One of today's finest hip hop bands: THE PERCEPTIONISTS
Some people say hip hop is dead. But really, it's simply reached the same equilibrium as every other art medium: 90% crap, 10& excellent. Falling firmly in the latter category is the superb band The Perceptionists , including MCs Akrobatik and Mr. Life, and DJ Fakts One. What makes these brothers so excellent--even though they might not appreciate this as a sales pitch--is that they're creating hip hop for those of us who've been listening to hip hop for at least two decades. In other words, this is hip hop for grown-ups. That's not to say younger people can't enjoy this crew--one of my students, a young MC named Ejaz the Poet , loves them. But the range of topics and the sophistication of the commentary is as excellent as the lyrical rhythm and the vocal flavour of this band. I'd already loved Akrobatik. Now this crew is one of my favourite. I listen to their lyrics the way I listen to KRS-One lyrics, i.e., closely, as if I'm reading a book (and I...