Dead Prez

Dead Prez is the pair of politically militant rappers, Stic.Man and M-1. They have become known for their hard-hitting style and socialist lyrics, focusing on anti-racism, anti-capitalism, critical pedagogy, as well as activism against social injustice and corporate control over the media (especially hip-hop record labels.) In 1990, M-1 headed to Tallahassee to attend FAMU (Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University) where he and Sticman met and connected due to their mutual love of music and knowledge. “I was soaking up the Black Panther Party as a whole,” M-1 remembers. “I learned about their lives and it helped mold me.” “I realized there’s a struggle already going on and I have to try to help rideit out,” interjects Stic.man. M-1’s quest for insight led him to join the International Democratic People’s Uhuru Movement (InPDUM) in Chicago for three years while Stic.man remained behind in Florida and started getting into trouble. Burned out by the arduous labor of Uhuru, M-1 decided it was time to do that music thing and Stic.man agreed. Dead Prez transcribed the leftist political education they acquired into lyrical poetry. Brand Nubian’s Lord Jamar ... more...