Literati is a Minneapolis by way of Sweden rap team consisting
of rapper Mercies May and producer Caesar. The former apparently
got "deported back to the United States," so he was only there
long enough to develop a jaded attitude about American cultural
complacency. Meanwhile Caesar was making a name for himself in the
Twin Cities with his beats, to the point that when the two teamed
up they were a perfect fit for Fill in the Breaks. Those who
know the FITB imprint are probably familiar with rapper/producer
Ecid, but a strong roster
of local Minnesota artists has filled in the blanks around him.
Having dipped their feet in the water with the EP "Real Pain For
My Sham Friends" in 2011, "Fait Accompli" is their full length
arrival on the scene with 12 tracks and almost 45 minutes of
material. The title itself is a summation of their position in
the competitive Twin Cities rap scene - a way of saying "we're
here and for real and we ain't goin' nowhere - so deal with it."
Not even a sudden blast of "Tear Gas" can make them stop
standing their ground and run - they are firm in their beliefs.
There's also a fair bit of despair in songs like "The Future,"
where they seem to believe humanity has taken a turn for the worse:
"With pinned eyelids we sit silent
And we keep buying the speeches of tyrants
Preachers teaching the sheep compliance
And we the people can't deny that..."
The unnamed singer on the hook provides some balance though, and
her vocals combined with the hard hitting electronic backdrop make
the entire song reminiscent of a Swollen Members track. Mercies doesn't have the jagged
brutal beauty of Madchild, but he does have just as much to say,
and perhaps in declaring himself "My Own Worst Enemy" he and
the SM rapper would find some common ground.
There's undeniably something charming about this group that
stands out in the crowded Midwestern rap scene. Perhaps it's
the willingness to experiment with different flow styles on
songs like "Parade." Perhaps it's the deft touch Caesar shows
on production for surprisingly gentle songs like "Shade and
Shadow," where Mercies whispers like LL Cool J on "I Need Love."
Whatever it is though I can't easily write off "Fait Accompli"
and I'm not even going to try. What I can do is chuck hyperbole
out the window and give you straight facts. Are they the
greatest thing since sliced bread? No. Are they going to
change the world of rap music as we know it? No. Will their
exposure outside the Midwest be high? Possible but unlikely.
That's okay though - Literati don't seem obsessed with being
rich and famous. If they're content with making quality music
for a small but like-minded audience "Fait Accompli" is indeed
a done deal - an irrefutably dope fact of musical life.
Music Vibes: 8 of 10
Lyric Vibes: 7 of 10TOTAL Vibes: 7.5 of 10
![[Fait Accompli]](../coverart/literati-Fait.jpg)
Literati is a Minneapolis by way of Sweden rap team consisting
of rapper Mercies May and producer Caesar. The former apparently
got "deported back to the United States," so he was only there
long enough to develop a jaded attitude about American cultural
complacency. Meanwhile Caesar was making a name for himself in the
Twin Cities with his beats, to the point that when the two teamed
up they were a perfect fit for Fill in the Breaks. Those who
know the FITB imprint are probably familiar with rapper/producer
Ecid, but a strong roster
of local Minnesota artists has filled in the blanks around him.