I remember reading something that Talib Kweli wrote a while back. He spoke on how he does music for himself and not for the fans, because if he were to only cater to the listening audience then he and his music would never grow. Sometimes we like what an artist does so much that we get frustrated when he goes down a different avenue, ala mc/actor extraordinaire, Mos Def. But we must remember that as the years go by, artists grow, and their music grows with them. I’m not saying that you can’t hold on to whatever style you like, shit, I am still stuck in 1994. But like Common said, “It ain’t 94 joe we can’t go back.” Thanks Com.

M-1 understands what it is to grow. While at times the beats don’t sound like Dead Prez material, listen to the words. “Confidential” does more than provide a fresh approach to the DP movement, M-1 uses this platform to educate listeners about the political struggle going on in today’s world. After certain tracks he takes the time to discuss certain topics that have affected political prisoners and currently affect the youth. He also uses unlikely guest appearances by artists such as Q-Tip, Styles P, and Ghostface Killah, in an attempt to broaden his listening audience and spread the word to a different and wider group of hip hop enthusiasts.

When you put a silencer on a gun the blast may disappear but the 9mm still goes bang. M-1’s title track does just that. The hard “Let’s Get Free” type beats have been defused and a soft, borderline R&B beat was put in its place. But the words are just as venomous as before. M-1 speaks on the topic of government phone taping and spying in a very low voice as if not to be heard by the ever-present feds. “’Till We Get There” featuring K’Naan and Stori James is another laid back song with a powerful message of unity and hope. M-1 also takes this album to talk about romance. If you have ever listened to any of Dead Prez’s music in the past you know that aside from “Mind Sex” you would be hard pressed to find any romantic material in their catalog. While it is definitely not his strength, M-1 teams up with Q-Tip and Cassandra Wilson in the light hearted track, “Love You Can’t Borrow.” Producers Fabrizio Sotti and Eric “Ibo” Butler lend their creative talents to the track, providing a different feel and sound that most die hard Dead Prez fans would probably shun but in the bigger picture will probably gain M-1 a more diverse fan base.

But not every track on the album is subtle in its delivery and distant from Dead Prez’s revolutionary roots. M-1’s comrade Sticman lends his voice to the standout track “Early”. Relying on revolutionary tactics in their rhymes, the duo let’s everyone know that they are still on the grind together and puts to rest any rumor of a breakup over a hard hitting beat that sets the album off right. Styles P shows the loyal RBG family who may not listen to groups like the Lox that there are mc’s on major labels who talk about controversial political topics and rep the streets and in Styles’ case, he has been a respected artist in the game for almost 10 years. “Land Bread & Housing” is a creative composition that focuses on the ideals of the RBG movement and features M’s momma and Raye. Butter provides what it arguably the deepest beat on the album while M-Uno reminisces on his past. “ Wonder why we made “Let’s Get Free” I was investing all I had in my community, buying black. Cuz my mentality is RBG, not just some colors on a wrist band I put it like this man…” Even though the album does not show off his lyrical dexterity, it’s real talk, and something that anyone going through any sort of struggle can relate to.

The album is not without its flaws though. “The Beat” and “For You” seem to be overly produced for the album. But once again M-1 should be applauded for stepping outside of the typical Dead Prez sound and trying a different type of sound. Don’t Put Down Your Flag is another song on the album that seems out of place. While the topic is on point with the RBG tradition, the vocals add to the awkwardness of the song and the complete product just doesn’t work.

M-1 goes a step further than many artists today and includes a DVD that touches a lot of very poignant issues in society and gives M-1 a chance to connect with his fans through a different medium and includes his video for “When we get there”. Through these different avenues M-1 really puts together a total package that displays his personality in ways that were never expressed on wax before while at the same time representing the people army the way only a member of Dead Prez can.

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