Matthew Paul Miller (born June 30, 1979),[2][3] known by his stage name Matisyahu (/ˌmɑːtɪsˈjɑːhuː/ ⓘ; מתתיהו‎), is an American singer, rapper, beatboxer, and musician.

Known for blending spiritual themes with reggae, rock and hip hop beatboxing sounds, Matisyahu's 2005 single "King Without a Crown" was a Top 40 hit in the United States.

Throughout his career, Matisyahu has worked with Bill Laswell and reggae producers Sly & Robbie and Kool Kojak.

"[13] In autumn 1995, Miller attended a two-month program at the Alexander Muss High School in Hod Hasharon, Israel.

[13][12] He returned to New York, began taking classes on Jewish spirituality at The New School, and started developing his reggae style, spending hours in his room, writing and practicing to the accompaniment of hip-hop tapes.

He began attending religious services every Sabbath at the synagogue and started to wear a yarmulke (head covering) and tzitzit (a fringed undergarment).

[29] On November 3, 2010, he performed his music accompanied by a single acoustic guitarist, recited poetry and answered questions at the University of Central Florida.

[32] That year, he embarked on a concert tour throughout the United States in support of the album with his backing band, Dub Trio.

[34] On July 17, 2012, Matisyahu released his fourth studio album, Spark Seeker, which was produced by Kool Kojak and featured two collaborations with rapper Shyne.

[41] The organizers released a statement saying they "made a mistake, due to the boycott and the campaign of pressure, coercion and threats employed by the BDS.

[44] On October 10, 2015, Matisyahu performed in Israel at the Sultan's Pool in Jerusalem against the backdrop of escalating stabbing attacks in the city.

[45] Jerusalem's mayor, Nir Barkat, thanked Matisyahu and said before the performance that "Everyone who came here today and is maintaining their regular routine is a partner in fighting terror.

The EP includes collaborative efforts with relative mainstay Stu Brooks[50] as well as The Polish Ambassador[51] and Salt Cathedral.

[55] Matisyahu's "One Day" was featured in the MacGillivray Freeman Film, Dream Big playing in IMAX theaters beginning in February 2018.

[59] Produced by Colombian band and production duo Salt Cathedral, it was Matisyahu's seventh studio album and his first since 2017's Undercurrent.

In 2015, Matisyahu collaborated with Avicii in his album "Stories", where he sang alongside Wyclef Jean in "Can't Catch Me".

The New York Times' Kelefa Sanneh wrote that "His sound owes a lot to early dancehall reggae stars like Barrington Levy and Eek-a-Mouse.

"[68] The Chicago Tribune's Kevin Pang described a Matisyahu performance as "soul-shaking brand of dancehall reggae, a show that captures both the jam band vibe of Phish and the ska-punk of Sublime.

[71] Matisyahu met NYU film student Tahlia (née Silverman) when she interviewed him for a documentary about men and women not touching each other.

In 2014, Matisyahu confirmed that he had divorced his wife approximately two years before, but they remain on good terms and were sharing parenting responsibilities.

The newborn was diagnosed with a rare heart defect, underwent three open-heart surgeries at 1, 3, and 9 years old and has reportedly fully recovered .

[81] From 2001 through July 2007, Matisyahu was affiliated with the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic community in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York, whose rabbi officiated at his wedding in 2004.

Soon after his adoption of Hasidism, Matisyahu began studying Torah at Hadar Hatorah, a yeshiva for returnees to Judaism where he wrote and recorded his first album.

An exception to this rule occurred at a 2007 concert in Fairbanks, Alaska; since the sun did not set until 2:00 a.m., performing in the late hours was not a violation of Jewish observance.

"[84] Additionally, in the fall of 2007, while on a family vacation spent primarily in Jerusalem's Nachlaot neighborhood, he expressed interest in another Hasidic group, that of Karlin.

[85] As of November 2007 he had confirmed a preference to pray at the Karliner synagogue in Borough Park, Brooklyn, where the custom is to ecstatically scream prayers; however, he continued to reside in Crown Heights because of his wife's affinity for the community.

[86] On December 13, 2011, after a session with his therapist, Matisyahu walked into a Supercuts on the Upper West Side in Manhattan and shaved his beard.

[13] Matisyahu posted a beardless picture of himself on Twitter, explaining on his website:[87] When I started becoming religious 10 years ago it was a very natural and organic process.

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.

Trusting my goodness and my divine mission.Despite shaving his beard, Matisyahu remained a religious Jew and began to attend a Hasidic synagogue associated with the Karlin dynasty in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.