The Chomsky of Hip-Hop (Which Is a Good Thing)

Except for 2Pac (who has more posthumous recordings than Beethoven) the career trajectory of hip-hop artists generally follows this simple pattern, dubbed the Nas effect: album detailing how tough life growing up on the streets was, album describing how pimpin' they are now they are rich and can buy more Rolls Royces then you have had hot meals, and an album describing how street they are even though they are rich.

One artist who bucks this trend is Mr. Lif, whose smart 'I, Phantom' was one of the best hip-hop releases in recent memory. His street-level vignettes capture the real struggles and concerns of those of us who do not have platinum-capped teeth. His flow is as smooth as Trader Joe's 2 Buck Chuck and he drops knowledge like Noam Chomsky without the rumpled suits. Check him out when he rhymes with Lateef the Truth Speaker at Chop Suey this Saturday.