Matisyahu
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Matisyahu
Aaron Bisman, at New York University, started a nonprofit record label, JDub, and his friend at the New School, who called himself Matisyahu, worked on his reggae toasting skills. In Mr. Bisman's words, Matisyahu was still wearing track suits and just growing out his beard. As Matisyahu's love for hip-hop and his dedication to Orthodox Judaism grew, he hit the clubs in a black suit, hat and full beard, and with JDub behind him made one of the most unlikely rises in pop music history. He is surely the only Hasidic reggae singer to sell out 2,000-to-3,000-seat concert halls regularly around the country, and last week he released "Youth" (JDub/Or/Epic), his major label debut, which is widely expected to make it high in the Top 10 when the charts are compiled later this week. Mr. Bisman, at New York University, started a nonprofit record label, JDub, and his friend Matisyahu at the New School worked on his reggae toasting skills. As Matisyahu's love for hip-hop and his dedication to Orthodox Judaism grew, he hit the clubs in a black suit, hat and full beard, and with JDub behind him made one of the most unlikely rises in pop music history. It has a handful of other acts and promotes concerts around the country, but Matisyahu was central to the company's finances.