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 - Not This YahooThere are a few things we have to get out of the way. First, white people can most certainly perform in 'black' music. A white rapper - Eminem - is the best-selling and most popular in the genre. White people took over rock with huge bands from every country. Jimi Hendrix' drummer was white, as was funk legend Betty Davis' drummer. So it's not about the guy's color. If you have passion and talent you can play any kind of music. The Jewish thing is a gimmick. I don't doubt it's his actual religion, but it's used as a marketing tool. The Beastie Boys are Jewish and they rarely mention it. So again it's not about his religion, his color, or anything like that. It's about ability. And it's ability that Matisyahu is lacking. The problem is that the guy can't sing. He can beatbox a little, but that skill is more than a bit overrated. There's a reason nobody beatboxes anymore. He really can't rap, he can't carry a tune in a bucket, and when he's trying to sing reggae he just sounds like a kid in a high school or college reggae band playing a frat party. Jah mon! I-and-I took my parent's private jet to the island! Bumbaclot! Et cetera. It reminds me of those videos of Jim Belushi pretending like he's singing blues. Step away from the microphone. Matisyahu's backing band is competent, if unspectacular, but this guy's singing is just ... lame. That's the problem. It's lame. I'm no reggae snob but I know bad reggae when I hear it. This is bad reggae. Definitely all hype and no substance, but a real lesson in marketing. Rating:  - Not to shabbyGreat concept... a Jewish guy rappin' Well for this Arab... it is totally awesome. Not a big fan of traditional American rap (into Mexican Rap and this stuff)... The religious overtones and really meaning to the music is heads above what P.Diddy ever put out. JP Saleeby, MD Rating:  - Really good musicThis was an aweseom album. It's now one of my favorites. The music has a positive message and really gets the party going Rating: - it's hard to listen to anything else after listening to this albumas the lyrics change, the tune and tempo change with them, as does the sound of his voice. sometimes the muisic is soothing and sometimes challenging, but never coarse or hostile or an expression of frustration and filth like so much music today. with all this variety i hope that Matisyahu stays consistent with his themes and doesn't fly into outer space. this album is very colorful but very grounded. Rating: - Honoring G-d, one stutter-beat at a timeThese men, who look like three yeshiva drop-outs and one graduate, have turned out another delightful CD, overflowing with good cheer and genuinely groovy beats. The song "Youth" is a bit silly, but standouts tend to be in major keys anyway, and feature Matisyahu rapping/scatting/SOMEthing a bajillion miles a minute in a high, not-very-in-tune tenor: the over-the-top "Send In The Troops", the multi-levelled "Indestructible", the really pretty "Time Of Your Song" and one you'll barrel down the highway actually singing: "Jerusalem". The production is not as raw as some would like. Instead, it's addictive. And Ill Factor produced my favorites. Yowza! Reggae's unstoppable: always morphing, and, as with any medium worth the effort, serving all artists who truly need it. So: Crown Heights, Brixton, Kingston or Haifa--who cares? If it keeps up as cool as a good chunk of this CD, Matisyahu might just take over the world.
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