Mr. Lif

Mr. Lif (born Jeffrey Haynes) is a Boston rapper who is currently signed to New York independent label Definitive Jux. Besides his solo career, Lif is also a member of the hip hop group The Perceptionists with long-time friends and collaborators Akrobatik and DJ Fakts One.

For other uses, see LIF.

Biography

Mr. Lif grew up in the neighbourhood of Brighton in Boston, MA. For two years he attended Colgate University, dropping out after becoming enamored with the hip hop music being produced at the time. He became a performer in 1994. In 2000 and 2001 he won the Kahlua Boston Music Awards for Outstanding Rap/Hip Hop Act. Mr. Lif's family ancestry is Barbadian, and his faith Rasta.

Origin of Mr. Lif's name

According to Mr. Lif, his pseudonym comes from a song he heard at a Phish concert. As Lif recounts in an interview "They had this song, 'Liftedly Man', with this incredible bass line. I don't know what it was, but the character really got to me. I thought of him as the 'ultra you', someone that is perceptive, trying to gain knowledge of self, surroundings, and situations". Later some friends of his added the "Mister".

Discography

Studio albums

I Phantom (Definitive Jux - 2002)
I Phantom Instrumentals (Definitive Jux - 2002)
Sleepyheads (Thought Wizard Productions - 2003)
Mo' Mega (Definitive Jux - 2006)
Sleepyheads II (Classic Combos) (Thought Wizard Productions - 2006)

Live albums

Live at the Middle East (Ozone - 2002)

Singles/EPs

Enters the Colossus (Definitive Jux - 2000)
Cro-Magnum b/w Fulcrum 12 (Definitive Jux - 2001)
Home of the Brave (Definitive Jux - 2002)
Emergency Rations (Definitive Jux - 2002)

Collaborations

Edan, Primitive Plus (Lewis Recordings - 2002)
DJ Krush, Jaku: "Nosferatu" (Red Ink - 2004)
The Perceptionists, Black Dialogue (Definitive Jux - 2005)
Azamov, ,"Supa Dynamite",And Now (6 Hole Records - 2005)

External links

Mr. Lif in Okayplayer