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So, it's obviously been a while since the blog has been updated.  I've been through several record/ep release shows.  They were great, props to Kevin Kerby + Battery, Good Time Ramblers, & The See.  Each released disc of music has been amazing.

However, to cut to the chase, Mr. Lif came to town.  Let me back up a few things really quickly.  Lif is a distinguished alum of Def Jux Records.  I have yet to hear a bad artist come from that label, and I've heard most of them.  Aesop Rock, C-Rayz Walz & El-P have all been signed at one point in time to Def Jux, and if you haven't heard any of their stuff, educate yourself on good hip hop music.

Lif is a small dude.  I mean, I was standing next to him and he couldn't have been more than 5'5".  I had heard some of his stuff before and seen photos, but I would've never guessed him to be so small.  Putting that fact aside, when Lif came out to spit rhymes, he seemed nearly 7'  tall.  He is potentially one of the most socially concious hip hop artists I've heard in a long while.  I figure it this way, think Talib Kweli and cut out half of the funky music and beats and you've got Mr. Lif.  His style is definitely more pared down than several similar rappers out there, but he had the bravado to carry it and get his message across.  Speaking of, one of his most politically fueled moments on Stickyz' stage was an a capella rap blasting McDonalds. I, along with the 20 or so other people in attendance, were literally blown away by his mastery of his craft.  His skill alone impressed me beyond belief, but then you add the four or five massive dreadlocks he has, and you're done for.  He really is a unique guy.

I could probably go on and on about him, but I won't bore you to tears.  Willie Evans Jr., another exceptionally talented rapper opened up the evening.  He looped some Stevie Wonder in to one of his songs, and it was great.  Evans was a genuinely funny guy who had smiles for everyone during his set.  He was talented and didn't leave a single one of us disappointed.

Lif had backup in the form of DJ Sonny James and Keef Metro.  James certainly knows his way around a set of turntables, and Metro was there to step in and spit some rhymes at various times.  All of these combined made for one of the most memorable nights in hip hop that I've had since I saw C-Rayz Walz open up for Talib Kweli in March 2007.  It's been a long time and I've been jonesing for some honest to goodness hip hop in Little Rock.  The shows are very few and far between, but when they arrive you better believe things are going to get stupid crazy.  Here's hoping that the whole of Little Rock takes that in to account and starts booking more and more good hip hop.  We certainly need it here, and this group of very talented men just prove what's missing here.

--L