Mr. Lif Freestyle 1997

This is from waaaaaaaay back in the early days at The Western Front. Not 100% sure this is 1996, but no later than 1997. Lif was largely unknown at this time, just getting a little airplay on WERS. He used to come down every week or two and just kill it.

His dreads were tiny then too.

Here is the freestyle joint.

Def Jux Freestyle 2001

Here is a juicy mp3 from the second-to-last Co-Flow show in 2001 before El and Len split. This 5-minute session weaves in and out of freestyles and writtens, and includes El-P, Copywrite, Vast Aire and Aesop Rock. Aesop had just signed with Jux, and I remember him basically walking into the venue at midnight, fresh of the bus, and walked right on stage ... and I'm thinking, "who the hell is this guy?"

Boston Globe feature 1996

Back when we were young and I had a good head of hair. This was the first big exposure for us, and helped open a few doors. Funny to look back at how corny it all is, and how misunderstood hip-hop was by the media at that time ..... "an offspring of rap." LOL. I will say though, the thing it does capture is how much fun we were having back then, no bullshit. It was just a bunch of people listening to music, having some drinks and hanging out .... didn't feel like work, just good times.

Where the hell was O'Neal for the photo shoot? Still at college I guess.

Show Flyers - 1996/1997

Here are 4 flyers from the early days at The Western Front. The flyer on the lower left was the first "real" flyer we ever did. We walked in to Biscuithead Records one day and asked if they wanted to be our sponsor (back when I was doing the hand-drawn flyers seen below). Bruno was down, but politely said, "you need to do better than this," and hooked us up to get his boy Adam/Res-One to design the flyer. Biscuithead was a sponsor off and on for years --- and even though their records were EXPENSIVE, they had the best bootlegs and all the latest underground.

This was also the first flyer that featured Pimpgear as a sponsor. Pimpgear was around before we were even serious about doing anything. I met Rocky at a party (and later married his sister!), and he offered to throw us some t-shirts as an event sponsor. This began a long friendship and partnership ---- nobody repped Pimpgear more than we did.

We also have an EDO.G show --- We were so freakin' gassed to do that show, even though we lost money because the weather was horrendous. The flyer was done by Target from Steelo Magazine. I had to drive to an ATM after the show to pay him. I tried to convince him to just come back for a different show, but he wasn't having it! We became good friends later, and managed his career for a number of years.

Check the God Complex flyer .... Esoteric, 7L & Karma ---- ah the good old days.

The Perceptionists - 2003

Akrobatik, Mr. Lif and DJ Fakts One perform "Show Starter" at Aesop Rock's Bazooka Tooth Release Party (2003).

Akrobatik (2003)

Akro performs "Balance" at The Middle East in Cambridge MA in early 2003. Not sure if this was his release party, but I see some label folks there in the crowd, so it must have been close to release date. Lif is with him on stage, and Fakts One and DJ Sense are on the wheels.

Nerd Rap with Aesop Rock, El-P, Camu (RIP) & Metro

Taken in front of the Paradise Rock Club in Boston before the Bazooka Tooth Release Party.

The Early Days at The Western Front

Back when we were Main Ingredient, The Western Front was voted best hip-hop venue by The Boston Phoenix in 1998.

"Given the international popularity of hip-hop and the fact that so many DJs and rappers operate out of Boston, it seems ludicrous that there is no club devoted exclusively to showcasing local talent or up-and-coming stars from out of town. We are left instead with a handful of clubs that sponsor hip-hop nights -- usually only once a week -- and arenas that bring in huge MTV-sponsored events featuring tepid artists who bankroll the media giant. Oh well. Good things sometimes come in small doses. On the last Sunday of every month at the Western Front, for instance, Main Ingredient Productions hosts a hell of a hip-hop showcase, "All That! Hip-Hop, Poetry & Jazz." Featuring national and local poets, MC's, Boston rap groups like Seven L. & Esoteric, Virtuoso, and Mr. Lif, and live music provided by the All That! band (with members of Down-Low Connection and Superhoney), this once-a-month event is a don't-miss extravaganza for any fan of urban music and hip-hop culture. The long-running club, which has mostly been a hotspot for big-name roots reggae stars -- although it sponsors more adventurous music too, such as experimental jazz -- is doing the city a service by giving Main Ingredient a permanent residency at the space. Don't forget to bring your own rhymes -- open mic's at 8, and it's phat."

Boston Beats & Rhymes - Part 5

Boston Beats & Rhymes - Part 4

Mr. Lif - Return of the B-Boy video

(pardon the completely unnecessary naked chick at the beginning)

This rare video is from Lif's I Phantom album on Def Jux.

Superbowl MC Battle 1999 - Virtuoso vs Big O vs Alius

Here is another clip from the 1999 Superbowl Battle. We had so many emcees in this battle that we did the first round head-to-head-to-head. It was an interesting idea, but didn't work that well as we had to eliminate emcees early on that probably deserved to move ahead. It also turned into more of a freestyle competition in that first round, and less of a face to face battle. This clip is a YOUNG (younger than he looks by a long shot) Virtuoso, Big O (very underrated emcee) and Alius (who walked in off the street for this one, and went on to win the battle two years later).

Superbowl MC Battle 1999 - Mr. Lif vs Reks

Let me just say how much Mr. Lif DID NOT want to do this shit. Have you ever met an emcee less interested in battling than Lif?? Let me also say that Lif and Reks are two of the best freestylers I have ever heard ... both can rhyme for hours at a stretch.

Superbowl MC Battle 1999 - Sage Francis vs Esoteric

The fall of Rawkus Records

I was just getting ready to start a new blog about how incredibly dope it was to be working with Rawkus Records from 1999-mid 2000's. Really, it would be hard to overstate how much I personally enjoyed those first few years, and how critically important it was for our company. Company Flow, Kweli, Mos Def, L Fudge .... every record that came out was groundbreaking, and every 12" sold more than 10,000 copies. We were turning DJ's away at the door to get their promo vinyl. I remember calling my business partner when the Black Star album came in; stunned by how amazing it was. I remember walking my single copy of the advance promo for "Definition" into college radio stations and DJ's would be drooling once they heard it ... and then I'd grab my record and leave. When The Cleaner (a collection of new, radio edit joints) came out, with the KRS, Zach de la Rocha and Last Emp track "C.I.A." I felt like the bartender at a good college bar. "Heeeeeeeey buddy, great to see you, c'mon up the station any time you want."

It was like Christmas once a month. Music, gear, banners, shows, Soundbombing .... there was a stretch there where they could do no wrong.

So, just as I'm getting ready to start this blog entry ... I check out the Rawkus website, oh my. The website is now a pop culture blog with personal ads and a "network news mash-up." Talk about putting the final nail in the coffin of what was absolutely the best indie label of its time, and destroying any shred of brand dignity.

"Whatever your interests are, the Rawkus Network has got you covered. From hoodies, to tees, or a Lil Wayne mp3, Rawkus.com can help you not only stay on the cutting edge of urban and pop culture, but can allow you to influence and shape it. Check it out and become a member today."

So sad .... how the mighty have fallen. Well, I still got love for you Rawkus, but its a nostalgic, remember the good ol' days kind of love. Peace to Danny Seltz.

Boston Beats & Rhymes - Part 3

Review of Company Flow show, April 1998

I mentioned this show below .... the one that split Bigg Jus from the group. Well here is the review of that show, from the one-and-only Brian Coleman (aka The Wedding DJ).

Click to enlarge.

It all started here ....

This little gem ... handwritten, photocopied and passed out hand-to-hand in 1996 ... was the flyer that started it all. DJ Milkmoney (yours truly) and Smooth Unit Sean Love at The Western Front. Notice that extremely wack graffiti-style letters I tried to use. Why that club ever gave us a chance is beyond me. We walked in off the street with nothing but a mixtape, and they gave us a couple of nights each month to basically do whatever we wanted. We had ZERO idea what we were doing at first (lots more stories to follow on that), but in the end those first few years were really my favorite in the Boston scene.

Ladies free? What ladies?