JANUARY 24 / 9:00PM
21 & Over / $10 Advance

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Nectar & Obese Present:

Mr Lif

The Perceptionists

• Dim Mak
• Rudy and The Rhetoric

MR LIF

In the tradition of the story telling of legendary MCs like Chuck D, KRS One, Rakim & Guru, Mo’ Mega delivers a take on modern day America that is simultaneously personal and political.

Following the breakout success of Enters The Colossus EP (Def Jux 2000), Lif established himself as one of the most ambitious and forward-thinking MCs in the game. He further cemented this status with the releases of his acclaimed Emergency Rations EP and I Phantom LP in 2002.

In the time that followed, Lif was profiled by MTV, Rolling Stone, SPIN, The NY Times, Entertainment Weekly, XXL and a slew of other media outlets. His stock quickly rose on a national level thanks to a relentless tour schedule. The crowds grew steadily, and by the time Lif took to the road with fellow Def Jukie Aesop Rock for a series of sold-out shows, the people had spoken. They were tired of clichés, and with our culture in crisis, economy floundering, and soldiers coming home in coffins, they didn’t want to hear about trivialities of the hyper-consumerism and egomania that have infested society.

To help commit the sound and fury of his most recent soundbombs to tape, Lif has teamed up with acclaimed producer and longtime collaborator El-P to set the sonic table for Mo’ Mega. As always, Def Jux head honcho El Producto has flipped the boom-bap, orchestrating a catalytic soundscape from behind the boards—one that could only be navigated by a lyrical force as focused and deadly as Lif’s.

There’s no need to look any further than your newspaper or TV to see the inspiration for Mo’ Mega’s calls to arms. From the water-logged streets of New Orleans to the killing fields of Sudan, from the struggle of personal relationships to the stress of living in USA 2006, there’s a riot that’s been going on. Consider this it’s soundtrack.

THE PERCEPTIONISTS

Far from some kind of wack publicity stunt to boost careers, the coming together of these three long-time friends and brawny musical minds on the rise was actually more anticlimactic, because it was so natural and obvious. It wasn’t thought up in a boardroom, but more likely in Akrobatik’s Jamaica Plain living room. If you doubt how long the idea has been floating around, check the credits on Lif’s Fakts One-produced 2000 song “Avengers”: “Akrobatik and Mr. Lif combine to form The Perceptionists.” Nuff said.

All three members have had exemplary solo careers thus far, with no signs of stopping: acclaimed releases like Lif’s I, Phantom and Emergency Rations (both on Definitive Jux); Akrobatik’s stellar 2003 full-length debut Balance (on Coup D’Etat); and Fakts, currently working on his solo debut, is featured on all aforementioned releases, plus his own party-moving singles, like “The Show Starter” (Coup D’Etat).

The most important thing about the Perceptionists is: this isn’t about individual members. This is a GROUP. They have been to different continents together, blown up each other’s cell phones to get to airports on time, shared bad fast food meals at truck stops. Truth be told: road warriors have bonds that are stronger than studio associates will ever know about. For these three brothers from other mothers, who have always really been making this record, it was the right time to summon the good demons of rap and forge the magic onto wax.

Musically, the first thing that strikes you after a full listen to the album’s sequence is how natural it feels. Whether they’re spitting righteous venom about the evil misdeeds of hopefully one-term president George W. Bush or talking about kicking back on their porch shooting the shit about life, love and loss, “Black Dialogue” is exactly how these guys are. F the pretense, F the posing, this is true reality rap. An important thing to point out: although Fakts is the DJ and musical lynchpin of the group, he’s not the only producer. Serious heat was also provided by Lif associate from the way-back, El-P (“People For Prez,” “Blo” and “Frame Rupture”); Cyrus, an unknown (not for long) but amazingly-talented Brandeis University undergrad (“Memorial Day,” “What Have We Got To Lose”); and Florida-based up-and-comer Willie Evans Jr. (“Love Letters,” “Black Dialogue,” “Breathe In The Sun” and “The Razor”). It’s Darwin on the datablend.

With their “Black Dialogue,” Lif, Ak and Fakts are creating music that doesn’t talk to one set of people, and doesn’t ever come at you the same way twice. Sometimes angry, sometimes pensive, sometimes hilarious, it’s a set of snapshots that complete an important musical family album. And whether they’re all starting new again or just continuing a groove that started almost a decade ago, three is still the magic number. And the band of brothers called The Perceptionists are the ones to make that number work for 2005 and beyond.

LINKS

• Mr Lif on MySpace
• The Perceptionists on Myspace
• Dim Mak on Myspace
• Rudy and The Rhetoric on Myspace

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