Matthew Paul Miller (born June 30, 1979), known by his Hebrew and stage name Matisyahu (/mætɪsˈjɑːhuː/; "Gift of God"), is Jewish American reggae vocalist, beatboxer, and alternative rock musician.
Known for blending Orthodox Jewish 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. Since 2004, he has released four studio albums as well as two live albums, two remix CDs and two DVDs featuring live concerts. In addition, Matisyahu played the role of Tzadok in The Possession, a supernatural horror film directed by Ole Bornedal and co-produced by Sam Raimi. Through his career, Matisyahu has worked with Bill Laswell, reggae producers Sly & Robbie, and Kool Kojak.
Matisyahu was born Matthew Paul Miller on June 30, 1979, in West Chester, Pennsylvania. His family eventually settled in White Plains in Westchester County, New York. He was brought up a Reconstructionist Jew, and attended Hebrew school at Bet Am Shalom, a synagogue in White Plains. He spent much of his childhood barely learning the tenets of Judaism, but by the time he was a teenager, Matisyahu began to rebel against his lack of upbringing. He started taking drugs and dropped out of White Plains Senior High School. He became a self-professed "Phish-head," taking hallucinogens and following the rock band Phish on tour.
Mattityahu is a Hebrew first name literally meaning "The gift of God". English renderings include Matthew, Matthias, and Mattathias. Mattithyahu is a variation.
Mattityahu may refer to:
Open up the gate
Let my prayer rise up
And I struggle every day
just to get myself up
For the force of gravity that
keeps sinking my ship
Time again one is bound to slip
We rip through these days
We flip through the age
Survive stay alive we
won't trip in the haze
Lost in the maze
I know it's just a phase
But I dread it dread it dread it
I won't let my life go to waste
I'm a struggla
Rise and never fall cause I
been through it all
So ask yourself and think twice
Would you want to live your life
Oh we pay the cost
The pain and all the loss
Sell the youth them dreams of ease and fame
Will be a breeze when you got a big name
Cash fast fast cars to
escape all of the pain
Escape your brain and so it stays the same
We would not lay down
We won't live in vain
We won't be drained
And I got to maintain
I won't let my life go to waste
I'm a struggla
Rise and never fall cause I
been through it all
So ask yourself and think twice
Would you want to live your life
Oh we pay the cost
The pain and all the loss
There's something wrong with the system
That leaves it's people victim
Keep on slipping can't seem to catch up
Try to rise at night but my
legs they stay stuck
There's something wrong in the system
That leaves it's children victim
I won't let my life go to waste
I'm a struggla
Rise and never fall cause I
been through it all
So ask yourself and think twice
Would you want to live your life
Oh we pay the cost
The pain and all the loss
Oh we pay the cost
The pain and all the loss
Rise and never fall cause I
been through it all
So ask yourself and think twice
Would you want to live your life
Oh we pay the cost
The pain and all the loss
Open up the gates let my prayer rise up
Oh we pay the cost