Mr Lif-

Recently I preordered Mr. Lif’s latest album with a little trepidation.  He’s last offering, the totally abysmal “Black Dialog”, is something that belongs at the bottom of the sea.  However, I had heard a cut off of “Mo’ Mega” that I enjoyed and was also very pleased to hear that El-P was handling the production.   El-P is one producer/DJ that I absolutely love.  His crazy electro blend of hip hop is never imitated and always refreshing.  The instrumentals in “Mo’ Mega” don’t disappoint.  In fact, if you like El-P you will be more than happy with what’s contained in this disk.   With the exception of “Wash it up” and “Murz is my Manager” all the tracts are trademark El-P burners.

The lyrics on the album are good and encompass subject matter that Lif is usually known for.  Overall you won’t find the steady rhyming massacre that’s found in “I Phantom”.   Think about more of his roots with “Enter the Colossus” and you will understand the feel of the album a bit better.  Save “Murz is my Manager”, there aren’t the rapid fire rhymes that Mr. Lif can be known for and best exhibited on “Medical Aid”, a stupendous battle rhyme done with Akrobatik.  In this album Lif accentuates his trademark Bostonian drawl using it to emphasize his direct rhyming words.  It comes off feeling good.  Too many times I think MC’s feel like they have to rhyme quickly in order to be taken seriously.  Sure rhyming speed is interesting I’m much more interested in novelty in rhyme style.  “Mo’ Mega”, although it harkens back to Lif’s previous work, does show off his personal style, which I really appreciate.

Overall I like this album but there is some definite fat that needs to be trimmed.   “Long Distance” and “Wash it up” are completely unnecessary mainly because the lyrical content is tired and honestly done much better by other MCs.  “Murz is my Manager” which I like because it shows good chemistry with Murs is better suited for a B-sides/EP disc.  I really like that song, some of the lyrics are hilarious, but it muddies an otherwise excellent album. Other than that, everything else seems to be well placed and though out.   The riskiest song on the album has to be the “For You”.   It’s risky for two reasons.  One the lyrical contest normally sucks.  It’s a song to his unborn baby which can come off as insanely campy.  Lif somehow manages to make it sound honest discussing his development to wanting to have children and his fears about raising a kid in the state of the world we are in.  It’s a nice use of using the idea of having children as a vehicle for discussing the world’s problems.  Not everyone can do it but Lif pulls it off.  The second reason the song is risky is due to the nature of the instrumentals.  El-P places in a loop that sounds like an out of tune and off beat piano.  It’s a nuts-o sound but somehow it works.  I think it’s due mainly to the nature of the subject matter.  The out of tune and off beat piano loops makes it sound like a child is trying to play along with the instrumentals, sounds crazy but it’s really good.

Overall I think I can recommend this album fully.   If you like El-P and Lif’s previous work then this will be a welcome addition to your collection.  The album could use a bit of refinement but great production and solid lyrics provide for an overall enjoyable album.