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Music
The Revolution will not be televised
There will be no highlights on the
eleven o ’clock News
The revolution will not be televised
The revolution will be live
-Gil Scott-Heron
And yes, the lyrical revolution is
right now ... LIVE!
If W ebsters D ictionary defines
“Free” as: having the legal and
political rights ofa citizen. Enjoying
civil liberty, not subject to the
control o f domination o f another...
then free most come at a very high
cost.
So to help us get free, southern bom
Florida rapper Stic.Man and his
Brooklyn-bred partner M -l are
spoon-feeding hip-hops hungry ears
with their LOUD Records full LP
debut “Let’s Get Free”.
Ju st as G il S c o tt-H e ro n s
“Revolution” lyrics were blasted as
highly political poetry by linking it
up to jazz-funk fusion with soulful
deep vocals, the Dead Prez are
bringing the same needed public
awareness by hyping their own
attention... in stereo.
The duo comes by way o f 7G
Entertainment founded by Lord
Jamar o f Brand Nubian.
This not just substance but social
hip-hop duo speaks the truth on
themes o f black nationalism, and
self discipline. Most o f all, the
determ ination to free ones self
physically, emotionally, but most
o f all mentally.
F o c u s _________________April 12,2000
Page 3
Dead Prez gets the vote in hip-hop
Rap artist like Common, Mos D ef,
K RS-ONE, RasKass and now,
newcomers. Dead Prez, are bringing
political, but more important, social
and conscious hip-hop headlines to
you, in your face; but oh so
poetically, positively and non-
pretentiously.
As a hip-hop connoisseur, my vote
is that both Dead Prez’s “Let’s Get
Free“ and Commons “Like Water
for Chocolate” will be two o f the
best rotating in 2G.
Prez lyrics could be inflammatory
to some, but hands down and five
mics up, that if you pause, you will
catch much needed lyrical lessons.
When the two met back in 1990 in
Tallahassee, FL, who would have
known but these social prodigy’s
th a t they w ould be not ju st
preaching, but to really put their
money where their mouth is; by
teaching their refugee lyrics to the
m asses. T his tw osom e also
participates in such movements as
the National People's Democratic,
th e P e o p le 's A rm y, U huru
Movement and the Black Survival
Movement.
T h ese m odern day H uey P.
Newton’s, Steve Biko’s and new
millennium KRS-ONE’s wants you
to listen. Listen to their oh so precise
open, honest and yes mind levitating
lyrics.
These brothers are on some serious
and no fluff or bluff mission, so let
the Prez music ministry begin.
They’re bringing and preachin’their
street but social knowledge to hip-
hop stage pulpits across the world.
The Prez are like vocal vessels o f being taught English in lieu of their me rre z meir rair share of air
how to maintain that what you native language. Anxious about the time.It’s socially unfair when it’s so
preach & teach, you should practice. a u to m a tic
w eap o n s
the noticeable that when artists really
Lyrics like my favorite, “Mind Sex” demonstrators in the picture are have something worthwhile to say
will resuscitate your mind.
raising in defiance o f the Apartheid- in their music, it only gets played
We could have mind sex/we ain 't era police, who are firing upon them, once or twice, then it gets shoved to
got to take our clothes o ff y e t
Loud Records at first “suggested” the back o f the play list.
We can burn the incense, and ju st that they scrap the cover. The guns
Although it might sting to some, if
chat/Relax I got the good vibrations displayed on the top half o f the you take just a mental swallow of
Before we make love let's have a cover w ere concealed w ith a their street ministry or even a pinch
good conversation
message stating that the artwork o f their poetic salt, my vote says
Another case & point. All o f their was censored due to its political you’re bound to walk away with a
tracks are mind-freeing & lyrical content.” M -l proclaims proudly, full plate o f and some conscious
head-trips; definitely all o f their “We fought for it [the complete seasoning for your mind. The Dead
worthy, but pay attention to both cover].
Prez might just help you., get free.
titles “Be Healthy” & “Discipline”. Hopefully, radio stations will give Once again, it’s on.
The dynam ic duo doses
melodic ministry for your
physical as well as mental.
T hese so ngs are ab o u t
nutrition and the benefits o f a
vegetarian lifestyle.
The Prez are currently on
James DcPrcist, Music Director & Conductor
tour, most recently appearing
in p la c e s lik e L on d o n ,
England, and throughout
New York City. Their next
stop is Houston, TX, on April
15 as they share the stage
Wednesday, April 12 at 7:30 pm
with D ’Angelo and Mos Def.
The world's best-known brass quintet returns to
Also look for them on the
Portland for a fabulous evening of classical virtuosity
“Black & W hite” m ovie
and high-spirited entertainment.
so u n d track w h e re th ey
S u p p o rte d b y K IN K fm 1 0 2
collaborate on a serious track
with the Marley Bros & The
Tickets $18.75 - $50
Ghetto Youths Crew titled
*Orchestra does
"Dem Crazy ”
not perform.
Local resident, Robert H.
confirms th a t...”The Dead
Prez project is one o f the
most aggressive thus far in
2000. And sin ce Public
E nem y, likely the m ost
controversial. It’s a must
have; not just for the social
economic & political views
of the two M C’s. But it’s
entire lyrical co n ten t &
style.”
They’re giving it to you
straight, no chaser.
The Dead Prez are truly, and
just think, only in th eir
respected early 20’s ages,
ahead o f their time. But to
those o f us ready always
searching for that mental
medicine, they’re right on
time. So, wake up and pay
attention.
In an re c e n t BLA ZE
m agazine in terview , the
tw osom e explained their
reasoning over the now,
controversial CD cover. “The
artwork depicts a group of
South African students in
1976 dem onstrating over
C A N A D IA N B R A S S
IN R E C IT A L *