Philly-via-Boston rapper Mr. Lif will twist some lyrical pretzels Thursday at the Gramophone.

Lif has been wowing audiences with his rapid fire delivery and biting social observations since the mid-1990s. His recent material would delight hip hop fans and policy wonks alike: politics, the housing crisis, bank bailout, economy, etc. Lif is known for his intensely political raps and even released a series of “Presidential Reports” tracks documenting the Barack Obama-John McCain race last year.

On his new album, “I Heard It Today,” Lif is unabashedly skeptical that we will reach the promised land called Hope. Consider the opening line, “So we all supposed to start trusting the government now because we got a friendlier face to it?”

Asked whether he felt pressure not to criticize Obama, Lif said that too much ‘rah rah’ attitude can be a bad thing.

“It’s definitely an awkward position to be in because he’s the biggest media darling I’ve ever seen,” said Lif. “I’m not critiquing the man, I’m just saying this is still America. You can’t fall hook line and sinker for everything” Obama does.

Lif said that the album was a joint effort, with his and his fans input playing equal parts.

“During the course of making it, I spoke with so many people who had lost their jobs and homes,” said Lif, whose thick dreads likely pay homage to his parents Carribean roots. “It’s an expression of things that people are afraid to say. I haven’t taken the popular, commercial route, but the thought provoking route in representing the disenfranchised.”

Mr. Lif with DJ Statik, Grieves, Willie Evans & Nato Caliph
10 pm Thursday, Gramophone, 4243 Manchester Ave., $5
www.myspace.com/mrlif

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