Artist description L.I.B. (Liberation), the collective ideological think tank based out of Brooklyn of worldwide origin - build on the premise that in order to elevate hip hop's consciousness to a next level headz must first deal with themselves and change their own agendas, L.I.B. aims to liberate, educate and evolve hip hop through the exploration of diverse lyrical tactics.

Music Style Hip Hop

Musical Influences Hip Hop, Soul, Jazz, Reggae, Soka

Similar Artists Mos Def, Dead Prez, Outkast, Mystikal, J-Live, Unspoken Heard, Common, Talib Kweli, Black Star, KRS-ONE

Artist History Like Common, Blackstar and KRS, L.I.B. is about gettin' it right - not keepin' it real. Chief chemists Kahnobi and LBS (Love Born Saviour) brew beats and spit rhymes with analytical precision and body blowin' beats. Morphing into the forms of fellow liberators Kahnobi, Benny Keez, Solomon Braithwaite, Maximus, Moyande Gowan and Che-Rafael Pena, L.I.B. is a two-man multi-psyche rap phenomenon. What do these personae have in common? They are all headz that are dedicated to the evolution of hip hop to its next level: edification. The response to L.I.B. at numerous venues has been one of mad love and much adulation within the rands of their populous peeps. Having performed most recently on a 2 week UK promotional tour at shows including Fresh 2000, Dekefex, MTV - L.I.B. maintains crowd control with their lyrical liturgy. They have featured on Lyricist Lounge's 1997 compilations. A Tribe Called Quest, Redman, De La Soul and others are among the legends for which L.I.B have opened in the US.

Group Members Kenny B aka CanItBe? and Reg Wyns

Press Reviews Black L.I.B. Reviews - "K.O.S. The Finest featuring AMBERSUNSHOWER" b/w "PLAY MY SH*T" JULY 2001 DJ MAGAZINE (UK-based) DJ Magazine has to be one of the world's foremost dance music litmus test publications... so they've reviewed Black L.I.B.'s new single "K.O.S. The Finest" featuring Ambersunshower and rated it next to N.E.R.D.'s new release with a 3 out of 5 (see 13 July 2001 issue no.92/vol 2, page 80). Here's a couple of snippets of what Neil Kulkarni of DJ Magazine had to say: "Righteously compelling stuff and whaddaya expect from a band who once supported Burning Spear?.... Black L.I.B. ...are aided by Ambersunshower's inimitably conversational vocals on the rolling heat-death beats of 'The Finest'. On the flip, 'Play My SH*T' is spun by BK's long-trusted prod-team Poisoned Ivy into nattily Heron-esqe flautist-funk... Raw and rugged enough to strike matches off, Klaus Kinski-style. Oh yes." Nuff said!! AUGUST 2001 7 MAGAZINE (UK-based) "Independent hip hop pressure that shouldn't stay independent for too much longer. Recruiting Ambersunshower to provide the seductive chorus on "K.O.S. The Finest", it's just the right balance for the Black L.I.B. duo's angular beats and rhymes. Funky but darkly haunting. For the dancefloors, the better showcase can be found in the form of "Play My Sh*t", an ode to hassled DJs everywhere, all funky flute and southern fried Joe Tex style delivery for some fun floor frolics. 3/5" *Black L.I.B.'s "K.O.S. The Finest featuring Ambersunshower" /"Play My Shit" 12-inch release review by Darren Wall can be found in the DJ Plus 1 August 1st, 2001 issue of 7 Magazine, page 54. Other artists in the hip hop reviews section in this issue: Jay-Z "Izzo (Hova)" 5/5 Missy V Ragga Click "EP" 4/5 AUGUST 2001 MIXMAG MAGAZINE (UK-based) "We like this. No idea what it's about but it's mad cool. One of those dense and abstract records that the New York underground does so well; a kind of heated family argulemt on vinyl, while Ambersunshower, Tricky's latest collabo, sounds out some soothing syrup over the top. ... 4/5" *Black L.I.B.'s "K.O.S. The Finest featuring Ambersunshower" /"Play My Shit" 12-inch release review by Patrick Neate can be found in the Aaliyah August 2001 issue of MIXMAG Magazine, page 180. Other artists in the R&B/Hip Hop reviews section in this issue: Roots Manuva "Witness (One Hope)" 5/5 Lil' Mo "Superwoman Part II" 4/5 Lucy Pearl "Without You" 4/5 Snoop Dogg "Lay Low" 3/5 Usher "U Remind Me" 3.5/5 Ray J feat Lil' Kim "Wait A Minute" 4/5 Coo Coo Cal "My Projects 4/5 Afika Kimble "My Kind Of Guy" 4/5 New Flesh feat Gift Of The Gab "Communicate" 3/5 Olivia "Bizounce" 3/5 Karl Hinds "Don Gramma" 3/5 Kulcha Don "MC Is My Ambition" 3/5 De Nada "Love U Anyway" 4/5 Stargate "Wilder" 4/5 AUGUST 2001 ECHOES MAGAZINE (UK-based) "Unpredictable beats, unpredictable rhymes with grunts that sound like they come from the JVC force's 'Strong Island'... Good quality stuff ... as Black L.I.B. look like a crew that has a lot to offer in the future. 4/5" *Black L.I.B.'s "K.O.S. The Finest featuring Ambersunshower" /"Play My Shit" 12-inch release review by Derek Bardowell can be found in the Aaliyah August 2001 issue of Echoes Magazine, page 26. Other artists in the hip hop reviews section in this issue: Snoop Dogg "Lay Low" 3/5 Karl Hinds "Don Gramma" 4.5/5 Juice, Dramatic and Bandit & Smoke feat. Reach "Apocalypse" 3.5/5 Kulcha Don "MC Is My Ambition" 2.5/5 1 Giant Leap feat. Speech and Neneh Cherry "Braided Hair" 4/5 SEPTEMEBER 2001 HIP HOP CONNECTION MAGAZINE (UK-based) "L.I.B. It Up!" says journalist James McNally of UK-based Hip Hop Connection Magazine. Below a 3/4 page sized photo of Black L.I.B.'s Love Born - mid air and mid flow - at the London Hip Hop Festival show at Ocean last month, is a short feature giving a short, but street, insight into the lives and minds of Kenny B and his co-MC. James delves into aspects ranging from Love Born's film and tv acting career (acting with the likes of Ice T and John Cusack) to Kenny B's "day job as the coolest history teacher in the world". Get down to the shops and pick up your copy. You can't miss Ludacris on the front cover of this September 2001 issue... turn to page 30... and knowledge yourselves up. SEPTEMBER 2001 MUSIK MAGAZINE (UK-based) "We're so used to 'conscious' hip hop relying solely on laid back jazz breaks that it's almost a shock to hear this (slightly limping) skipping beat with Ambersunshower on the chorus, plus a flow straight from the Busta school of yelping, only with something to say. It works too, which is an even more pleasant surprise. 4/5" *Black L.I.B.'s "K.O.S. The Finest featuring Ambersunshower" /"Play My Shit" 12-inch release review by Will Ashon can be found in the So Solid Crew September, 2001 issue of Musik Magazine, page 93. Other artists in the hip hop reviews section in this issue: Last Emperor "The Banger" 3/5, Various Artists "Set Menu 2" 4/5, The Coup "5 Million Ways To Kill , A CEO" 4/5, Karl Hinds "Don Gramma Remix" 3/5, Rodney P "Murderer Style" 4/5, The Young Gunz , art 1 "Simple Tings" 4/5, Abstract Rude "Stop Biting" 4/5, Cee Why "Water Torture" 4/5, Asheru & Blue Black of Unspoken Heard "Elevator Music" 4/5, Disflex "Hot Season" 3/5, Truth En.O.La "No , atter What They Say" 3/5, Doyen & Cocka "Cock Deezal" 4/5

Location Brooklyn, New York - USA

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