Matisyahu’s Major Transformation

According to A.V. Club, the heavily-bearded Hasidic reggae-rapper Matisyahu is no longer bearded nor Hasidic. The self-proclaimed “reggae superstar” posted a picture of his beard-less face on Twitter last week, then took to his website to explain the change:

“Sorry folks, all you get is me…no alias. When I started becoming religious 10 years ago it was a very natural and organic process. It was my choice. My journey to discover my roots and explore Jewish spirituality—not through books but through real life. At a certain point I felt the need to submit to a higher level of religiosity…to move away from my intuition and to accept an ultimate truth. I felt that in order to become a good person I needed rules—lots of them—or else I would somehow fall apart. I am reclaiming myself. Trusting my goodness and my divine mission.

Get ready for an amazing year filled with music of rebirth. And for those concerned with my naked face, don’t worry…you haven’t seen the last of my facial hair.”