There was a time when Definitive Jux (ne: Def Jux) seemed to be the future of hip hop. While the label features many experimental, boundary-pushing, and politically-minded acts, Lif stands out as a more “awake rapper” in the traditional sense. It was clear, however, that label head El-P considered it an important part of Def Jux’s identity, as the first record he released was in 2000. Enter the Colossus EP, from Lif.
Follow up of Mr. Lif was in 2002 Emergency Measures EP, a kind of full-length local I, Phantom after just a few months. It opens with a skit about the disappearance of Lif, who has apparently been kidnapped by government agents. In 2002, A fork he suggested that the episode was “unfortunate and sophomoric.” In 2026, it seems strange at a time when masked agents are disappearing undocumented immigrants, persecuting political opponents, and blocking established news organizations from the White House.
Even if the opening skit feels ham-fisted, the rest of the EP is enough to make up for it. What follows are seven tracks of fiery political rap, incredibly catchy hooks, and flawless production that runs the gamut from underground gothic, to classic boombap, and futuristic synth meltdowns.
What makes the relentless, rapid-fire dystopian lyricism less tiresome is the loose sense in which Lif plays the role of a revolutionary trying to organize an uprising in the face of an oppressive police state. “Let me tell you the story of my life, but I gotta be quick, and kick it, cause the Feds want me,” he raps on “Jugular Vein,” which serves as the EP’s mission statement. It shows his revolutionary ideas while enjoying the odd boast, such as “You can use Eddy, now I’m Dr. Bosconovitch,” referring to a character who is difficult to open up to. Episode 3.
However, I would argue that the Edan-produced “Heavily Artillery” is where the album really kicks off. The endless military march of drums, video game explosions, and low drones create the kind of chaotic backdrop that Lif’s urgent raps demand. In “Home of the Brave,” Lif gets more specific, calling out the policies of the Bush administration, the war in Afghanistan, and America’s thirst for foreign oil.
So the American people are happy while we kill their innocent families
And what better place to start a war,
But they built a pipeline, so they could get the oil they wanted before
America supported the Taliban to drive Russia out of Afghanistan
That’s how the arms came in
They are at war against the Northern Alliance
And we can’t build a pipeline in hostile areas
He spits these words over his beat, which includes sharp drums with war horns. Calling out corrupt politicians and the hypocrisy of America is nothing new, but after 9/11, the opposition often shouted quickly and sometimes violently. Lif wasn’t the only one to take on the Bush administration, but he was one of the first, along with Sage Francis. (In time rappers like Immortal Technique, Eminem, Mos Def, Jadakiss, and others would come forward, but they often resorted to conspiracy theories.)
“Pull Out Your Cut” is an old-school funk-infused tribute to Lif’s favorite rappers from the Wu-Tang Clan, to the Ultramagnetic MCs, and KRS-One. But it’s also a case of toxic masculinity, before such things became popular.
Boys play masculinity and don’t know why
A famous slogan that was never written is “boys shouldn’t cry”
Keep all those feelings bottled up – now what?
You can’t communicate when you’re old
“Get Wise ’91” sees Edan bounce back behind the boards and on the mic, while “The Unorthodox” is a tongue-in-cheek boombap piece.
The whole thing culminates in El-P’s production credit for the album’s single, “Phantom.” The synth line runs, full of rage as it echoes Lif’s thoughts of suffering under the unfair system that swirls in the background, reflecting the fading state of capitalism. It’s also an early example of El-P learning how to bend his post-apocalyptic beats, noise, and futuristic into something lyrical, as Lif closes his case against the status quo with a call to the people:
Single mother, who are you? (Thank you)
Office worker, who are you? (Thank you)
Caught in the show, who are you? (Thank you)
Tryin’ to make a living, who are you? (Thank you)
Depressed and unmotivated, who are you? (Thank you)
Hard-workin’, broke and tired, who are you? (Thank you)
Seek education, who are you? (Thank you)
Can’t move forward no matter what you do? (Thank you)
Unfortunately, with the dissolution of Definitive Jux, Mr. Lif Emergency Measures it can be difficult to get to (of course I, Phantomfor that matter). You can find it, unofficially, on YouTube and Bandcamp, but it’s not available on the major streaming platforms.
