Biography
Dead Prez is a politically conscious hip-hop duo formed by stic.man (born Clayton Gavin, 1975, Shadeville, Florida) and M-1 (born Lavon Alfred, 1973, Jamaica, West Indies), who met in 1990-1991 while attending Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida. Inspired by the crack epidemic's impact on their families—stic.man's mother was arrested on drug charges—and revolutionary figures like Malcolm X, they prioritized activism, joining groups such as Tallahassee’s Black Survival Movement and later the National People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement, before turning to music as a platform for challenging racism, economic oppression, and the power structure. Relocating to New York in the mid-1990s, they were discovered by Lord Jamar of Brand Nubian at a Brooklyn block party, leading to a deal with Loud Records.
Their career launched with underground appearances like the 1997 Loud Set Up tape track 'Food, Clothes, And Shelter' and collaborations on Big Pun's 1998 album Capital Punishment, including 'Police State With Chairman Omali' and 'It's Bigger Than Hip-Hop.' Their debut album, Let's Get Free (2000), established them as revolutionary rap leaders with Afrocentric, self-reliant lyrics over hard-hitting beats, followed by mixtapes Turn Off The Radio Vol. 1 (2002) and Vol. 2 (2003), and sophomore album RBG: Revolutionary But Gangsta (2004). Their style blends east coast hip hop, hip hop, and jazz rap influences from Public Enemy and X-Clan, emphasizing resistance and community activism alongside martial arts training and self-sufficiency.
Dead Prez's legacy endures through solo projects like stic.man's 'fit hop' album The Workout and M-1's AP2P, mixtape series, and ongoing RBG (Revolutionary But Gangsta) movement, maintaining authentic hip-hop representation amid commercial success while balancing music with activism, including distributing newspapers and sewing their own clothes.
Fun Facts
- They practiced what they preached by balancing music careers with activism, including distributing Burning Spear newspapers on New York subways, training in martial arts, and sewing their own clothes.
- Before Dead Prez, they were part of groups like The Masses Want War and The Heads From the Attic.
- Their name derives from 'dead presidents,' slang for money on U.S. bills, symbolizing anti-materialist themes.
- Activism preceded music; they came to rap second after deep involvement in political organizations.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Lord Jamar - Discovered them at a Brooklyn block party and brokered their Loud Records deal (Introduced to Steve Rifkind’s Loud Records) [1995-1996]
- Malcolm X - Key ideological inspiration instilling Black pride and political activism (Influenced early philosophy and lyrics) [Early 1990s]
- Public Enemy - Musical and stylistic influence as socially conscious rap torchbearers (Shaped revolutionary hip-hop approach) [1990s onward]
Key Collaborators
- Big Punisher - Featured on his album with politically charged tracks (Capital Punishment (1998) - 'Police State With Chairman Omali', 'It's Bigger Than Hip-Hop')
- Jay-Z - Guest appearance on track ('Hell Yeah' (2004))
- Erykah Badu - Toured together (2003 tour)
Connection Network
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Dead Prez, Jorge Ben Jor, Talib Kweli, Bilal & Positive Force has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.