rap…
SpinnerMark Squires In a new interview with CNN.com, Jewish rap-reggae…
Matisyahu, 'Happy Hanukkah' -- Song…
SpinnerMark Squires It's been almost a year to the day that Matisyahu…
Dirty Heads Hit Up Aspen, With an…
SpinnerDirty Heads: Dirty Heads Top of the world! Aspen, Colo. With more than…
Add a Comment
It is nice to see that you are not being influenced by your surroundings. That means, you do what you want regardless of what others might say. You show that you are in motion. That is good because if we are not in motion, we are dead. You have however, removed something (your beard) that’s purpose is to keep you in Awareness and in Divine consciousness. Someone in your line of work needs as many of those reminders as possible. Every Jew has the ability to withstand the “Field”. The field is the place where G-d is not apparent, “Esau was a man of the field”. We get this ability from Joseph our forefather who survived as a religious Jew in Egypt for 22 years by living the torah that his father Jacob taught him. You are named after someone who survived an epoch when the majority of Jews fell to the hedonism of the ancient Greek culture. Not only did Matisyahu survive but he turned the whole situation around and merited the story of Hanukah, the holiday that signifies great light entering the world.
In your occupation one can easily fall prey to the temptations of ancient Egypt and the hedonism of the ancient Greeks. I pray for you that you survive and succeed in the forward process of spiritual self-development and overcome those hurdles like your namesake Matisyahu Cohen Gadol and like Jacob in Haran and like Joseph in Egypt. May G-d be with you.
That's not news. When one of the members of ZZ Top shaves his beard, then that would be news.
December 13 2011 at 9:45 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYes, It IS news, whether you like it or not. Just because Matisyahu isn't as famous as ZZ Top doesn't mean it isn't news.
December 22 2011 at 9:08 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI don't even want to think of all the things that collected in his beard thru all the years. The very first thing that comes to mind are a whole bunch of miniature farm animals. At the very first cut, tiny goats, pigs, cows and lots of itty-bitty chickens are coming out and running for cover as fast as they can. And then come items lost and long since forgotten. "Oh man, there's the Zippo lighter Grandpa gave me for my 18th Birthday" "Hey, my favorite roach clip" "OMG OMG OMG The toe nails Elvis gave me from the U.S. Tour in 1974. $h!t I bet they're worth something now" "I'm shakin out this thing but good, might be some real money in it" "Hmm? WTF? baked beans? ? ? Yep, still pretty tasty" "IS THAT A TAMPO..... Oh nooo nooooo oh G_D noooo. Oh, Fuzzy Frank, I looked for you EVERYWHERE for days and days and days. Fuzzy Frank you were the best gerbil I ever had. I'm sorry. I'm so so so sorry. Please forgive me. I never thought to look in my beard" Many things were found but can NEVER be spoken of, EVER.
December 13 2011 at 8:19 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyMazel Tov! You are brave to take the steps you are taking. It is hard to leave the familiar. May you find what you seek. We, your fans, are looking forward to the next chapter of your music.
December 13 2011 at 8:15 PM Report abuse Permalink +2 rate up rate down ReplyAlthough Im not a Matisyahu fan I have listened to his music. I respect his "purity' concerning his music. The reggae sound adds a light up lifting emotion and he has a good voice and can actually sing as opposed to many rappers who can only speak their ryhmes. L'Chaim ! Oh by the way Im a 50 year old Christian white guy.
December 13 2011 at 7:21 PM Report abuse Permalink +4 rate up rate down Reply
disco inferno
When I read "Musician shaves beard" I'm thinking ZZ Top and I think, "Whoa this is gonna be good." Leave it to Spinner, AOL or whatever to give us news that absolutely no one cares about. I'm going to go read the newspaper.
December 13 2011 at 7:21 PM Report abuse Permalink -2 rate up rate down Reply"Absolutely no one cares about..." Wow! Pretty sure of yourself. Someone with a million Twitter followers isn't completely unheard of. So perhaps YOU haven't heard of him, nor has your circle of friends, but that's not "absolutely no one". Some of us, outside of your circle, HAVE heard of him, enjoy his music and have been doing so for years.
December 13 2011 at 8:10 PM Report abuse Permalink +3 rate up rate down ReplyThis guy Matisyahu had a big hit , very HIGH UP on the Billboard Reggae Chart. Not bad for a non-Jamaican, ey? Or a white guy? Or a Othodox Jewish guy!! That's no little feat. Just cuz YOU havent heard of him doesnt mean a thing, except that are you are out of touch. But yeah, the ZZ boyz showing their chins wold be a bigger than. By the way, ZZ Top is not a "musician". It is the name of a band... not just the guy in front with the guitar. yknow.. Not like that guy Led Zeppelin or that guy Jethro Tull.
December 22 2011 at 10:37 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHmmm I click a link on Chuck E Cheese and I come here..nicely done aol
December 13 2011 at 7:10 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply
90 Comments