A.V. Sessions: IceMantis' "Analyze This"
MC DLO and producer Man Mantis don't lack for creative outlets in Madison. Both are members of local hip-hop band Dumate and its Stink Tank offshoot, Mantis recently joined up with electro-rap-pop group Star Persons and rapper J. Dante, and DLO's guested on a recent tracks from fellow locals L.O.S.T. S.O.U.L.S, in addition to his own solo work as a rapper and beatmaker. Their new project together, IceMantis, seems to have a distinct purpose other than making them even busier: The songs they've debuted so far from an in-the-works album allow DLO to home in with greater intensity on his chosen themes. "Analyze This," which the two recently performed for us at Madison's DNA Studios, is a lyrical exploration of pop music's ability to both inspire and mislead. Aspiring to stand up "like Yao Ming / With the hair of Don King," DLO gave us some verses worth analyzing in their own right, and Mantis complemented his beat with some live scratching. The song not only has a message, it's about messages—yet it's well-rounded instead of heavy-handed. Oh, and stay tuned after the song for a special DLO tutorial.
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