Is “Summertime” Dead Prez’s Best Video Yet?

Dead Prez has made quite a name for itself making hard records that mirror their “Revolutionary but Gangster” motto. Most of their songs talk about injustice and the pending revolution, a trend that is also translated in their music videos (and M-1’s recent visit to Gaza). But with the exception of “Hip-Hop” their biggest record has been “Mind Sex,” the lone romantic cut on an otherwise very militant album, Let’s Get Free.

Now the duo has released another refreshing anomaly, the nostalgic sun-soaked video for “Summertime” off their Pulse of the People mixtape with DJ Green Lantern.  In a recent interview with GIANT, Stic.Man confessed that it’s his favorite track on the tape, which begs the question, why don’t Dead Prez make feel-good records more often?

“Hip-Hop” was an undeniable hit that’s stripped-down bass-heavy beat was used in the Chappelle Show’s opening sequence and became a constant at basement freestyle sessions across the country. The song hit hard and the video matched Stic.Man and M-1’s intensity, effectively introducing them to the world as their generation’s Public Enemy.

But it was “Mind Sex” that won them a female following and demonstrated that they were more than Panther disciples with microphones instead of megaphones. It was dope that “Mind Sex” didn’t facilitate a pop crossover for the group, but it showed a versatility that has since gone underutilized.

“Summertime” finally returns to that approach, though it’s again the exception on an otherwise hard-hitting mixtape. The song features a smooth Teddy Pendergrass, a laid-back vibe and progressive lyrics that channels all the best parts of June, July and August into a relaxing, if somewhat romanticized, summery video. “Hip-Hop” is a hard racous video, but “Summertime” is more detailed and artistic and has a wider appeal.

Is it their best song? Not even close. But if they’ve learned anything over the years, it’s that the songs that stray from their M.O. are the ones that most expand their reach.

Here’s to summer!

-Lukas Brekke-Miesner