12 years ago, Mr. Lif & Akrobatik’s group The Perceptionists were set to release their debut album on the now legendary label Def Jux. The Boston trio (which included DJ Fakts One at the time) had dropped the single “Memorial Day” outlining the politics of the day that were not so dissimilar to today’s climate. Their debut album ‘Black Dialogue‘ hit and earned acclaim across the board from XLR8R to Entertainment Weekly, and landed in the Top 50 on Billboard’s Heatseeker’s Charts.
“Perceptionists are to the Boston, MA, hip-hop scene as the Justice League of America are to superheroes: the best of the best marshaling their powers for the collective good.” –Billboard
From those expectant beginnings, The Perceptionists launched their commercial career. But just before the first tour, DJ Fakts One left the group to focus on family. Lif & Ak went out on the road performing at Paid Dues alongside their peers Murs, and Atmosphere. The record had its moment in the sun, and then the business of music quickly pushed Lif back into his solo artist position to prepare for a follow-up album. Akrobatik signed a solo deal with Fat Beats.
After a near fatal tour bus crash (38 feet off an embankment), and the release of ‘I Heard It Today‘, Mr. Lif took some time off from his solo career and ended up joining the DC super group Thievery Corporation in 2009. On the other end of things, Akrobatik was suddenly hit with health issues requiring emergency surgery (an aortic dissection) to save his life.
This is the official mini-documentary of Mr. Lif & Akrobatik (The Perceptionists).