Matisyahu

At his most pared-down, Matisyahu is “an American Hasidic Jewish reggae musician,” but the Brooklyn-based jam-rock rapper/singer formerly known as Matthew Paul Miller has something to offer discerning listeners who can get past the initial identity clusterfuck. His third album, Light, released in 2009, showed signs that Matisyahu is honing his very specific craft. For one, there’s less fake patois and more real rapping. There’s also far less of the outdated P.O.D.-style metal-dub (both genres bastardized) that marred 2006’s Youth. Once the shock of hearing Auto-Tune on the opener, “Smash Lies,” subsides, the track’s curious experimentalism and general bravado takes over. His latest record, the concert album Live At Stubb’s, Vol. 2, was released in February 2011.

Updated 12/06/2011