LET'S GET FREE by DEAD PREZ
| SKU | 112842 |
| Artist | DEAD PREZ |
| Title | LET'S GET FREE |
| Label | GET ON DOWN |
| Catalog # | GET5 1311LP |
| Tag | |
| Release | W 07 - 2023 |
| Format | Vinyl - US2LP |
| € 41,99 | incl. VAT, excl. shipping |
Tracks
- Wolves
- I'm A African
- They' Schools
- Hip-Hop
- Police State
- Behind Enemy Lines
- Assassination
- Mind Sex
- We Want Freedom
- Be Healthy
- Discipline
- Psychology
- Happiness
- Animal In Man
- You'll Find A Way
- It's Bigger Than Hip-Hop
- Propaganda
- The Pistol
Description
Dead Prez may have been slightly ahead of their time during their golden years, but that is definitely meant as a compliment. Sermonizing Black Nationalism, Pan-Africanism and the benefits of a healthy and just lifestyle during the height of the Bad Boy / Roc-AFella era of nihilistic excess in the late '90s, they also signed to a major label (Loud / Columbia) despite leaning much more towards the burgeoning indie aesthetics of the day. But this was a good thing - using major label muscle to wake up righteous hip-hop fans who might have fallen asleep at the wheel.
Let's Get Free was critically acclaimed and benefited from multiple singles, including the infectious, thick analog drive of "Hip-Hop" (which became the de facto theme song for "Chappelle's Show"); "It's Bigger Than Hip-Hop," with a remix co-produced by a young Kanye West; "Mind Sex" (with Abiodun Oyewole of the Last Poets); and the poignant "I'm An African."
But the singles weren't the only worthy songs, as just about every cut here has deeper meaning than most full albums by their early 2000s peers. Highlights: the thought-provoking, anti-drug album opener "Wolves"; "We Want Freedom" (co-produced by frequent collaborator Hedrush); "They Schools" and "Propaganda" (co-produced by Lord Jamar, one of five songs he assisted on)
All in all, this is one of the more underrated and possibly Top 5 fully-realized political hip-hop albums of all time. If you don't agree with the previous sentence, give Let's Get Free another listen... you might be surprised at how well it has held up over the years.
