Former Def Jux rapper Mr. Lif has been a little quiet lately, having not put out any new material since 2006's Mo' Mega. So far, 2009 has been a little more active for Mr. Lif, with the release of the inauguration anthem "Obama" on January 20. Now, the rapper is prepping the release of a new album titled I Heard It Today on April 21. The album will be coming out on his newly minted Bloodbot Tactical Enterprises.
In a September 2008 post to the Def Jux website, Lif described the political nature of the project, saying, "I hope to raise awareness through these songs. I hope to inspire increased conversation about important topics. Maybe more than anything else, I hope to inspire whoever comes in contact with these songs to follow their dreams relentlessly and never quit. I present myself to you in this era as a man who has faced far more adversity than he ever thought he could handle. None of this would be possible had I not turned to the people who support me most and used their love as a platform to flourish."
Three tracks from the album, as well as the "Obama" single, can now be streamed on Lif's MySpace page. Besides the album, he'll be spending April, May and June on a large North American tour that will kick off with Canadian stops in Victoria and Vancouver.
I Heard It Today tracklisting:
1. "Welcome to the World"
2. "What About Us?"
3. "Breathe (feat. Bahamadia)"
4. "Collapse the Walls"
5. "Folkore (feat. Dumbtron & Vinnie Paz)"
6. "Police Brutality (Scene)"
7. "Gun Fight (feat. Metro)"
8. "PNN 1"
9. "Hatred"
10. "Homecoming (Scene)"
11. "Head High"
12. "I Heard It Today"
13. "The Sun"
14. "Dawn"
Mr. Lif tour dates:
4/17 Victoria, BC - Sugar Night Club
4/18 Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore Cabaret
4/20 Seattle, WA - Nuemos
4/21 Portland, OR - Holocene
4/24 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
5/1 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
5/2 Denver, CO - The Marquis Theatre
5/20 Baltimore, ML - The Ottobar
5/21 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 56
5/22 Mt. Pleasant, SC - The Village Tavern
5/23 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
5/25 Jacksonville, FL - Jack Rabbits
5/30 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
6/1 Dallas, TX - Palladium Loft
6/2 Austin, TX - Red 7
6/3 Little Rock, AK - Sticky Fingerz
6/5 Omaha, NE - Waiting Room
6/6 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club
6/9 Chicago, IL - The Abbey Pub
6/10 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
6/12 Columbus, OH - Skully's Music Diner
6/13 Cleveland, OH - The Grog Shop
In a September 2008 post to the Def Jux website, Lif described the political nature of the project, saying, "I hope to raise awareness through these songs. I hope to inspire increased conversation about important topics. Maybe more than anything else, I hope to inspire whoever comes in contact with these songs to follow their dreams relentlessly and never quit. I present myself to you in this era as a man who has faced far more adversity than he ever thought he could handle. None of this would be possible had I not turned to the people who support me most and used their love as a platform to flourish."
Three tracks from the album, as well as the "Obama" single, can now be streamed on Lif's MySpace page. Besides the album, he'll be spending April, May and June on a large North American tour that will kick off with Canadian stops in Victoria and Vancouver.
I Heard It Today tracklisting:
1. "Welcome to the World"
2. "What About Us?"
3. "Breathe (feat. Bahamadia)"
4. "Collapse the Walls"
5. "Folkore (feat. Dumbtron & Vinnie Paz)"
6. "Police Brutality (Scene)"
7. "Gun Fight (feat. Metro)"
8. "PNN 1"
9. "Hatred"
10. "Homecoming (Scene)"
11. "Head High"
12. "I Heard It Today"
13. "The Sun"
14. "Dawn"
Mr. Lif tour dates:
4/17 Victoria, BC - Sugar Night Club
4/18 Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore Cabaret
4/20 Seattle, WA - Nuemos
4/21 Portland, OR - Holocene
4/24 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
5/1 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
5/2 Denver, CO - The Marquis Theatre
5/20 Baltimore, ML - The Ottobar
5/21 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 56
5/22 Mt. Pleasant, SC - The Village Tavern
5/23 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
5/25 Jacksonville, FL - Jack Rabbits
5/30 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
6/1 Dallas, TX - Palladium Loft
6/2 Austin, TX - Red 7
6/3 Little Rock, AK - Sticky Fingerz
6/5 Omaha, NE - Waiting Room
6/6 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club
6/9 Chicago, IL - The Abbey Pub
6/10 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
6/12 Columbus, OH - Skully's Music Diner
6/13 Cleveland, OH - The Grog Shop