Album Review: Mr. Lif – I Heard It Today (2009)

Album Review: Mr. Lif – I Heard It Today (2009)
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Potholes

I Heard It Today, the third full length album in Mr. Lif’s collection, is a politically charged record featuring some of Lif’s rawest lyrics delivered thus far in his career. Released just over a week away from Obama’s 100th day in office, the timing of the themes represented is perfect. Here, Lif doesn’t hold back one thing, if he isn’t pleased or confident in anything going on in the world, he discusses it. His dark production and lyrics produce a mood of disappointment and rebellion. On “Welcome to the World” Lif opens with a quick statement “Oh, I see, so we all supposed to start trusting the government again cause we got a friendlier face to it now, huh?” The first three tracks, all produced by Batsauce, cement the direction this album is going, DC. Lif screams “Enough is enough!” in the chorus of “What About Us” and later describes the current state of living; “It’s like we’re in a war without a heater or broke in a casino staring at the dealer”.

One of the biggest excitements listening to the album was the production credit for the record’s fourth track “Collapse The Walls”. It is here where fellow Bostonian and long time collaborator Edan laces Lif with a fantastic beat that Lif rides naturally. Lif raps about his frustration with taxes and living in a world where economy is dominant. “This world only exists for monetary cause // We should use our mind power to collapse the walls”. A few tracks later a new issue is addressed in relentless fashion. On “Gun Fight”, Metro offers his hand for the first verse with a narrative of a run-in with the police reminiscent of Jay-Z’s second verse on “99 Problems”.

Mr. Lif switches up the tempo a bit on “Head High”. The more laid back, less aggressive approach gives a few minutes to relax and absorb all that Lif is trying to say. The album wraps up with the album’s title track and the latest single “The Sun”. On the latter, Lif rhymes over a beat that would appear a little out of place unless made completely fitting by Lif’s ability to keep it relevant. The beat may seem more upbeat than the rest of the album, but Lif isn’t about to brighten up. “Emcees will be the vessel as long as they don’t aim // The minds of our youth toward material games // If this starts to happens then you’ll turn to the captain // That’s when you’ll find me checking in // Ready for action”.

I Heard It Today is definitely an album with something important to say, and one the deserves to be recognized. In just under 40 minutes, Mr. Lif has undoubtedly made his point, the present is a time in need of much change, and it’s going to take more than one person to do it.