There’s a certain clarity that hits when you talk to MatitYahu Tha Gift. His name says it all—he’s here to share his gift, plain and simple. A rising figure in New Jersey’s underground hip-hop scene, MatitYahu blends lyrical introspection with drumless, lo-fi, and melodic sounds that reflect both the genre’s roots and its ever-evolving present. We caught up with him for a raw, unfiltered conversation on craft, community, and what it really means to get on stage.
MatitYahu Tha Gift “Displaying My Gift”
Ask MatitYahu to define his sound, and he’ll tell you: “Yahsgiftmatt is precisely that; it’s just me displaying my gift, telling stories, and breaking shit down from my point of view.” His style weaves together new-age, drumless hip-hop with a lo-fi edge laced with melody and rich introspection. It’s music that pays homage to the culture while pushing it forward.
Bloomfield Roots, Newark Influence
Hailing from Bloomfield and shaped by the rich musical atmosphere of Newark, MatitYahu Tha Gift was immersed in sound from the jump. “Everyone around me was into music… from a young age, there was nothing else I wanted to do,” he says. It started with communal gatherings—family and friends freestyling and rapping together —and quickly became a lifelong pursuit. “It got to a point where I was doing it all the time, and it became what I do.”
Every Show Goes Hard—But This One Hit Different
When asked about his favorite performance, MatitYahu doesn’t settle for easy picks. “I go hard with every performance,” he says. But one that stands out is Up Next by Ambitious Artists, held in Elizabeth last May. “The energy was great. Me, Mel Sosa, YungDread the Prophet, and a lot of South and North Jersey artists were in the building. It was tough.”
On Live Music: Love the Unity, Respect the Craft
MatitYahu Tha Gift’s passion for the live scene is real. Whether it’s in Philly, NYC, or Jersey, he’s all about artists supporting artists. “I love what we’re doing… throwing shows, helping each other, putting each other on.”
That said, he keeps it honest when it comes to what could be better. “I don’t like when people rap over their songs without removing the backing lyrics. If you want to be a true performer, you have to perform.” For MatitYahu, it’s about taking the craft seriously. “Some people hop on stage just to be on stage… Sit with your product and know what you’re doing with it.”
He’s not trying to gatekeep, but he’s clear that accountability matters. “If we’re all doing it and saying ‘they’re so good,’ who is really learning and getting better?”
MatitYahu Tha Gift, ThaK1tchen and the Community
MatitYahu’s inner circle is tight and talented. He reps Tha K1tchen—a collective that includes Safiya Israel. But the love extends far beyond.
“I love Dread, Jodi, Tom Mussain. Redbrags behind that camera—that’s my go-to.” He also shouts out Wiseboy Jersey, Wakeupwess, and Devyn Amana as artists he respects and hopes to collaborate with soon. “And Yelli too—she’s like that. She’s tough.” In his words: “We’re all one big family.”
Highlighting “Village“
The Gift’s latest project, Village, spans across 8 songs and 18 minutes. The project is a coming-of-age story about love, loss, and the strength we find in building community and in the love of those around us. My favorite track on the project, “YAH hold me,” is a perfect encapsulation of the project. The track features an old soul sample looped over a low-fi boom-bap drum track. MatitYahu raps about the loss of beloved family and friends, and the comfort, love, and grace that he finds through spirituality. The chorus sings “Yah hold me, yah hold me tight”. Giving the impression of a spiritual presence protecting and comforting him from the world’s evils.
Final Thoughts on MatitYahu Tha Gift
Overall, I really enjoyed MatitYahu Tha Gift’s project, especially since it was more low-key and introspective. I would recommend this project to people who are fans of the boom bap style, which has been repopularized by producers like Alchemist and rappers like Curren$y or MIKE.
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