Matisyahu [what does his name mean, “Man-[something] our Yah”?], Youth. Imagine an Hasidic Jew rapping over a reggae beat. Or, instead of imagining it and getting it all wrong, listen to this album.
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Balaam's Ass 
Novelty
That’s really what I think it comes down to. I really wasn’t impressed from a musical standpoint. Just odd to see a Hasidic Jew rapping/singing reggae and jumping into a crowd and crowdsurfing. If I would have been in the concert on his video, I would have been soooo tempted to grab the yarlmaka… I know I’m insensitive… but the thought probably crossed everyone’s mind.
I think it’s the Yiddish of “Matityahu” (Matthew), which means “gift of God.”