Hailing from sunny Florida
Dead Prez is comprising of two lyricists, Sticman and M-1. These two rappers are social activists with a big emphasis on Black Power or Pro-Black movement. You won't find much positive comments about the white race. They're not necessarily racists but they don't have much love for white people in top position in power and the government. Socialism is a recurring theme in many of their songs they believe we shouldn't all be working so hard to become above others, rather help each other and just enjoy yourself.
The album starts off with
Wolves with a man who sounds like a preacher telling a story about Wolves and people in the Arctic.
Quote:
I'm not a hunter but I am told,
that, uh, in places like in the arctic,
where indigenous people sometimes
might, might, hunt a wolf,
they'll take a double edged blade,
and they'll put blood on the blade,
and they'll melt the ice and stick the handle in the ice,
so that only the blade is protruding,
and that a wolf will smell the blood and wants to eat,
and it will come and lick the blade trying to eat,
and what happens is when the wolf licks the blade,
of course, he cuts his tongue, and he bleeds,
and he thinks he's really having a good thing,
and he drinks and he licks and he licks,
and of course he is drinking his own blood and he kills himself,
thats what the Imperialists did with us with crack cocaine,
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So you see where this is going, he basically says white men in power are trying to keep black people in low places.
The first real song is
I'm a African this is a song about being proud to be a Black person. They say they aren't African-American but African and that African-American is a less empowering title. They also touch on how they understand the events in USA and the world, and are not a bunch of ignorant idiots.
Throughout the album Sticman and M-1 cover many different topics quite well and keep their lyrics flowing nicely and beats pounding, so this isn't just a bunch of boring music with a good message. That seems to plague some political artists, they keep the message but forget they have to keep it musically interesting.
They Schools deals with the lack of Black history in public education and brainwashes people so they are easily controlled. If you have ever watched an episode of
Chappelles Show youve heard the beat from
Hip-Hop a deep sliding bass line that kicks ass. Songs like
Police State, Behind Enemy Lines and
Assassination all deal with political corruption in different ways; police, prison and murders of Black leaders respectively.
One of the true standouts on the album is
Animal in Man. This track shows some serious creativity from the duo. Most of you have heard the story of
Animal Farm by George Orwell, well this song is a social statement made through that story. It has a good beat and some well done acoustic guitars that compliment the beat perfectly.
Quote:
Now check it
This is when that sh*t got hectic
Directed by Hannibal, the animals attacked
Old Sam was in a state of shock
And fell up on his back
And dropped his rifle
Reaching in vain
Each and every creature from the field at his throat
Screaming kill, feel the pain.
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Youll Find a Way is an instrumental with a simple thumping beat and a brass horn solo overtop of it, something not found on your usual rap record.
Mind Sex is another musical oddity considering the subject matter. It puts getting to know the woman youre interested in above getting into her pants. In the current swamp of bitches and hos this is incredibly refreshing coming from a rap artist.
This is one of those albums that isnt necessarily ground-breaking but is so far away from anything that gets airplay it gives hope for the Hip-Hop genre. If you cant handle the strong Pro-Black lyrics you may want to steer clear of this one. Again its not really aimed at white people in general, more at the ones in power. The album stays interesting lyrically and musically, what more can you ask for?
Final Rating:
4/5
Recommended Tracks:
Animal in Man
Behind Enemy Lines
Hip-Hop
Psychology
Propaganda
