Mr. Lif
When he began releasing singles in the late '90s, party rap and gangsta rap were the dominant styles most MCs favored, but Mr. Lif's lyrical agenda was a political and socially conscious one that recalled the rap stars of the late '80s and early '90s -- Public Enemy, Gang Starr, and Boogie Down Productions. Born Jeffrey Haynes, Mr. Lif grew up in the Boston, Massachusetts suburb of Brighton, attending college for two years before focusing on a music career. He released his first single, "Elektro," in 1998, attracting the attention of labels Grand Royal and Def Jux. Working closely with producer and Def Jux label head El-P, Lif released a series of critically acclaimed singles and EPs, starting with Enters the Colossus in 2000. Touring kept him busy for the next year, but he still found time to release the "Cro-Magnon" single and a live CD, Live at the Middle East.
His most ambitious work to date followed in 2002 with a pair of concept releases; the Emergency Rations EP bookended collaborations with Edan and Akrobatik in an MC abduction scenario, while the I Phantom full-length formed a saga that led him from birth to apocalypse. He revisited his Akrobatik collaboration in 2005, when the pair joined producer Fakts One to form the Perceptionists, who released Black Dialogue, also on Definitive Jux. One year later he returned with Mo' Mega, his proper follow-up to I Phantom, featuring eight productions from El-P and appearances from Murs, Aesop Rock, and Blueprint. I Heard It Today, released in 2009 on Bloodbot Tactical, contained some of the most pointed lyrics of his career. The aptly titled Don't Look Down followed seven years later on the Mello Music Group imprint and was filled with "agnostic sermons," ones that got the Boston MC through a particularly dark time in his life. The label also released The Life & Death of Scenery, Lif's collaboration with abstract beatmaker L'Orange, in October of 2016. In 2017, Lif and Akrobatik revived the Perceptionists, resulting in the full-length Resolution. He also collaborated with Balkan brass ensemble Brass Menazeri for an album titled Resilient, which was released by Waxsimile Productions.
© Wade Kergan /TiVo
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Discografía
15 álbum(es) • Ordenado por Mejores ventas
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I Phantom
Hip-Hop/Rap - Editado por Mello Music Group el 27 nov. 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Heard it Today
Hip-Hop/Rap - Editado por Bloodbot Tactical Enterprises el 21 abr. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Don't Look Down
Hip-Hop/Rap - Editado por Mello Music Group el 15 abr. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Life & Death of Scenery
Hip-Hop/Rap - Editado por Mello Music Group el 14 oct. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Let Go - Single
Hip-Hop/Rap - Editado por Mello Music Group el 5 abr. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vangarde
Hip-Hop/Rap - Editado por Fat Beats Records el 13 nov. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Sun
Hip-Hop/Rap - Editado por Bloodbot Tactical Enterprises el 14 oct. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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World Renown (Dan The Automator Remix)
Hip-Hop/Rap - Editado por Mello Music Group el 14 jun. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Obama
Hip-Hop/Rap - Editado por Bloodbot Tactical Enterprises el 20 ene. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cadence Poisons the Minds of the Children - Plus Bonus Tracks
Hip-Hop/Rap - Editado por Pro Se Recordings el 12 ago. 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Shelter In Place
Hip-Hop/Rap - Editado por Fat Beats Records el 3 nov. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Welcome to the World
Hip-Hop/Rap - Editado por Bloodbot Tactical Enterprises el 4 nov. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Heard it Today (Single)
Hip-Hop/Rap - Editado por Bloodbot Tactical Enterprises el 2 sep. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Knowledge Shine Bright Remixed EP 1
Funk - Editado por Fort Knox Recordings el 2 jun. 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo