Jewish Reggae Star Matisyahu Shocks Fans With New Look

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Fans of a Jewish reggae star from Westchester got quite the shock Tuesday morning.

Matisyahu shaved off his signature beard and payos.

"No more Chassidic reggae superstar," he wrote to his fans in a message on his website.

The 32-year-old showed off his new look on Twitter, posting two photographs of his clean-shaven face with the caption "at the break of day I look for you at sunrise, when the tide comes in, I lose my disguise."

He later released a statement explaining that the beard was part of his spiritual journey that he took on 10 years ago after feeling the need to submit to a "higher level of religiosity."

Matisyahu said that now he is "reclaiming himself" and "trusting his goodness and divine mission."

He's telling fans to "get ready for an amazing year filled with music of rebirth."

Matisyahu has four New York dates on his Festival of Light tour: he will be at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Dec. 19, 20 and 21 and at Webster Hall on Dec. 22.

The reggae artist hit mainstream fame with his single "King Without A Crown" in 2005. He has released three studio albums, two live albums and two remix albums.

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