Just a week after the new album, Youth was released, The New York Times reported today that Matisyahu has breached his contract with JDub Records (with a term of three years remaining), and dropped the non-profit independent label which gave the artist his start and supported his remarkable rise to stardom.
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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.
But a few days before “Youth” was released, Mr. Bisman and his partner, Jacob Harris, received an unexpected phone call from their prize talent, telling them their management services were no longer required. “He was in Kansas,” Mr. Bisman said. “He said, ‘I don’t know if you guys are old enough or have enough experience.’ “
For Mr. Bisman, 25, and Mr. Harris, 26, it was a shock from an old friend and a potential blow to their business. They had shepherded Matisyahu through his early career, setting up gigs and handing out fliers and the like
