The Wake

The Perceptionists may be one of the best hip-hop supergroups ever. They’re a collective of uniquely and supremely gifted hip-hop heads and intellects. The group – DJ Fakts 1, Akrobatik, and Mr. Lif – are among the best Def Jux has to offer. On their own, they’ve all had more than successful indie careers. As a group, they’ve elevated their respective styles into one conscious stream of pure heavenly hip-hop. They’re a Boston-born beat-breaking lyric-shaking machine that cannot be stopped. They’re currently touring around the country in a van, picking up new devotees as they go. Recently, Ak and Fakts were kind enough to talk to us about a whole lot. Read on. Love it. And go pick up the album while you’re at it.

The Wake: What’s up?

Fakts 1: Hey what’s up man?

The Wake: So, how’s it going?

Fakts: Eh, chillin’.

The Wake: So what are you doin’?

Fakts: Just hangin’ out in Milwaukee man. Just had a couple days off so we’re just here stuck in the hotel basically.

The Wake: How’s the hotel?

Fakts: It’s a good hotel, thank god.

The Wake: I was wondering – the Patriots won. I know you guys saw that coming . . .

Fakts: Well, yeah – we wrote a song about it months ago. But, I’ll tell you this much, man. I woke up the night before in a cold sweat thinking that Philly was gonna win it. And then the game went almost exactly like my dream for the first half. So I was just sittin there – we were at this bar across the street with all these Eagles fans and shit.

The Wake: You go to a lot of games in New England?

Fakts: Ah, I used to. Me and my dad used to be season tickets holders, man, so I was goin’ to games from like ’85 up to maybe like a year ago.

The Wake: So what are your thoughts on T.O.?

Fakts: T.O.? He played great, I mean he had a great game.

The Wake: And Randy?

Fakts: Randy Moss? Well, I dunno. I’m not a big Moss fan. I think he’s a talented player.

The Wake: So how’s the tour been? Have you had a good response so far?

Fakts: Oh yeah, definitely man. I’m here with Akrobatik and we’re both just chillin’ out. I don’t know, I guess I’d just say that it’s not really been large shows. We’ve intentionally been doin’ smaller venues and just opening up for groups who normally wouldn’t even have like a hip-hop opener. But the shows we’ve done, man – people have really been into it. We’ve gotten some really interesting responses from crowds that I didn’t even think would be into our shit.

The Wake: How so?

Fakts: Like we did this show in San Fran that was, for all intensive purposes, an indie-rock show. And a lot of people seemed really into it. It was cool, man.

The Wake: What’s the craziest thing that’s happened to you guys on tour?

Fakts: Nah. I mean, we’re not the type of guys who go out and start fights and be all wild and shit. But at the same time, we know how to have fun. A wild night for me is probably a bunch of unmentionable things and whatever in whatever publication you’re putting them in. We’re all pretty laid back.

The Wake: You guys conspiracy theorists at all?

Fakts: Ah, to some extent. Not anything super crazy. I’m not like super involved in shit. But I definitely feel like there’s some shit going on. I don’t know what it is. I wouldn’t even want to speculate on it, especially in a public forum. But there’s gotta be some power at work making shit like it is.

The Wake: You guys were named artists to watch in 2005 by the Boston Globe. How do you feel about that?

Fakts: I think it’s great, man. I’m glad that we can get a lot of love in our hometown. And I think that’s important for any musician or artist – just to have that kind of support wherever they come from. I mean, if you can’t do it at home, what makes you think you can do it somewhere else?

The Wake: What’s the scene like in Boston, outside of New York?

Fakts: It’s cool. There’s a lot of shows – a lot of tours that come through. Butt there’s also a lot of local cats. I mean, they’re about a dime a dozen – not even a dime a dozen. More like a dime a gross. Everybody raps. Everyone makes beats. So it makes for an interesting scene, because there a lot of young cats doing their thing – but it also gets watered down.

The Wake: What else do you listen to?

Fakts: A lot of dub, a lot of reggae. What we listen to on the truck when we’re driving around is probably a good example. I mean, we’ll listen to like ‘Kid A’ to like The Congos.

The Wake: Cool, so what are you doing when you’re not playing shows?

Fakts: Interviews, sleep. We’ve been doin’ like phone interviews in the morning. Doin’ email interviews. Like, literally, I’ve been sitting here on my laptop and I haven’t left all day. Here’s AK. Peace.

The Wake: What’s up AK?

Akrobatik: Not much man.

The Wake: So you’ve got an online Madden league. Why’d you do that?

AK: Well, I just love competition and playing. It’s the next best thing to being a player. I mean, being in a league. Competition is also a way to keep in touch with friends, and to give fans a feeling that we’re accessible. We’re just regular guys to chill with.

The Wake: So, in “Memorial Day” you talk a lot about Bush, politics, etc. Is that something that you want to keep at the forefront of your music?

AK: Well, you know – the world is constantly changing. There’s always a lot of different things going on. So I just feel that, as a lyricist, I just want to talk about what’s going on. Whether it be politics, or health – whatever. There’s just so many topics to talk about. And because the world is constantly changing and because we as people are constantly evolving there’s always things to talk about.

The Wake: So if there were a draft – hypothetically – and you were drafted, would you go?

AK: Well, first of all. I don’t think I’d be of much use because of a lot of old football injuries. But if it came down to it, and I was eligible and they wanted to draft me, would I go? Um, no. I wouldn’t go. Absolutely not.

The Wake: Yeah, me neither.

The Wake: Who are some of your favorite rappers?

AK: My favorites are KRS, Big Daddy Kane, Public Enemy. Nowadays I like a lot of the MF Doom stuff. De La Soul is still up there for me.

The Wake: Got a favorite on Def Jux?

AK: If I had to pick one, I mean. RJD2 isn’t an MC, but I think I like his music the best out of anyone. But you know, the originator EL-P is pretty good.

The Wake: You came out with Balance last year. You working on anything right now?

AK: Yeah, I’m working on stuff. Taking my time. But my focus right now is promoting the Black Dialogue album.