Matisyahu

Steeped in Jamaica's musical traditions yet rich with references to his own faith and heritage, Matisyahu's mellow and joyful songs are both a vivid demonstration of reggae's universality and unique in their own right. Born Matthew Miller in 1979 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, the singer and rapper developed an ardent passion for Phish and hip-hop in his youth before Orthodox Judaism and reggae became the building blocks for his life and music going forward. Support slots for Dave Matthews Band and Sting helped fuel interest in his early albums, including 2005's raw and compelling Live At Stubb's and Youth, a more polished follow-up that became his first major hit in 2006. While his decision to shave off his beard marked a dramatic change for his image in 2011, Matisyahu's music retains its spirit of positivity and warm, easy grooves on later releases such as 2017's Undercurrent and 2023's single "Buy Us a House", an exuberant collaboration with pop-punk singer Chad Tepper.