{^Live at the Middle East} is possibly the most unusual {\hip-hop} album ever released. The idea of an artist essentially subjecting a paying audience to previously unreleased material (some of which is being improvised live onstage) is considered esoteric, the province of {\jazz} and {\jam bands}. By {\hip-hop} standards, it's unheard of. {$Mr. Lif}, however, is not your typical {\hip-hop} artist, which renders {^Live at the Middle East} a fascinating experiment. Not only is {$Lif} a skilled MC and articulate lyricist, he has a quirky, original sense of humor, so in addition to one entire track dedicated to how {$Lif} beat his DJ at Nintendo, there's also a spontaneous three-song cycle dramatizing an MC who starts off as an underground rapper, scores a major-label deal, and realizes he can never write a meaningful rhyme again. In addition to unveiling some material he recorded but did not release (such as the witty work-sucks diatribe {&"Live From the Plantation"}), {$Lif} invites his DJ {$Akbar} and fellow rapper {$Akrobatic} in an extended freestyle session, including a clever rhyme improvised when the record skips. Whether rapping about nuclear war in {&"Earthcrusher"} or reminiscing about his past hairstyles in {&"Dreafro,"} {$Lif} is simply one of the smartest, most original rappers around, and the range of his humor and skills makes {^Live at the Middle East} a superb release to please any fan of smart, well-crafted {\hip-hop}. ~ Victor W. Valdivia, All Music Guide