“I would ask myself if it's difficult to be who you are and develop naturally in light of who the public tells you are?”
So, is it?
“Absolutely. Every artist wants to be heard or seen. When you made a record that catches on, it's hard not to want to be what the press seems to love you as. It's a challenge to separate from that and just be who you are so your art can evolve”.
And there has been a lot of media interest in what you do, your lyrics do attract a lot of attention, and the one who places a critique could become himself very interesting for the media. How does that circle work for you?
“Yeah. It always helps when the press gives you attention. The more times I get to publicize my views on socio-political situations, the better chance I have of people coming across the articles and considering what I've said; thus thinking critically themselves.
“You know, surprisingly I haven't come across too many criticisms. I think the main dilemma is that "I Phantom" was maybe a little too complex for a lot of critics. Not patting myself on the back, I think it's just a result of the times. Rap is so simple nowadays that it only takes 1 or 2 listens to absorb most records. For a while, I felt like I might have actually set myself back by putting some thought into my work”.
Is the FBI or CIA after you?
“I'm sure they are. They just haven't called me yet. Some weird shit has happened. For a few weeks, no matter what time I went out to walk my dogs at night ( whether it was 8PM or 3AM) I'd see the same truck drive past me, pull into a driveway to turn around, and drive past me again. That was unsettling to say the least. Also, every now and then I'll run casually run into some random government operative at my show, who attempts to spark up a little conversation with me”.
How do the conversations usually go?
“The last guy tried several times to peer pressure me into smoking weed with him. I have a feeling that I would have had a pair of cuffs on me as soon as I took my first hit”.
Oh, I forgot to introduce him: “my name is Mr. Lif. I'm an independent hip-hop lyricist/producer from Boston, Massachussetts”.
Are you the smart one?
“Nope! I definitely don't affiliate myself in any way with intelligence”.
Mr. Lif is all about love. He is one of the sweetest artists I had the opportunity to interview and I can say it wasn’t easy to do so. In fact, it’s not easy to talk to anyone at Def Jux. So, when this opportunity showed up we went directly to the point. “Ana, I appreciate your interest. E-mail would be the best means right now, because I'm on tour in Australia. Please allow a couple of days for my response. I hope this is leading up to me doing some shows in Brasil. I'm a member of a group called The Perceptionists. It consists of myself, Akrobatik, and DJ Fakts One. Our album should be out in Sept 2004 on Def Jux”. I know my next mission! So, we ended up doing two rounds of an email interview. Like I said before, Mr. Lif is all about love.
Born as Jeffrey Haynes, Mr. Lif grew up in Boston, in the suburbs of Brighton. He released his first single, Elektro, in 1998, attracting attention of labels such as Grand Royal and Def Jux. Working with the producer and head of Def Jux, El-P, Lif released a series of singles and EPs, starting with Enter the Colossus in 2000. Then he did what few hip-hop artists have done, a live album. His most ambitious work came out in 2002 as Emergency Rations, an EP with seven songs that comments the ill society of America after 9/11. His debut album, I Phantom, was released the same year. Lif and friend El-P team up for six tracks on the album, with production by Lif, Fakts One, Insight and Edan round out the rest of the album. I Phantom feature guest shots from Jean Grae, El-P, Aesop Rock, Akrobatik, Insight, Edan and more.
Could you tell me a childhood story?
“My most vivid memories of my childhood are me and my parents dancing to pop music on Saturday mornings. My Dad would run to this department store call ‘Caldor’, and buy the hottest new singles. That's how I heard Michael Jackson, Pat Benatar, Reo Speedwagon... All that 80's shit”.
Tell us a good story from the ‘90’s.
“One of my favorite memories from the 90's comes from my days in college. Myself and my friend Dave Olivarez were broke as hell, but we'd sometimes spend half the day just trying to research which one of our friends was gonna be smoking some good weed. All we wanted to do back then was find a blunt and some beer so we could throw on some beats to freestyle over. Dave was the first person I ever rhymed with consistently. His encouragement helped me develop into the artist I am today”.
How was it to grow up in Boston?
“Boston is a great place for me, in that there isn't too much there to distract me. I've got my family there, all the clubs close by 2AM, and I've got a close knit network of friends that I work with. I don't spend too much time on frivolous things”.
I lived there, I think Boston has some racial problems.
“Boston is historically fucked up as far as racial thinking goes. To this day, there is still an intense amount of separation between the white and black communities. Hip hop is for anyone who wants to listen. I didn't know you're from Boston... Aiiiiight! The New England Patriots are going to the Super Bowl… Nuff Said!”
Could you tell us a recent story?
“Summer 2003, Akrobatik, Fakts One, and I went on a European tour. In fact, it was the first time we ever did Europe together. The first 2 shows of the tour were in Czech Republic at this huge festival. Time of my life... People showed us so much love. The parties started at 11am and went till about 4am... It was just insane. Pools were open during the daytime... Thongs everywhere... I hope they have us back next year”.
What were some high and low moments of hip-hop for you?
“High Point: 1985-1994. Low point: I opened up for Rakim at the Strand Theatre in Dorchester, and he lip singed his whole set”.
How did you and El-P meet?
“I met him at a show in Boston when CO-Flow came into town. He had heard my song ‘Madness in a Cup’ and asked that we be introduced. We exchanged numbers and quickly became friends...The next thing you know we're touring the world together and making records”.
Would you like to produce more of your own music?
“I love working with El, but there is a certain intimacy that comes from making your own beat and writing to it, so I'm gonna try to do a little more to get back to that. Believe me El-P will continue to be a mainstay in my production team”.
How are you with a live band?
“I just did some shows with The Roots. It's an interesting change form working with a DJ. It opens up a whole realm of communicating with every member of the band depending on how you want the sounds to change on stage. It's fun and takes some of the pressure off of vocals being the highlight of the set”.
What motivates you?
“All the experiences of daily life. That includes my experiences and those of the people around me. I'm also inspired by imagination. Being an only child, I had maybe a little too much time to dream”.
Why did you choose music as a way to express yourself?
“I couldn't help it. As I said earlier, I grew up dancing to music with my parents. It's just who I am”.
Alright, so when did you discover music was the form you were going to use to express yourself?
“Probably in 1993 when I started wring my own material”.
When did somebody else discover that?
“In 1995 I dropped out of college to pursue my career and passed my tape to one of my favorite radio personalities in Boston. Luckily, he liked my stuff and we began to work together immediately”.
What is the difference between singing/rapping something and saying something?
“I think any form of lyricism can say something. It doesn't matter if you rhyme or sing. Singers have it easy, because they can write a few words and repeat them and stretch them by holding the notes for a while. Not at all to discredit their ability to provoke emotion through their vocal tones. MC's have to write hundreds of words per song, conveying clear messages in each line to form an overall picture...It's a lot of work”.
It is, I have always wondered how you memorize everything. Have you ever forgotten what to say?
“Hell yeah! Sometimes it happens at shows (thank God for free styling), sometime in the vocal booth. The key is perseverance and technique”.
How do you have control of your music?
“I'm not on a label that pressures me to make platinum records, so I'm pretty much allowed to do what I want”.
The earth is under constant attack by war, greed and lack of understanding, how do you fight back and how do you think the common people should?
“I think the days of the protest being our main means of retaliation are over. It's an information war. From our formative years major corporations pry into our psyches, forming our perception of the world daily as we age. I think that any significant reforms will emerge from a society that truly recognizes and believes that the government is not working for them, and that our way of life is truly unhealthy. I try to do my best to unearth whatever truths I stumble upon in order to plead a case for new ways of perceiving our world”.
I am sure you have gotten into some conclusions, right?
“I think I'm gonna save my revelations for the next record. Sorry”.
Sure, can’t wait. Who you are sending the message to?
“Anyone who wants to listen”.
Who would say the projects at Def Jux is aimed at?
“I don't think any of us have a particular aim. All the categorizing is just something fun for the media to do. When I make my records, I'm emulating the rap legends that I grew up listening to. If I feel like my song would have been able to get some love during the most prestigious eras in hip hop history, then I release them”.
Have you thought about the people that aren’t American and that listen to your music?
“All the time. I try to touch on topics that I feel are universal, and refine my methods of communication so what I'm saying is clear to any listener. I am going to start printing my lyrics on the inside cover of my album for non-english speaking fans. Hopefully, people will take the time to translate”.
What lyric would you choose to pass along to them?
“I'd pass on my second verse of ‘Home of the Brave’”

ANA GARCIA