Mr. Lif

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Mr. Lif
Mrliflive.jpg
Mr. Lif live at Pitchfork Music Festival, July 30, 2006
Background information
Birth nameJeffrey Michael Haynes [1]
Born (1977-12-28) December 28, 1977 (age 46)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Genres Hip hop, alternative hip hop, political hip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, record producer
Years active1995–present
Labels
Website mrlif.bandcamp.com
therealmrlif.com

Jeffrey Michael Haynes (born December 28, 1977), better known by his stage name Mr. Lif, is an American rapper from Boston, Massachusetts. While being praised because of his political lyrics, he has released two studio albums on Definitive Jux and one on Bloodbot Tactical Enterprises. Mr. Lif is also a member of the hip hop group The Perceptionists with long-time friends and collaborators Akrobatik and DJ Fakts One.

Contents

Early life

Haynes grew up in the neighborhood of Brighton, Boston, Massachusetts. [3] After attending the Dedham private school Noble and Greenough School, he went on to attend Colgate University for two years, and he eventually dropped out. He became a performer in 1994. Mr. Lif's family ancestry is Bajan.

Haynes adopted the stage name "Mr. Lif" after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms at an outdoor Phish concert during his freshman year at Colgate University in 1994. He imagined a fictional character called The Liftedly Man while under the influence, which gave way to "Mr. Lif". [3] He later said in an interview for the Times Colonist : "I don't know any Phish songs. I went to the show, and I still don't know anything about them now." [3]

Career

Influenced by legendary MC's like Chuck D, KRS-One, and Rakim, Mr. Lif began releasing singles in the late '90s, when party rap and gangsta rap were the dominant styles for hip hop music, but Mr. Lif's lyrical agenda was a political and socially conscious one. Mr. Lif released his first single, Elektro, in 1998, attracting the attention of labels Grand Royal and Definitive Jux. Working closely with producer and Definitive Jux label head El-P, Lif released a series of critically acclaimed singles and EPs, starting with Enters the Colossus in 2000. In 2000 and 2001, he won the Boston Music Award for Outstanding Rap/Hip Hop Act. [4] Touring kept him busy for the next year, but he still found time to release the Cro-Magnon single and a live CD. His track "Pull Out Your Cut" was featured in the soundtrack to the ESPN Video Game ESPN NFL 2K5.

In 2002, Mr. Lif released a pair of concept releases. The Emergency Rations EP bookended collaborations with Edan and Akrobatik in an MC abduction scenario, while the I Phantom full-length formed a saga that led him from birth to apocalypse. He revisited his Akrobatik collaboration in 2005, when the pair joined producer DJ Fakts One to form The Perceptionists, who released Black Dialogue, also on Definitive Jux. One year later, he returned with Mo' Mega, his follow-up to I Phantom, featuring eight productions from El-P and features from Murs, Aesop Rock, and Blueprint. [5] Mr. Lif has also collaborated with Otis Grove, Thievery Corporation and Anomie Belle. [6]

I Heard It Today was released on Bloodbot Tactical Enterprises in 2009. Mr Lif embraced I Heard It Today using the album as a tool to address various political issues affecting people all over the world. I Heard It Today is the third full-length studio album by Mr. Lif. The album was released on April 21, 2009, on Mr. Lif's own label Bloodbot Tactical Enterprises. Mr. Lif has stated that the album is "dedicated to capturing the pulse of this tumultuous era we're living through."

In June 2014, Mr. Lif announced on his Facebook that he is working on an album with The Polish Ambassador that will be released in the fall. [7] In September 2014, the pair embarked on a national 5-week Permaculture Action tour with fellow musicians Ayla Nereo and Liminus. The musicians performed 4–5 days a week and then participated in weekly "Permaculture Action Days" where they held permaculture themed events and activities within the communities they were visiting. The tour raised over $40,000. [8]

Lif is also a vocalist for Thievery Corporation and a member of the band's live performance group. In 2011, Lif recorded the title track to their 2012 album, "Culture of Fear". He continues to tour with the band today. [9] Lif also appears on 2017 album "The Temple Of I & I", performing two tracks – the single "Ghetto Matrix" and "Fight To Survive", and on 2 further tracks from the 2018 album "Treasures from the Temple", [10] "History and "Joy Ride".

Discography

Albums

EPs

Collaborations

Related Research Articles

Definitive Jux was a record label based in New York City. It was co-founded in 1999 by El-P and Amaechi Uzoigwe.

<i>Enters the Colossus</i> 2000 EP by Mr. Lif

Enters the Colossus is the debut EP by American hip hop artist Mr. Lif. It was released November 14, 2000, on the Def Jux record label.

<i>Emergency Rations</i> (EP) 2002 EP by Mr. Lif

Emergency Rations is the second EP by American rapper Mr. Lif, released on June 25, 2002, by Definitive Jux. It was recorded at Bandulero Sound in Berlin, Boston Butta Beats in Boston, and The Pool Room in New York City.

<i>I Phantom</i> Album by Mr. Lif

I Phantom is the debut studio album by American rapper Mr. Lif. It was produced mostly by alternative hip hop artist El-P, among others, at Boston Butta Beats in Boston and the New York City-based Steel Acres, The Danger Room, and Def Jux Studios. Mr. Lif composed I Phantom as a concept album about the working life of an African American who is pressured into pursuing the dubious rewards of the American dream.

The Perceptionists is an American hip hop group from Boston, Massachusetts. The group initially had three members: Mr. Lif, Akrobatik, and DJ Fakts One. The group was signed to the Definitive Jux label. In 2005, the trio released a studio album, Black Dialogue. Shortly after the release of Black Dialogue, DJ Fakts One left the group. In 2017, they released their second studio album Resolution, with Mr. Lif and Akrobatik as the only two members of the group performing on the album.

Edan Portnoy, better known mononymously as Edan, is an American hip hop artist from Rockville, Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akrobatik</span> American rapper (born 1974)

Jared K. Bridgeman, better known by his stage name Akrobatik, is an American rapper from the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. He is also a part of the hip hop collective named The Perceptionists with Mr. Lif and DJ Fakts One, which released Black Dialogue in 2005.

<i>Mo Mega</i> 2006 studio album by Mr. Lif

Mo' Mega is the second solo studio album by American hip hop artist Mr. Lif. It was released by Definitive Jux on June 13, 2006. It peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, as well as number 31 on the Independent Albums chart.

<i>Live at the Middle East</i> (Mr. Lif album) 2002 live album by Mr. Lif

Live at the Middle East is a 2002 live album by underground hip-hop artist Mr. Lif. The album, released on Ozone Records, was recorded live at The Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub in Cambridge, MA. The performance includes appearances by fellow Perceptionists lyricist Akrobatik and DJ Akbar.

<i>Black Dialogue</i> 2005 studio album by The Perceptionists

Black Dialogue is the debut studio album by American hip hop group The Perceptionists. It was released on Definitive Jux on March 22, 2005.

<i>Definitive Jux Presents III</i> 2004 compilation album by various artists

Definitive Jux Presents III is a 2004 compilation album released by American hip hop record label Definitive Jux. It peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart.

<i>Definitive Jux Teaser 2005</i> 2005 compilation album by Various Artists

Def Jux Teaser 2005 is a 2005 compilation album released by American hip hop record label Definitive Jux.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DJ Fakts One</span> American hip hop DJ & producer

Fakts One is an American hip hop DJ & producer from Boston, Massachusetts. Fakts One was a founding member of the hip hop group The Perceptionists with long-time collaborators Akrobatik and Mr. Lif but left the group shortly after release of their first album Black Dialogue.

The Mighty Underdogs is an American hip hop supergroup from the San Francisco Bay Area. It consists of rappers Gift of Gab and Lateef the Truthspeaker and producer Headnodic.

The following is an incomplete discography for Definitive Jux, an independent hip hop record label based in New York City, United States. Artists such as El-P, Aesop Rock, Cannibal Ox, Mr. Lif, RJD2, and Cage have released records through Definitive Jux.

<i>Absolute Value</i> (album) 2008 studio album by Akrobatik

Absolute Value is the second studio album by Boston rapper Akrobatik. It was released on February 19, 2008 by Fat Beats Records. The album features guest appearances by hip hop artists Talib Kweli, Chuck D, and B-Real, as well as production by 9th Wonder, Illmind, J Dilla, and Da Beatminerz. Despite receiving rave reviews, the album sold about 600 units in its opening week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Lif discography</span>

The discography of Mr. Lif, an American hip hop artist from Boston, Massachusetts, consists of three full-length studio albums, two EPs, one live album, two compilation albums and ten singles. Four music videos for his songs have been produced.

<i>Balance</i> (Akrobatik album) 2003 studio album by Akrobatik

Balance is the first studio album by Boston rapper Akrobatik. It was released on May 20, 2003 by Coup D'État. It ranked at number 4 on CMJ's "Hip-Hop 2003" chart.

<i>I Heard It Today</i> 2009 studio album by Mr. Lif

I Heard It Today is the third solo studio album by American hip hop artist Mr. Lif. It was released by Bloodbot Tactical Enterprises on April 21, 2009. Written at "the dawn of the Obama administration", the album is "dedicated to capturing the pulse of a tumultuous era in the United States."

<i>Resolution</i> (The Perceptionists album) 2017 studio album by The Perceptionists

Resolution is the second studio album by American hip hop group The Perceptionists. It was released on Mello Music Group on July 28, 2017. Music videos were created for "Hose Down" and "Free at Last".

References

  1. ↑ "FIGHT TO SURVIVE". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Welcome to Enemy Soil". February 12, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 "A Phish tale the source of Boston rapper's stage name". Times Colonist . Victoria, British Columbia. 2006.
  4. ↑ "Mr. Lif Wins Big at the 2001 Boston Music Awards". Hip-Hop Elements. April 24, 2001.
  5. ↑ "Mr Lif". NME. 2007.
  6. ↑ Blodgett, Tom (September 5, 2009). "Anomie Belle w/ Mr. Lif @ Bumbershoot". Seattle Subsonic. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Mr. Lif". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Polish Ambassador's Permaculture Action Tour". Indiegogo. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Culture of Fear".
  10. ↑ "Treasures from the Temple".
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