“Against the Brain” The Seattle based hip-hop duo consisting of Mezus (aka J.Lee) and Paradame.

Since its inception, Active I has gone through several incarnations. The brainchild of producer/vocalist J.Lee, Active I released its first LP BeSmrt Dn’t Think in 2006, featuring J along with emcee/vocalist Rube dog. A mix of hip hop, reggae, and electronica featuring funky live instrumentation, the album was critically acclaimed and gained a cult following, with tracks that are still heard on independent radio stations across the globe, and have been featured on several nationally broadcast TV shows.

Active I released its second album The M Thesis in 2009, featuring a diverse line up of rappers and singers including J.Lee, Auraswon, Paradame, Rubedog, B.Smooth, Unlimited MC, and Charms La Roc. Typical of J.Lee, it’s not an album that is easily categorized. The album employs J.’s love of paradox; of what he calls, complex simplicity: Discerning and intricate messages acknowledging the of the ills of society, while simultaneously delivering a feeling of senseless tomfoolery and sarcasm. Among the album’s accomplishments was an Independent Music Award for “Our Way” a collaboration between J.Lee and Unlimited MC, which won best hip hop lyrics for 2010.

Over the next few years Active I grew its following, performing shows featuring J.Lee alongside a rotating lineup of artists, mainly Auraswon and Paradame (the most heavily featured vocalists). In 2011 and 2012, the crew took a hiatus from performing as Active I, to join with a larger set of performers which became known as the A.D. Crew, but then reformed in late 2013, with J.Lee and Paradame as the new official group lineup. Active I will be dropping a new LP in the fall of 2014.

Far from usual fare for hip hop, Active I continues to create unforgettable music and gain devoted fans, fitting for artists who long ago quit trying to be anyone but themselves. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.