Review: Dead Prez Lets Get Free
Introduction
Dead Prez is a hip-hop duo that formed in the late 1990s known for its incandescent political and social commentary which is on display on their debut album Lets Get Free.
The portentous album cover of African Children holding up guns in an African Anti-Colonial Resistance Movement liberation camp speaks volumes of Let’s Get Free’s objectives.
Lets Get Free, was released in 2000 and was well-received by critics and fans alike, and it remains one of Dead Prez’s most popular releases.
In this review, we’ll take a look at some of the themes on Lets Get Free and what makes the album stand out.
About Dead Prez
Dead Prez is a hip-hop duo from New York City, consisting of rappers M-1 and Stic.Man.
The group is known for their political and revolutionary lyrics, which often deal with topics such as black pride, police brutality, and social injustice.
Dead Prez has also been praised for their socially conscious message and their innovative approach to hip-hop music.
M-1 and Stic.man met while they were both students at Florida A&M University. The two became close friends and began making music together.
In 1996, they released their first song, “Piggy Bank”, which was an underground hit. The following year, they released their debut album, Let’s Get Free.
Themes in Lets Get Free
There are several themes in Dead Prez’s “Lets Get Free” that discuss the current status of African Americans and black people around the world.
Some of these themes include:
– Systematic racism, oppression and White Supremacy;
– The power of knowledge and education
– The importance of community and unity
– The need for revolution
Music Review
When it comes to hip-hop, the message is just as important as the music. That’s what makes Dead Prez’s “Let’s Get Free” such an important album.
Dead Prez is unapologetically political, and their rhymes reflect that. They touch on everything from police brutality to capitalism to white supremacy, and they do it with a level of skill and intelligence that is rarely seen in mainstream rap.
The beats on the album are top-notch, and the production value is high. This isn’t surprising, considering that the album was executive produced by Sean “Puffy” Combs. But even with all of that star power behind it, “Let’s Get Free” still feels like an underground record. There’s a raw energy to it that can only be found in hip-hop that is truly authentic.
If you’re looking for an album that will make you think about the world around you, “Let’s Get Free” is a must-listen.
Dead Prez might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but their message is worth hearing.
Conclusion
Overall, I found Dead Prez: Lets Get Free to be an insightful and thought-provoking album.
The wide range of topics in Lets Get Free are still relevant to the Black experience today, including police brutality, poverty, and mass incarceration.
Since Lets Get Free, Dead Prez has released two more albums, Turn Off the Radio: The Mixtape Vol. 1 and Revolutionary But Gangsta Grillz.
They have also appeared on numerous other artists’ tracks, including Talib Kweli’s “Get By” and Mos Def’s “Life in Marvelous Times”.
Dead Prez continues to be an outspoken voice for social justice and equality and is one of the most important political hip-hop groups of our time.
Their music from Lets Get Free is powerful, thought-provoking, and timeless.
“Happiness” is my personal favourite from this classic Dead Prez album.
