The all the time revolutionary lifeless prez isn’t holding again. The legends maintain it 100, whether or not discussing Barack Obama’s legacy, their one-time surprising collaboration with Jay-Z or their expertise with Kanye West. AllHipHop‘s Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur talks to lifeless prez members M-1 and Stic.man partially to have fun the twenty fifth anniversary of their groundbreaking album Let’s Get Free and secondly to discover their affect.
These are deep dives into lifeless prez’s revolutionary artistic course of, their plight with Loud Information and even their attention-grabbing views on gangs, often known as avenue tribes. They honor the highly effective affect Public Enemy Mobb Deep, The Black Panther Occasion, Curtis Mayfield and others. The duo additionally candidly addresses their rough-n-tumble experiences with the music business, leaving area for brand spanking new artistic ventures.
With a brand new guide and recent music on deck, the dpz proceed their mission of liberation and empowerment by way of motion and group. Actual Hip-Hop stays revolutionary. Beneath is a extremely redacted model of an hour-long video dialog between Jigsaw, M-1 and Stic.
AllHipHop: It’s been a minute, however we’re lastly speaking to the revolutionary duo lifeless prez—M-1 and Stic.Man—to have fun 25 years of their groundbreaking album Let’s Get Free. What’s good, fellas?
M-1: Salute, blessed to be right here, man.
AllHipHop: Let’s Get Free is 25 years previous. Are you able to replicate on the urgency and mindset throughout its creation?
Stic: Man, once we created Let’s Get Free, we didn’t even know if we’d get one other likelihood. We have been dealing with homelessness, uncertainty, and the business pressures. It was do-or-die. We went kamikaze, mentioned what wanted to be mentioned. The album is like our “desk of contents,” overlaying police brutality, wellness, sexuality, and psychological liberation.
M-1: Precisely. Brooklyn was our battleground. We have been revolutionary-minded, feeling the looming presence of white energy buildings that also dominate immediately. It was about fearless truth-telling.
AllHipHop: You famously collaborated with Prodigy on “Be Wholesome.” What was your relationship like?
M-1: Prodigy was deeply introspective and revolutionary-minded behind closed doorways. He didn’t care about business expectations. We revered him tremendously as an mental, as somebody well-read, pushing boundaries in his personal lane.
Stic: Mobb Deep was an enormous inspiration, from their beats to their gritty storytelling. They confirmed us tips on how to maintain it avenue and complex concurrently.
AllHipHop: Kanye West produced a remix for “Hip-Hop,” which stunned many. How did that occur?
M-1: Kanye used to hold round our classes—he was influenced by our message and even our style sense! He produced the “Nonetheless Greater Than Hip Hop” remix, which occurred organically as our tune gained momentum on MTV and BET.
AllHipHop: Did you conflict with Loud Information artistically?
Stic: Steve Rifkind believed in us however there was friction, in fact. Labels need snug artists, and we wished possession—masters, publishing—issues that matter.
AllHipHop: The phrase “Revolutionary however Gangster” paired with crimson, black, and inexperienced bandanas was provocative. Why select such controversial symbolism?
M-1: We spoke the language of avenue tribes to attach with warriors, aiming to unify gangs in opposition to a standard oppressive system. It was symbolic of our revolutionary strategy—organizing by way of avenue tradition.
Stic: Precisely. Gang tradition is in all places—police, politicians, companies—all are gangs. We used our artwork to indicate unity and energy. We have to bang for actual points: well being, group management, and liberation.
AllHipHop: Throughout Obama’s presidency, did you are feeling otherwise about America’s potential for change?
M-1: No, Obama was charismatic, clever, however he embodied neo-colonialism. He expanded U.S. navy presence in Africa considerably. It’s not about coloration, it’s about energy dynamics.
Stic: Obama had charisma, however policy-wise, nothing essentially modified. His symbolic worth was excessive, however actual systemic change didn’t observe. The system stays intact.
AllHipHop: What’s your tackle immediately’s Hip-Hop panorama?
Stic: It’s develop into monotonous and synthetic. Genuine messages are uncommon, which makes revolutionary music extra mandatory than ever. As we speak’s artists ought to seize this open lane and ship significant messages.
M-1: Hip-Hop now displays broader cultural points—capitalist exploitation and devaluation of artwork. There’s a void for artists genuinely dedicated to cultural integrity.
AllHipHop: What’s subsequent for lifeless prez?
M-1: We’ve a brand new guide dropping quickly, “Music Message Motion: lifeless prez’s Liner Notes For Liberation,” overlaying insights from our journey, together with working with Jay-Z.
Stic: New music is certainly coming. We’re right here to maintain drawing that line within the sand, pushing for well being, wellness, and group empowerment. Revolution doesn’t retire, it evolves.
AllHipHop: Your legacy is simple. Any last message?
Stic: Consistency is essential. Affect is the purpose. We keep grateful, grounded, and dedicated to the wrestle. Revolutionary love all the time.
M-1: A lot like to AllHipHop for maintaining it actual. We’ll maintain the dialog going so long as we’re respiratory.
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