I Phantom

Grounding their collective sound in a revamped circa-1993 style, El-P, Insight, Fakts One and Edan offer beats and scratches that perfectly match each song's varied level of intensity. I Phantom is an ambitious project that combines elements previously mined aurally in Prince Paul's proletarian hip-hopera Prince Among Thieves. Considering the intricate nature of Phantom's sequencing, it'd be hard to pinpoint any one song as the "best", but the Fakts One-produced "New Man Theme" should be required listening for all hip-hop nerds and intellectual thugs, worldwide. --Rebecca Levine

Forget all the hype over The Streets concept album (A Grand Dont Come For Free) - this is the real deal. Starts with Mr Lif dreaming, before waking up and going off to work. Then it cuts to one of his co-workers, telling the story about his failed marriage and new life and family. Then it jumps to the story of his son from the first marriage feeling abandoned, then to his daughter from the second marriage feeling stifled by too much parental love. She commits suicide, then the story follows the cop who investigates the death before a watching spirit takes over, holds a conversation with some third world tribe and starts World War III before finalizing with the last thoughts of the survivors. Whew!!!

This is an album you can listen to again and again, each time finding something new. At one point Lif threatens his boss and quits his job - a little later on, we hear him giving advice to another employee ("Don't mention me, or they'll slap you down and halve your salary"). Lif covers every spectrum of human emotion without ever becoming too preachy. The production values are amazing as well - with all the hype surrounding the likes of NERD, Dr Dre, Timbaland and Puffy you'd be forgiven for assuming they were the only prouducers working in hip-hop: not so. El-P is more than their equal, with the added benefits of not trying to overshadow the artist he's working with (a la Puff Daddy). Its not the most straight forward CD of all time (in fact theres a booklet that comes with it trying to give some timeline to the constantly inter-weaving stories) - but if you like a challenge in your rap music (and not the ever boring gangsta/hoes/bling-bling that keeps getting churned out by the ever increasing mainstream conscious labels) this is an album you NEED to get.


"Balance book knowledge with streetsmarts"   March 7, 2004
 4 out of 5 found this review helpful

I suggest the first listen to this is without having read the sleeve notes first, so the twists and turns of the plot are a surprise. Yes, this is a hip hop 'concept album' which really must be judged as a whole and not just a selection of tracks.
Our journey begins with traditional hip hop themes but you will find only one battle rap on this album, and even that has many unique twists. Lif deals with subjects in a way that will lead you to believe he has a very good understanding of people and the world we live in. He really does sound wiser than his years. The track 'Iron Helix' for example is an examination of cultural imperialism, with Insight rapping as indigenous, spiritual cultures and Lif crashing in as the voice of so-called 'Modernity'. An example:

Insight: Which language is that?
Lif: Modernity, with a little tyranny
I: But I don't need Chaos, I have peace and serenity
L: You won't find Hell in me, see psychoanalysts for therapy, come prosper and live plentily
I: My existance is heavenly
L: You were meant to be greater
I: Allow me to pray to my creator
L: You *are* the maker, life giver and taker, take control you should feel safer
I: But I don't even feel threatened...
L: YOU need weapons, and apparently a classroom so you can learn lessons!

The final coming together of these two leads to the track 'Earthcrusher' and the fallout of 'Post-Mortem' are a timely reminder of the dangers we face these days.

Lif is adept with patterns of rhyme and the fact that he does it all while sticking to a storyline impresses me more than your average battle-rapper, who has freedom to go from one subject to another at the drop of a hat. His style is quite bleak-sounding and dark and definately fits the production, which is incredible throughout. Each track's production fits with it's subject matter so well: 'Success' by Insight *sounds* like a nervous breakdown with it's pulsing beat, 'New Man Theme' is full of optimism and energy and 'Earthcrusher' produced by Edan simply is the sound of apocalypse (I struggle to find a heavier beat!). Fakts One and fellow Def Jukies El-p and Aesop Rock also feature, among others.

I can't recommend this album highly enough. I also enjoy recommending it to people not into hip hop as it will really open their eyes to what it has to offer and where its heading in the future.


This guy is brilliant   January 26, 2004
 1 out of 2 found this review helpful

Mr Lif is so good.

His rhymes are intelligent and slick, the whole album is like a journey through a man's life until ulitmatley war brings destruction on the world, sounds ambtious but it's so well done and gives this CD an edge over the cars, girls, etc focus of lesser rappers. A welcome break from the main-stream.

Emergency rations is great too.


Never Slacking - Still on form   October 20, 2002
 4 out of 5 found this review helpful

Mr. Lif's EP Emergency Rations held some of the best Hip-Hop tracks to come out over the past year. That was until his album I Phantom was released.

Truly on Emergency Rations Mr. Lif showed he was one the best rappers out there and has proved it once again.

He lyrics rhyme with excellence over El-P's produced tracks which I would say are best of the lot. One of may favourites is 'Live From The Plantation' which puts him into a perspective we can all relate to - a 9-5 job which he hates and dreams about killing his boss. The beats on this track are also brilliant changing half way through.

An excellent album brought out by the continuing excellence of Def Jux.


Dopest Artist this century ?!   October 11, 2002
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

One of the realist Hip Hop artists in the industry.

Great concept. He tells a story which changes prospectives so many time, your gonna have to ( but WANT to ) listen to this time and time again. Read though the booklet it helps.

Covers so many topics which concern us all today.

Def Jux bringing more REAL HIP HOP to the table.