With No Razor, Matisyahu Turned to Supercuts

July 16, 2012 1:13 pm 3 comments

Matisyahu's New Colors. Source: 100xr.com

Musical star Matisyahu ended his hassidic days in an Upper West Side Supercuts chain-store, according to a Huffington Post interview with the Jewish reggae artist.

The decision to de-beard in a Supercuts barbershop came because Matisyahu, who had not shaved in over ten years in accordance with Lubavitch custom, did not own a razor. Matisyahu’s clean shaven face, which he tweeted in December with the lyrics “At the break of day I look for you at sunrise/When the tide comes in I lose my disguise,” sent waves through the Orthodox community he then belonged to, and led to a further reinvention, last month, in which he took off his yarmulka, no longer identifying himself as Orthodox.

Matisyahu’s new album “Spark-Seeker”, which comes out tomorrow, has seen considerable hype because of the changes in the singer’s life. Though no longer orthodox, Matisyahu sees himself as Jewish, and his new album is meant as an artist’s reflection on his continuing spiritual journey.

“I think that things grow and people move in different directions,” said Matisyahu to the Huffington Post. “I’m just continuing and trying just to make the decisions that feel right and go after, intuitively, the things that I know to be right.”

3 Comments

  • I’m sorry to say, Matisyahu used the Orthodox community to launch his career with a twist – Hassidic reggae singer. After he finished using them, he dump them, letting down thousands of kids that looked up to him. He’s a loser self-promoting imbacile who doesn’t care who he leaves in his wake.

    • Not true. In the music industry everyone needs somethings special about them. You can’t be generic. If what you say is true then his popularity would have gone down. It has not.

      • His popularity has gone down… (See his drastic decline in youtube views) His Hassidic gimmick got him far more exposure .. See Mr Miller is a Berkeleyite like
        Myself… I know how he thinks… Lets face it a one love marleyesque character is a lot more believable as a Hassidic Jew then some clean cut Beverly 90210 looking white boy… Lol… He used them and bailed out.. I’m sure he’s convinced himself that it’s just “evolution” .. Funny how it can after he made his millions…

Leave a Reply

Please note: comments may be published in the Algemeiner print edition.


More...

  • Arts and Culture Blogs EXCLUSIVE: Gal Gadot on Jewish Identity, American Films and Representing Israel in Hollywood (INTERVIEW)

    EXCLUSIVE: Gal Gadot on Jewish Identity, American Films and Representing Israel in Hollywood (INTERVIEW)

    Gal Gadot is arguably Israel’s second hottest export at the moment. The former Miss Israel 2004 and Miss Universe contestant has a starring role in the most recent film from the Fast and the Furious Franchise and is one of the faces of Israel’s largest clothing brands, Castro. Now she’s teaming up with Vine Vera skin care products,which incorporates the breakthrough ingredient Resveratrol, which she tells The Algemeiner is  “a new innovative discovery which helps slow down the aging process [...]

    Read more →
  • Arts and Culture Blogs Jonathan Ames, ‘Herring Wonder’ and HBO Series Creator, Does Israel

    Jonathan Ames, ‘Herring Wonder’ and HBO Series Creator, Does Israel

    Writer Jonathan Ames, creator of the HBO television series “Bored to Death,” is known for his fearless and exhibitionistic persona. One can find YouTube videos of him eating herring and boxing at the same time, having knives thrown at him by a person called “Throwdini,” and ranting drunkenly at an awards ceremony. And when it comes to writing, Ames’s essays tend to cover racy topics. Given these exploits, it’s a bit surprising to learn that Ames’s recent trip to Israel [...]

    Read more →
  • Arts and Culture Beliefs and concepts Jewish Presence in Contemporary Art

    Jewish Presence in Contemporary Art

    The Jewish presence and identity in the contemporary world of art is one truly worth noting. At the 3rd annual conference of “Jewish Arts & Identity in the contemporary world” in Baruch College’s Jewish Studies Center, at a panel entitled “Jewish Ways of Seeing: The Visual Arts and the Jewish Tradition”, the Jewish impact on the creative world is exemplified through the discussion of artist Audrey Flack and her various works. Flack was born in 1931 to a fairly Orthodox [...]

    Read more →
  • Blogs Features Black Jazz Musician Encounters Mixed Reactions to Subway Renditions of Hatikvah, Hava Hagila

    Black Jazz Musician Encounters Mixed Reactions to Subway Renditions of Hatikvah, Hava Hagila

    At first you may be skeptical of Isaiah Richardson Jr. He doesn’t look like somebody who would be playing Hava Nagila for passengers waiting for their train in the subway. Firstly, he seems too young,  and secondly, he’s a black kid from the Bronx, dressed sharply, derby hat and all. But when upon meeting Isaiah, the 32-year-old ticked off “Hevenu Shalom Aleichem,” “Bashana Haba’ah,” and “Zum Gali Gali” as some of his favorite songs to play passing crowds, I knew [...]

    Read more →
  • Blogs Music Mother’s Day Performer Blends Israeli Independence and the Jewish Side of Verdi

    Mother’s Day Performer Blends Israeli Independence and the Jewish Side of Verdi

    This Mother’s Day, the music of opera singer Sharon Azrieli Perez will integrate the varied threads that have made up the fabric of her life. Perez, in a Mother’s Day concert May 12 at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, will weave a musical experience that brings together intimations of Israeli independence, Giuseppe Verdi’s use of Jewish melodies, medieval Ladino music, and modern Jewish show music. These musical elements are particularly personal for Perez, whose Juilliard education has [...]

    Read more →
  • Blogs Jewish 100 Social Harvey Weinstein to Elie Wiesel: Without You There Would be no ‘Schindler’s List’ (VIDEO)

    Harvey Weinstein to Elie Wiesel: Without You There Would be no ‘Schindler’s List’ (VIDEO)

    Famed film producer Harvey Weinstein presented Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel with the Algemeiner newspaper’s ‘Warrior for Truth’ award at its recent star studded 40th anniversary ‘JEWISH 100’ Gala. “My mother, the Miriam of Miramax […] was so thrilled when she heard that I was presenting to Professor Wiesel,” Weinstein said as he called on the professor to accept the award. “I am happy to be here on the Algemeiner’s 40th anniversary and to celebrate their top 100,” Weinstein added. Commenting [...]

    Read more →
  • Israel Sports Israeli Soccer Star Victim of Anti-Semitic Abuse on Twitter

    Israeli Soccer Star Victim of Anti-Semitic Abuse on Twitter

    Israeli soccer star Yossi Benayoun, who currently plays for FC Chelsea in the English Premier League, was recently the victim of anti-Semitic abuse on Twitter. After thanking his Twitter followers for sending him birthday wishes, Benayoun, who many consider to be the greatest Israeli soccer player ever, was sent the following message: “f***in Jew a**hole.” Benayoun posted a response, saying, “Some nice people in the world.” His team has called on the police to investigate the matter, according to the Britain’s [...]

    Read more →
  • Arts and Culture Blogs Gary Baseman and The Jewish Home “The Door Is Always Open”

    Gary Baseman and The Jewish Home “The Door Is Always Open”

    This weekend, a retrospective of the works of Gary Baseman titled The Door Is Always Open, opened, at the Skirball Cultural Center. ‘Door’ recreates the artists’ childhood home filled with famous Baseman characters and Jewish subjects peppered about. Baseman has had a long and successful career with iconic characters and big clients to fill his CV, but recent works are the first time he is dealing directly with his Jewish identity and the value that it holds for him now. [...]

    Read more →
Sign up now to receive our regular news briefs.