In 1999, Defari was one of the most exciting emerging voices in Hip-Hop. Mentored by The Alkaholiks’ E-Swift, the southern California MC appeared on Dr. Dre’s massive 2001 the same year he released Focused Daily on Tommy Boy Records. Like affiliates Xzibit and Dilated Peoples, the Likwit MC appeared capable of representing the underground with an aesthetic potentially embraced by the mainstream. Rolling with Evidence and Dilated since the earliest days, Defari drops Rare Poise following a decade-plus-hiatus.

Produced entirely by Evidence (who earned a Grammy for his board work on Kanye West’s College Dropout), the LP features Rakaa Iriscience, Phil Da Agony, and Krondon. The self-released album was also mixed by Eddie Sancho (of Gang Starr and D&D Studios fame).

To promote his latest LP, Defari made it available for fans to check out before they buy:

In addition to the stream of consciousness on the title track, highlights include the confident “Champion Sound” and the wisdom-drenched closer, “Dedicated.”

Although Defari has been quiet on the album front, he appeared on DJ EFN’s Another Time in 2015.