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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best releases of 2002, October 23, 2003
This review is from: Emergency Rations (Audio CD)
Mr. Lif is at the top of hip-hop now (much to chagrin of justice not commercially but....). Clocking in at 28:17, this EP packs more into 1/56 of that time than Ja Rule has put into his entire opus thus far. It opens with an informative-to-the-uninitiated but largely superfluous skit. So really this EP is down another 2:00. The album takes a path of hip-hop not often tread upon, real political analysis. Political hip-hop is not often done well artistically. No matter how much I agree with what Michael Franti might be spittin', the brotha just doesn't have skills on the mic. Lif however, is beyond reproach as a mc. His flow is superb and the rhymes are absolutely sick. On "Jugular Vein" Lif lays on slick rhymes over a driving beat with something like gothic overlay. "Heavy Artillery" is a hype track. It's high-energy rhymes and fast, heavy beats are a perfect intro for the albums high spot, track 4, "Home of the Brave". This tracks hits on the relevant issues of the hour. You might think it's easy given the transparency of Bush's motives in invading Afghanistan but try to make it rhyme and sound good and you'll see where Lif leaves behind simple agit-hip-prop and moves into art. A couple of additions to the CD version only, are two videos (Quicktime). One, a live performance of "Home of the Brave" and another for an outstanding track available here and on the C-Ox/Lif/et alii joint Coast to Coast, "Because They Made It That Way". Lif adds new depth to political hip-hop, joining the ranks of Dead Prez, The Coup, PE and others. In doing so, he proves that the message does not have to be sacrificed when producing art.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
worth every penny, August 20, 2003
This review is from: Emergency Rations (Audio CD)
Dedicated Lif fans, boston underground fans, concious hip-hop fans- you probably know this cd and should. for the rest out there . . . for those of you not familiar with the boston hip-hop scene, here's the perfect introduction. First, its cheap- it'll cost you under $10 for a delicious EP, it flows seemlessly (though each track is descrete), and if you don't like the vibe, you haven't dropped much on it. Next- it epitomizes Boston rap in a few ways- the beats are raw, the lyrics are amazingly intricate (you might consider Lif paranoid based on his messages, but at least he's well informed and concoius- a breath of fresh air from the Nelly/Ludicrous/Jay-Z s' out there), and you won't see the flashy self absorbed style of the mainstream. He's rapping your knowledge and enjoyment, not his own image like the entire radio crew. This can provide the transition to rappers like Akrobatik, Esoteric, Edon, the whole Boston scene, not to mention other Lif Cds (buy I-Phantom, his newer LP) Next, its a great intoduction into the amazing, fresh, orignal label DefJux: its got El-P, Cannibal Ox, Lif, Aesop Rock, Rjd2 (illest!!!). Music for an alternative, underground hip-hop listener looking for quality, not catchy, cheezy radio appeal. Standout tracks include "heavy artillery" (its pretty hard) and "home or the brave" along with "get wise in '91." Introduce yourself to something new.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mr. Lif has been kidnapped!, June 6, 2005
This review is from: Emergency Rations (Audio CD)
I know, how could an EP be worth 5 stars? But the truth is, is that this EP is just as potent as Mr. Lif's critically acclaimed "I Phantom". The album also delivers a concept. The premise being that Mr. Lif has been kidnapped by unidentified government agents, and is now missing. Throughout the album's content, we find out that Lif's relentless attacks on civil rights, censorship, and U.S. foreign policy, is the reason that Mr. Lif presents such a threat. Mr. Lif presents his political commentary in such a way, that the listener soaks it up like a sponge. The lyrics are metaphorical, but also direct. Leaving small subtleties to eke their way into your mind. Lif makes it work quite brilliantly, and he never comes off as too preachy.
We get production from Mr. Lif, Akrobatik, DJ Hype, DJ Fakts One, Edan (also guest vocalist), and El-P. Like "I Phantom," the lyrics are always on the forefront. Although the lyrics are very politically charged, Lif does drop some humor on us too, with his love for movies and video games. Check out these rhymes from "Jugular Vein" - "Once upon a time I had to slay crews / And the story never ends like a Atreyu's". Check this one out - "Pick up a controller and lets play Tekken 3 / Whoop that a** 4 times, now you wanna switch / You can use Eddie, now I'm Dr. Barsconovich". Throwing in lyrics like that show how much fun Lif can be, while simultaneously delivering mind bending lyrics to feed your mind. The next track is an assault on your ears, and one of my favorites, "Heavy Artillery", where he uses his enthralling lyrics as ammo for warfare. The next track, "Home of the Brave" is probably my favorite at this point. It contains the most insightful lyrics that relate to his message (that's debatable). His vicious attacks on George W. Bush are impossible to ignore - "Bush disguises blood lust as patriotism / Convincing the living to love 'Operation Let's Get 'Em' / But when he realized we don't support their attacks / They needed something to distract, hmmm, ANTHRAX". Unlike production from other Jukies, "Pull Out Your Cut" features some old-school funky beats (also one of my favorites). "The Unorthodox" and "Get Wise '91" also add heavily to the EP. The latter featuring lyrics and production from Edan, who also has a very sweet flow, and changes the album up quite nicely. The last track "Phantom," features guest vocals and some ill beats by El-P, which acts as a teaser for Mr. Lif's forthcoming full release "I Phantom".
Overall, I'm quite impressed with "Emergency Rations". The EP is only 30 minutes long, but it's chalk-full of great material, and feels very complete. If you were lucky enough to find the full length version of this EP, which includes the extra 11-minute live performance of "Because They Made It That Way/Home of the Brave" then it's actually about 40 minutes long. Although I couldn't find it myself, I'm still quite happy with my purchase. Mr. Lif serves up the entire package here. Sick production, and mind-bowing lyrical content delivered by a very personal, and charismatic emcee. Along with Immortal Technique, Mr. Lif is by far the most relentless MC to come along since Chuck D and KRS-One. If you are a first-time purchaser of Mr. Lif, I would probably recommend "I Phantom" first, but "Emergency Rations" is definitely a close second.
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