Dead Prez
Berbati's Pan
April 22
with Mic Crenshaw, Illmaculate & DAM
All Ages
Tickets
Inspired by self defence parties such as the Black Panthers, Dead Prez is the most politically-conscious group since Public Enemy. They are M-1 and Stickman, rappers concerned with a topic that seems to be a dead issue in rap - the necessities of life. The track, "Food, Clothes and Shelter" convey their main points: money and power are both their energies and their enemies.
After fleeing a dangerous drug situation, M-1 arrived in Florida and became tight with Stickman. At first, they were united in a national activist organisation which allowed them to travel around the country. Realising that they also had to make a living, they decided to channel their energies towards music. Obviously, the first interpretation of the term dead presidents is the dollar bill, but dead presidents represent a spectrum beyond capitalism, addressing the common issues of the most endangered members of human society.
With a new album entitled Pulse of the People, collaboratively done with DJ Green Lantern, set for a June 2010 release, Dead Prez re-commit themselves to the struggle of bringing socially conscious hip hop to the masses. In an era when African-American music, black music, is often associated with mindless consumerism through uninspired rap and r&b music, Dead Prez perpetually rise to the top with raw, unapologetic albums and legendary, high-enery live performances.