I Heard It Today

by Mr. Lif

It's clear from the very beginning of this album that Mr. Lif is not exactly impressed with the way things are going in America today, and he's using most of this album to express his opinions and call people out.

It's become increasingly rare for a hip-hop artist to take a stance on anything that's actually important, and I like that he's not easily lulled into submission by Obama's massive popularity. Songs like 'What About Us?' and 'I Heard it Today' rail against government, bankers, and people in the real estate market. Lif's writing is more intelligent than ever, and his messages deserve to be heard by a wide audience.

In terms of production, this album is a little light. Most of the beats are by some guy named Batsauce (such an unfortunate name), although there are contributions from Edan, J-Zone, Therapy, Headnodic, and Willie Evans Jr (who needs to do more stuff). The over-all sound would fit well within the Def Jux catalogue, although there is no sign of El-P on this album.

Crate Digging: Absolute Value

by Akrobatik

I know this cd isn't that old, but I hadn't listened to it for a while, and thought I'd give it another play.

Akrobatik really sounds good on this disk. It's a very nicely balanced album, including crowd-pleasers and quieter, more introspective songs. I find that the middle of the album is the best, with songs like 'Rain', 'Be Prepared', and 'Black Hell Breaks Loose'.

'Kindred' is a nice track, comparing the experiences of slaves in the South to those of victims of Hurricane Katrina. I like the hook and the way he worked a parallel structure into the song, but I do find Chuck D.'s part more than a little preachy.

Speaking of preachy, 'Front Steps Pt. II' is Akro "kick[ing] the truth to the young black youth." It works really well to me, and contains messages that are antithetical to most commercial hip-hop today. Finally, 'Back Home to You' rounds out the album, featuring Akro's promise to his wife. This song is a nice contrast to the Atmosphere track of the same name; Akrobatik comes off sounding much less needy than Slug...

The production on this album is top notch. There are individual songs by Dilla, Hezekiah, J-Zone and 9th Wonder, but the bulk of the work is by Illmind and Therapy, who both come very correct. Even with so many producers, this is a very consistent album. Other guest appearances include Talib Kweli, Little Brother, Mr. Lif, and Willie Evans Jr.