This came out in 1999 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Like most rappers these days, Defari has a secret identity.
Except his isn’t very glamourous — it’s Mr. Johnson, history teacher at Inglewood High School in L.A. But you’d never know he’s an educator with a master’s degree by his debut CD. Avoiding the old-school, Defari’s haunting, Wu Tang Clan-style tracks and syncopated Timbaland beats lay the foundation for his “spectacular vernacular” and sharp flow. The only downside is his expressionless voice, which starts to drag after a while like a double-period history lecture. Defari gets points for effort, but he’s far from the head of the class.
