There was a period in the early aughts when Definitive Jux seemed destined to shape the future of hip hop. While the label featured many experimental and politically minded acts, Mr Lif stood out as the most “conscious rapper” in the traditional sense. However, his follow-up EP, Emergency Rations, from 2002, was post-9/11 hip hop at its boldest.

The EP opens with a skit about Lif being abducted by government agents—an eerie prediction that seems prescient in today’s political climate. The rest of the seven tracks deliver fiery political raps, catchy hooks and flawless production that ranges from gothic underground to futuristic synth meltdowns. On “Jugular Vein,” Lif plays the role of a revolutionary attempting to organize an uprising against an oppressive police state: “Let me nutshell-tell my life story, but I got to hurry up, and kick it, ‘cause the Feds are lookin for me.”

The Edan-produced track “Heavily Artillery” takes centre stage with its relentless military march drums, video game explosions, and low drones. Lif’s urgent raps demand a chaotic backdrop that this track provides perfectly. He spits lyrics calling out the Bush administration, the Afghan war, and America’s thirst for foreign oil over his own beat, which melds sharp gated drums with synth war horns.

“Pull Out Your Cut” is an old-school funk-infused tribute to Lif's favorite rappers from Wu-Tang Clan, Ultramagnetic MCs, and KRS-One. However, it’s also a critique of toxic masculinity: “Dudes are acting macho and they don’t know why.” Meanwhile, “Get Wise ‘91” sees Edan return to the mic, while “The Unorthodox” is a stuttery boombap piece.

The whole album culminates in El-P’s production credit on the track “Phantom,” which features a synth bassline bustling with rage as echoes of Lif’s musings swirl in the background. It’s an early example of El-P mastering his post-apocalyptic, noisy, and futuristic beats into something anthemic.