The Drop: Matisyahu

Akeda, the fifth studio album from GRAMMY-nominated musician Matisyahu will be released June 3 via Elm City Music. Recorded in Brooklyn’s Studio G and produced by Dub Trio’s Stu Brooks with assistance from studio owner Joel Hamilton, the material for the album was written both in Matisyahu’s Los Angeles home and while on tour.  Matisyahu states, “This record and period of my life deal with madness, listening for and following the inner intuitive voice, a small still sound.  This record deals with love, with feelings of brokenness and humility, with humanity, struggle, and sacrifice.”  Join us as we celebrate the release of Akeda with a discussion, moderated by Vice President of The GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares Scott Goldman, and intimate performance by Matisyahu.  In addition to working with Brooks and Hamilton, Matisyahu also collaborated with Dave Holmes and Joe Tomino from his touring band, Dub Trio, as well as longtime friends and musical collaborators Aaron Dugan, Rob Marscher and Mark Guiliana.  The album has a classic live, analog, recorded feel as well as more modern electronic elements and features special guest appearances by reggae artist Collie Buddz and hip-hop artist Zion I. Matisyahu first made a name for himself with his album Live at Stubbs (2005), and Youth (2006) quickly followed and reached #1 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart and Reggae Albums chart. Both albums subsequently went Gold and Youth was nominated for a GRAMMY Award for Best Reggae Album. 2009’s Light reached #1 on the Reggae Albums chart and stayed in the top spot for 34 weeks.