Matisyahu was the first (at least to me): the Hasidic Reggae Superstar.  While you wouldn't necessarily think of Reggae as MTV friendly, Matisyahu had several popular videos appear and his latest record, Youth, was #1 on iTunes for a period of time. Clearly not my (grand)parents Hasidic music star.  

Ta-Shma is the next: Hasidic Hip Hop.  Yeah, you heard it right: Ta-Shma, composed of the duo Chuna Silverman and Menachem Shapiro, are two black-hatted Hasids from Brooklyn who look like the Amish but sound like Public Enemy (also from Brooklyn, Yo). 

I have to admit that I still have a hard time with this Hasid music crossover stuff.  See, I am a secular Jew born and raised in Brooklyn (Canarsie, Yo!) and Hasids seemed like they were from another planet.   I used to pass them on drives to The City (on Shabbos no less, oy!) and stare.  Raised as a Conservative Jew (which in Jewdom means that I'm pretty liberal - go figure), I knew that the black hats, coats, beards and peyoat (the long sideburns) were a means of self-expression transforming themselves back to the hey-day of religious Jews many centuries ago.  It's a transformation that I didn't get: why would anyone want to go back in the past when the future had so much cool stuff (did they even know of Atari)?  In my Jewish world, black hats and robes were just weird and had nothing to do with being Jewish.

So, now that there Hasidic Rappers, I can't help but ask: Wassup?  Sure, there have been some clear signs of modernity such as the Chabad-Lubavitch Telethon, and Hasids in movies such as Guy Ritchie's Snatch (about diamond thiefs).  But how did this seemingly insulated sub-group of Judaism even know that was a thing called Hip Hop?

The answer lies in the waves of secular Jews who have been "converting" to Hasidism in recent years.  Seeking clarity and stability that the modern world lacks, devout study of Judaism can give people a grounding that is intoxicating and, even, enlightening.  It's very attractive in an uncertain world and hordes of young "secular" Jews have been moving over the religious side in recent years. 

And with this movement, "secular" traditions are moving with it.  Matisyahu (aka Matthew Miller) is one example.  He was a NSJB (Nice Secular Jewish Boy) that was a Phish/Deadhead for much of his life when he finally took the Hasid acid.  So, even though he adorned the black hat, he still loved the Jam band.  And with that, the Hasidic Reggae Supertstar was born.

So, it was only a matter of time before the Rap/Hip Hop genre was explored.  And why not?  Rap/Hip Hop is a medium whose purpose is to convey messages with passion and spirit in a way few other genres do?  With its deep bass lines, high hats and other tribal rhythms, Rap deftly guides listeners through its message through a hypnotic trance that can't help but intoxicate its audience.  So, if LL Cool J can rap about the plight of African Americans, why shouldn't Hasids be able to rap about the Mosiach (the savior), Torah (the bible) and Ha-Shem?

So, now the big question how's the album?  It's just okay, but it has a lot promise.

Come Listen, is a great attempt to define a Hasid infused bass line (is there such a ting).  It isn't your West Coast, East Coast Hip-Hop thing.  It's a klezmer-infused rant about all things Torah. Not Weird-Al with like, but Mos Def with a yarmulke.  This is serious Rap, with a big dollop of Jewdom.

Some tracks of Come Listen are fantastic.  Good and Grey, for example, has a simple klezmer violin lick morphed and scratched over a funky bass drum that is extremely danceable (the author did the head nod thang).  The message of the track, too, is unique: Life is full of confusing choices making nothing really black or white.  You know what? That's okay - it's what life is about.

Journeys (featuring Y-Love, another orthodox hip-hopper) is also a treat.  With a deep funky bass line, Journeys is a deeply personal song that discusses each rappers experience with Judaism and how they came to where they are now.  Where have you heard pop music explore these dimensions?

Woman of Valor (featuring Andy Statman) is also good with a kick ass great reggae/dub beat to it.

That being said, other tracks are just a mess.  Revloution, Ups and Downs, Return Home, Jacob's Ladder just seem to miss the mark.  They sound like they were cut in a garage with some cheap mixer.  I just couldn't get past the poor sound quality to give them their fair shot.   Even Rachamana, featuring my fave Matisyahu, also lacks some punch and direction.

Still, Come Listen is a great first effort.  It shows the deep rooted passion of its core members: Chuna Silverman and Menachem Shapiro and that this Hasidic Hip Hop thang actually has more legs and isn't a gimmick.

Maybe it will make a Hasid out me?

Purchase Ta-Shma from Amazon.com 

P.S.: Even better than the album, check them out live.  Their myspace site has some cool videos of a live show they played earlier this year.  The audience was really into it: Like being in an orthodox Shul on the High-Holy days.  Go...you might even find your self davening like a Hasid.

This secular Jew did..

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