Since its inception, the Definitive Jux label has reigned as the high king of intelligent, talent-driven hip-hop. And with Mr. Lif’s first full-length release on the label, the rule continues.
For those who are choking on the flashy images of Cadillac Escalades and platinum jewelry, the release “I Phantom” is a welcome departure from the consumer-driven rap MTV delights in shoving down the public’s collective throat.
“I Phantom” chronicles the struggle of a man to survive in a rapidly decaying world. The album starts with a dream sequence in which the main character dies while robbing a store and is resurrected by hip-hop. His alarm goes off, and it is time for work, with the bulk of the album focusing on temptation of capitalism’s fruit. The consequence is the loss of his family through divorce, neglect and suicide.
On “Live From the Plantation,” Mr. Lif raps “We are all being murdered by a similar process / whether you work at the candy store or slave at the office / the purpose of our life is just to serve the economy / they misinform our minds to paint a picture of harmony.”
The story climaxes with a nuclear holocaust — not the kind of subject matter veejays are likely to be prostituting during a “Spring Break in Cancun” broadcast.
But it’s not the politically caustic message that supports the album. It is Mr. Lif’s tight lyricism and the solid, diverse beats provided, in part, by Definitive Jux founder El-P that make “I Phantom” worth repeated listenings. Aesop Rock and Insight also contribute to the album.
Overall, “I Phantom” is meaty hip-hop — with more head-bobbing satisfaction than the usual mainstream fare.