Immortal Technique

Revolution-building is painful, thankless, hard work. Immortal Technique isn’t only a self-styled revolutionary, however, but a battle MC, so his withering critiques of politicians, capitalist pigs and cultural cowards are served through incendiary, violent language — you can usually hear the weariness and strain in his voice. He raps the type of rhymes you’ll hear at an MC battle between skilled opponents, but, like Dead Prez, uses them to foment societal change. Immortal Technique’s two albums, appropriately titled Revolutionary volumes 1 and 2, established him as an artist to be reckoned with, and a third opus is scheduled for release this fall. Consider his upcoming appearance as a preview for one of the most highly anticipated underground hip-hop albums of 2006.