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dead prez | |
|---|---|
 Dead Prez performing inLansing, 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels |
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| Members | |
| Website | deadprez |
Dead Prez (stylized in lowercase) is an Americanhip hop duo composed ofM-1 andstic.man, formed in 1996 in New York City. They are known for their confrontational style, combined with lyrics focused on both militantsocial justice,self-determination, andPan-Africanism. The duo maintains an ethical stance againstcorporate control overthe media, especially hip hop record labels.
In 1993, M-1 headed toTallahassee, Florida, to attendFlorida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) where he and stic.man met and formed a relationship due to their mutual love of music and similarleftist political ideology. While there, their views solidified, M-1 becoming particularly interested in theBlack Panther Party.
M-1 joined theInternational People's Democratic Uhuru Movement in Chicago for three years, while stic.man remained in Florida. Burned out by the arduous labor of Uhuru, M-1 and stic.man chose to focus on music.Brand Nubian'sLord Jamar discovered them in New York City and signed them a deal withLoud Records. Although dead prez was not always Loud's top priority, they built a fan base due to their over-the-top performances (they have been known to ignitedollar bills and toss apples into the audiences, declaring that they must eat healthy).
They had begun contributing songs to film soundtracks and made featurings on high-profile albums. Their first recorded song, "The Game of Life (Score)" appeared on the 1997 soundtrack to the filmSoul in the Hole. In 1998 their song "D.O.P.E. (Drugs Oppress People Everyday)" was featured in the movieSlam. Also in 1998, they were featured on the skit "The Rain and the Sun" offBig Pun's albumCapital Punishment, and in 1999 were featured onThe Beatnuts' song "Look Around" off their albumMusical Massacre.
The duo's debut album was 2000'sLet's Get Free, with their most popular single to date "Hip-Hop". The album was well received by critics, and included intense political monologues featuring prominent black activistOmali Yeshitela, as well as "Animal in Man" – a retelling ofGeorge Orwell'sAnimal Farm. The instrumental version of their song "Hip Hop" was used asDave Chappelle's entrance music for his show on Comedy Central, and can be heard on every episode. "Hip Hop" has also been featured on the soundtrack of the video gameskate. as well as undergroundgraffiti art documentaries of the era. The song is also used in the introduction ofHip Hop Evolution, a show which is currently onNetflix. In 2001 they collaborated withThe Coup, another politically active hip hop outfit, to releaseGet Up.
In 2002, dead prez contributed toRed Hot + Riot, a compilation album created by theRed Hot Organization in tribute to the music and work of Nigerian musicianFela Kuti. The money raised by the CD was used for various charities devoted to raising AIDS awareness and fighting the disease. They collaborated with fellow hip-hop artistsTalib Kweli andBilal and Brazilian singerJorge Ben to remake the famous Fela Kuti song "Shuffering and Shmiling" for the album. Also in 2002, dead prez released the independentmix tapeTurn off the Radio: The Mixtape Vol. 1, followed by the release ofTurn off the Radio: The Mixtape Vol. 2: Get Free or Die Tryin' in 2003. Also in 2003, their song "Hell Yeah" was featured in the2 Fast 2 Furious soundtrack. In 2004,Columbia Records finally releasedRevolutionary But Gangsta. They were featured in the filmDave Chappelle's Block Party, in 2006.
In 2006, they and former2Pac collaborators, theOutlawz, jointly released two new albums:Can't Sell Dope Forever andSoldier 2 Soldier. In 2006, M1 also recorded a solo album titledConfidential. From the album, the song "'Til We Get There" was on theEA Sports video gameNBA Live 07. In 2007, stic.man released his own solo record namedManhood with Boss Up Inc. / Traffic records. M-1 further appeared with ProfessorD.us, of the politically charged Hip Hop groupThe Dope Poet Society, on the track "Everything's Political" off the 2008 albumTHIRD WORLD WARriors Vol. 1. On the track, M-1 and ProfessorD.us trade verses in response to the question "why is your music always so political?". That same year, Stic.Man appeared on "Changing Weather", the first single from Marcel Cartier's albumRevolutionary Minded 2.
Dead prez released a mixtape entitledPulse of the People: Turn Off Your Radio Vol. 3 on June 23, 2009. The mixtape is hosted byDJ Green Lantern.[1] OnMother's Day 2010, dead prez released "The Beauty Within", a remix ofB.o.B andBruno Mars' #1 single "Nothin' On You."[2] Additionally in 2010, dead prez released a mixtape withDJ Drama entitledTurn Off the Radio Vol. 4: Revolutionary but Gangsta Grillz. The album is available for free download on their website, and they announced this release was their ten year commemoration of their most well known and commercially successful albumLet's Get Free. The new albumInformation Age was released on October 16, 2012.
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In June 2006, the cable movie networkStarz InBlack began airing an original documentary calledDead Prez: It's Bigger Than Hip Hop directed byJohn Threat. The hour-long documentary featured live footage and interviews with dead prez, along with interviews from Kamel Bell, owner of Ankh Marketing and son of incarceratedBlack Panther memberHerman Bell;Fred Hampton Jr., son of Black Panther Deputy Chairman of the Illinois ChapterFred Hampton; Bay Area rapper and poet Ise Lyfe, and hip hop activist and radio personality Davey D. Among the topics discussed in the documentary are the inadequacies of the public education system, Black entrepreneurship and social revolution.
Our aim is to provide a programming experience that viewers will not get anywhere else. We like to push the limits and go where other networks fear to tread. We recognized in dead prez a message that deserves to be heard. Not everyone will agree with them, but that's OK. We aim to enlighten and entertain, and 'Dead Prez: It's Bigger than Hip Hop' does both.
— David Charmatz, senior vice president of channel management, talking about the programming philosophy at Starz InBlack[3]
M1 stated:
We've never had the opportunity to express ourselves on this level of magnitude. Starz InBlack taking a chance on us lets us know that the work we are doing is not in vain. That our message is penetrating, it's getting through.[3]
Studio albums
Live albums
Collaboration albums
Mixtapes
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