by BBG

"Edan and Paten Locke last night at The Knitting Factory... the illest rap show I've seen in years..." -junksciencerap

"Edan at knitting factory, so dope." -moesuli

"I felt weird wearing a Mr. Lif shirt when Mr. Lif came on stage. I left as soon as the encore ended. I didn't wanna be #thatguy. #nogroupie" -greenspam

Edan and Mr Lif at Knitting Factory on Tuesday (via & via)

" In his finale set, Edan did it accapella, spitting a, what seemed like, infinite rhyming masterpiece without missing a beat or taking a breath. He brings a level of intellectualism to his lyricism and it shows with his fan base, many of who remained after the show ended in small clusters to discuss the performance." [DD172]

Mr. Lif also made an unannounced appearance at Tuesday's Edan show (8/24) at Knitting Factory which doubled as a screening for Edan's film, 'Echo Party'.

And another Edan Brooklyn show has been announced. This time he'll appear as part of a "Bowling for Beats" event at Brooklyn Bowl on 9/26 which will be co-headlined by Pete Rock and Prince Paul, with other sets from J-Zone, and J57 (Brown Bag All-Stars), and Psycho Les (of the Beatnuts). Tickets should be on sale soon.

And while we're "Bowling for Beats", why not get "Lyrics To Go", as DJ Evil Dee, Mr. Walt, the X Factor Boogie Blind, and New Beatminerz will spin at a Labor Day party at Brooklyn Bowl on September 5. Tickets are on sale.

Questlove will spin at Brooklyn Bowl every Thursday in September. On 8/31, he and his crew The Roots will be the focus of a listening party for their upcoming LP Wake Up! with John Legend. The event is free, but the upcoming Roots/John Legend live show at Terminal 5 on 9/23 is NOT. Tickets are on sale Monday (8/30) at noon.

Video of Edan at Knitting Factory is below...

Continue reading "Mr Lif joined Edan @ Knitting Factory, Edan joins Pete Rock & Prince Paul @ Brooklyn Bowl (and other upcoming events)"

DOWNLOAD: Mr Lif - The Sun (MP3)

"There is no doubt that change is upon us. Thankfully we have Mr. Lif to provide the soundtrack for a remarkably historic time in our nation. Lif's "I Heard It Today" is a bellwether of social truths that will be brought directly to the people - opening at SXSW in Austin Texas on March 20 and concluding on June 13 in Cleveland Ohio. Mr. Lif's continually progressing talent has been praised by countless publications and musicians alike, not to mention the rabid fan base this Boston-bred MC has cultivated along the way. This is the latest chapter in Lif's prolific legacy of top-notch lyricism, an unmatched charisma and ear for top-notch production. With Statik aka Mr. Sonny James (of Illvibe Collective) on the wheels, and openers Grieves and Willie Evans Jr. these shows are not to be missed!" [Press Release]

Before Mr. Lif heads to Austin for SXSW, he'll make an appearance at The New Museum in NYC. That happens to be tonight (3/13). When he gets back, he'll hit The Studio at Webster Hall (April 11th). All dates below...

Continue reading "Mr Lif - 2009 Tour Dates (New Museum tonight, Studio, SXSW)"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Mr Lif - "Presidential Report, Vol. 1" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Mr Lif - "Presidential Report, Vol. 2" (MP3)

Mr Lif returns! The now former Def Jux representative has inked a NYC show in his calendar, Nov 4th at the Knitting Factory, with P.Casso & the A-OK Collective plus Breezy Brewin' (of indie hip hop heroes The Juggaknots). Tickets are on sale.

Mr Lif dropped Mo Mega on Def Jux in 2006, but 2009 will see the release of his new record I Heard It Today on his OWN label Bloodbot Tactical Enterprises. Due on Inauguration Day (January 20th), Lif will drop "1-2 songs every three weeks until Election Day" and one song following the election with his "post-electoral thoughts". All the songs will be collected and released with bonus unreleased material as I Heard It Today. J-Zone, Edan, and Illmind have all contributed production to I Heard It Today (you'll only be able to catch Edan perform this weekend at ATP with special guest Dagha).

Mr Lif has been commenting on the news via a series of free tracks he calls "Presidential Reports" (first two available for download above). Lif is also videoblogging on his "I Heard It Today News Network".

The Knitting Factory show will be hosted by John Robinson and WKCR's own DJ Sucio Smash, who can be found every friday from 1-5AM on 89.9 (aka 89 Tek 9) hosting Squeeze Radio (podcast here) with Timm See, spinning the latest in indie hip hop. The 1-5AM friday shift has long been a revered place on WKCR, most notably held by the now legendary The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show in the mid-nineties. Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito's show, which was named by the Source Magazine (before that whole Benzino nonsense) as "the best hip hop show of all time", also centered around indie hip hop and featured freestyles by then up and coming artists like Biggie Smalls (before he changed his name to The Notorious B.I.G.), Big L, Cam'ron & Ma$e (then known as Killa Cam & Murda Mase), Wu-Tang Clan, and sooooo many more. Stretch has posted some of those legendary freestyles for download over at his blog.