In a time when party and gangsta rap asserted its dominance over hip-hop, one voice set itself apart, presenting a more urgent agenda. That voice manifests in this week's Rap Station Spotlight Artist: Mr. Lif.
Born and raised in Boston, MA, Lif erupted onto the scene with this groundbreaking Enters The Colossus EP back in 2000, which not only gained the attention of the masses, but established his distinct persona as one among the most innovative and forward-thinking emcees in the industry.
Lif was also the first artist signed under the prominent Definitive Jux Recordings, a label which established itself advocating for both indie rappers and its culture. This only magnified Lif's rising notoriety through releasing multiple critically-acclaimed singles, such as “Emergency Rations,” “I Phantom,” as well as launching the Black Dialogue Project whilst rallied alongside fellow Boston artists and long time confidantes Akrobatik and DJ Fakts One, which formed the memorable rap group, The Perceptionists.
A recipient of Boston Music Awards over nine separate occasions, Lif's iconic blend of conscious hip-hop garnered numerous other accolades, such as being featured on MTV, Rolling Stone, SPIN, The NY Times, The Village Voice, Entertainment Weekly, XXL, and several others.
2011 marked another cornerstone chapter for the Boston rapper when he joined the international music group, Thievery Corporation, donning the role of vocalist and rostered among the group's live performance crew. One particular song authored by Lif, “Culture of Fear” became the title track of the band's 6th studio album.
Apart from this, Lif's well-decorated resume accounts well over 20 countries toured in his solo career, not to mention numerous collaborative efforts with an extensive list of iconic names, including Aesop Rock, Cut Chemist, The Polish Ambassador, Galactic, Chali 2na, Jedi Mind Tricks, El-P, DJ Q-Bert, Murs, and DJ Krush.
Mr. Lif is still very active in the hip-hop scene, whether stirring up new sounds in the studio or on stages in far-off nations, bringing his unique blend of conscious rap straight to the frontlines.
By Jods Arboleda for RAPStation.com
