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CLINTON LINDSAY » Entries tagged with "Matisyahu"

JEWISH REGGAE ARTIST MATISYAHU PERFORMS AT THE ROTOTOM REGGAE FESTIVAL AS PROTESTERS WAVE PALESTINIAN FLAGS!

Despite protesters, Jewish reggae star also receives warm reception from some in crowd, sings about Jerusalem Jewish reggae artist Matisyahu’s performance at a Spanish reggae festival late Saturday night was met with catcalls from some pro-Palestinian protesters, but the concert passed off peacefully after a tense build-up. The Rototom Sunsplash festival in Spain retracted its decision to disinvite Matisyahu after he failed to comply with the demand of publicly endorsing Palestinian statehood, an ultimatum that incurred the organizers accusations of anti-Semitism. Matisyahu, who fuses reggae and hip-hop with Jewish influences in his songs, was asked to perform at the festival in Benicassim in eastern Spain. But a local branch of the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement campaigned against the performance, accusing Matisyahu of being anti-Palestinian and a “Zionist” who supports the … Read entire article »

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ETANA TO REPLACE THE BOOTED MATISYAHU AT THIS WEEKEND’S “ROTOTOM REGGAE FESTIVAL” IN SPAIN!

 By Brian Bonitto—-  (L) Matisyahu (R) Etana REGGAE singer Etana is scheduled to replace American Jewish musician Matisyahu who was yanked from the line-up of the Rototom Sunsplash Festival in Benicassim, Spain, this Saturday. The Jamaican singer, who is currently on a month-long tour of Europe, told the Jamaica Observer she was not surprised by the last-minute call up. “My team got a call saying Rototom has an opening on the 22nd. They said yes and negotiations came after. At no point was anyone asked: Who was being replaced? Or made any mention of any other artiste,” she told the Observer. Saturday’s performance would make it Etana’s third tour of duty on the festival and she promises a fine set. “My first performance on Rototom Festival was in 2008. I believe then, it was in Italy. … Read entire article »

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JEWISH REGGAE ARTIST MATISYAHU’S PERFORMANCE CANCELLED FOR “REFUSING TO ENDORSE PALESTINIAN STATE!”

Following BDS pressure, Spanish festival issues Jewish reggae star with outrageous ultimatum: support Palestinian statehood or we’ll cancel.—  By Ari Soffer—  A Spanish music festival has cancelled a performance by Jewish reggae star Matisyahu – because he refused to produce a statement clearly endorsing “Palestinian statehood,” according to Spanish media outlets. Matisyahu – who shot to fame as a bearded “hassidic raggae” star, before leaving Orthodox Judaism in 2011 – was due to appear at the Rototom Sunsplash festival in Benicassim, north of Valencia. The yearly music festivalis the European tribute to the major Jamaican reggae festival of the same name. But despite shedding his skullcap, beard, peyot – and most of his religion in general – Matisyahu maintains a strong sense of Jewish identity, and is an unashamed supporter of the State of Israel – a fact that drew ire from … Read entire article »

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MAVADO AND MATISYAHU HIT THE STUDIO FOR A SPECIAL COLLARBRATION!

Its not everyday you get a dancehall superstar and a Jewish reggae superstar in the studio together. Well, it has happened! Dancehall superstar Mavado has collaborated with Jewish reggae artist Matisyahu on a single that is sure to be a classic. Matisyahu  has come a long way since 2005 when he released his breakout album, ‘ Live at Stubb’s’ (which reached #1 on the Reggae Albums Chart and #30 on the Billboard 200). Since then he has pushed himself dynamically and creatively, breaking with expectation at every turn and remaking his musical image with nearly every album. Though he achieved early success as “The hasidic reggae superstar,” Matisyahu-the man and the musician-soon began to chafe under the constraints of that label and the projections that went with it. During early August Mavado and Matisyahu were both … Read entire article »

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MATISYAHU – ONE YEAR AFTER THE INFAMOUS HAIRCUT!

MATISYAHU – ONE YEAR AFTER THE INFAMOUS HAIRCUT!

By Steve Karras—-   Photo: Mark Squires— Much has been made of Matisyahu since he took clippers to his dangling beard and side-curls, 86’d the black fedora and shockingly emerged from his Hasidic outer shell one year ago. Recent photos of the international hip-hop, reggae sensation now reveal a clean-shaven, hip rocker, looking more like he came from a GQ photo shoot than the pages of a Roman Vishniac book about yeshivas in pre-war Poland. The artist’s brash identity makeover … Read entire article »

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FIVE NOMINATED FOR SOUL TRAIN’S “BEST CARIBBEAN PERFORMANCE” AWARD!

FIVE NOMINATED FOR SOUL TRAIN’S “BEST CARIBBEAN PERFORMANCE” AWARD!

By Kevin Jackson—– THERE will be stiff competition in the Best Caribbean Performance category of the Soul Train Awards, which takes place November 8 in Las Vegas. Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Matisyahu, Sean Paul and Cover Drive are the nominees. Top: Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Bottom: Jimmy Cliff The Soul Train Awards recognises top performers in urban and contemporary music. Organisers instituted a reggae category a few years ago, but later expanded it to Best Caribbean Performance. Last … Read entire article »

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JEWISH REGGAE STAR MATISYAHU TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM ON JULY 17!

JEWISH REGGAE STAR MATISYAHU TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM ON JULY 17!

By Kevin Jackson—– MATISYAHU, the American-Jewish performer who has made a name blending traditional Jewish themes with reggae, rock and hip hop, has set July 17 for the release of his fourth studio album, Spark Seeker. It comes three years after his previous album Light, spent 34 weeks at the top of Billboard’s Reggae album chart. Matisyahu performing at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival in Montego Bay in 2009.   Prior to Light, Matisyahu released Shake off the Dust… … Read entire article »

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