I Heard it Today - Mr.Lif :: Album Review

Interested in taking it back to the days of albums laced with political undertones alongside rhyming that'll make u rewind a track thrice to hear what the hell they just said? If yes, you may wanna scoop up I Heard It Today; Mr.Lif's third studio album from Bloodbot Tactical Enterprises. Due to hit the scene on the 21st of April... 8 days before Obama's 100th day in office; Mr.Lif grabs the opportunity to pose his questions. Will things change now that there's a black president, should we now trust the government? He addresses the health care system, (or lack there of), speaks on the housing crisis, and commented on the Jeremiah Wright incidents.

Lyrically, aside from all the political undertones, the album doesn't disappoint. His rhyme skills sit on the beat and he rides them perfectly w/ no worry of falling off. Each song has a strong and consistent flow that will have you hanging on to the edge of his tongue. With beat makers like Edan who specialize in 60's rock samples, echoey sounds, and foreign language choruses... Headnodic, bassist and producer of the Crown City Rockers... J. Zone who's worked w/ the likes of Pete Rock, Gnarls Barkley, Devin The Dude, (the list goes on)... Batsauce, Therapy, and Willie Evans Jr.; there's no wonder why the beats on this album are so innovative and sick! Percussions, loops, scratches, star trek type sounds... let's just say I'd listen to the instrumentals of this album all day, ayyy day.

Mr. Lif chose less than a handful of people to add flavor to the album. Bahamadia w/ her sexy "let me make sweet love to this beat" type flow, seduces the track Breathe. Folklore, one of the best tracks in terms of word flow, features Dumbtron and Vinnie Paz of Jedi Mind Tricks. Gun Fight features the gritty rhymes of Metro as they flow over news reports, sirens, drum machines and exploding bombs before a climactic ending.

My faves from the album... Hatred opens w/ a drum line reminiscent of an HBCU's that makes me want to drop a freestyle, uhmmm if I could. ;p. It has a perfect build up to the content of the song *think Black Panther march*, it speaks on the self hatred that is still running rampant in our black community; "a people w/ no foundation stand naked, look in the mirror and sever the hatred". Head High has a mid tempo groove perfect for Mr.Lif's flow that he raps; "I could rhyme for days on this beat, let me retreat, smoke a little sticky green leaf!". The Sun is beautifully accentuated by the choir in the background and the synthesizers lacing the track. This track speaks of hope in our future... "he's the hope that'll gleam when things seem useless".

Where as I think this album was lyrically strong; it had mad flowing skills, beats were off the heezy...I think the political content was overbearing. It is interesting, and I'm happy to hear his views, but after a while it feels like you're reading the editorial section of a paper. It would've been nice to hear about non-political issues in the country or about the positive things that are going on as well.

PinkBubbleGum gives I Heard It Today 5.5 out of 7 Nods

Head Nod Scale
1=Don't waste your time like I did mine.
2=Waste your time like I did mine but I dare you to disagree.
3=Well, there was the single.
4=If it were a hand in spades there's "two and a possible".
5=It's a "good" album. Meaning at least 3 or 4 solid songs.
6=Really Good Project. Has the "Rewind Factor" more than once.
7=The number of completion. Great Album. Instant Classic.