Dead Prez has been one of the most revolutionary duos in hip-hop throughout their decade-long career. Still, for many mention of their name merely generates recollections of the infectious beat and catchy hook from the single “It’s Bigger Than Hip Hop” off their 2000 debut Let’s Get Free. Lyrics like “You’d rather have a Lexus or justice / a dream or some substance / a Beamer, a necklace, or freedom?” can float over listeners’ heads, keeping the true capacity of the group from recognition. But while some have yet to board Dead Prez’s train of thought, many more have already done so. The duo of M-1 and Stic.Man has a larger global audience now than ever before, traveling to every continent with the goal of presenting revolutionary culture as a transformative tool.

Their travels bring Dead Prez to New Orleans Sunday, March 25 to headline the finale of WTUL’s Rock On Survival Marathon at Maison. For the past two months, the group has been on the road at universities and other venues as a part of their “It’s Still Bigger Than Hip-Hop: Strategies for Activism, Health and Community Power in the Information Age” speaking tour. Explaining the tour, M-1 says, “We can’t rely on the U.S. economy to sustain ourselves…We need to learn to defend ourselves”. The Brooklyn-born MC has spent time in New Orleans working alongside people like actor Wendell Pierce and Common Ground’s Malik Rahim to help the city’s struggling communities. “They’ve been on the ground making revolutionary moves for years and have fantastic strategies. I can only lend to what they are doing.” He also expresses the need for people who had ownership of land and property before Katrina to come back to claim it and be a part of the city. “We don’t want to re-invent a new, whitewashed New Orleans.”

While M-1 focuses on community activism, his partner Stic.Man focuses on the personal health of body and mind, saying that “true wealth comes from good health and wise ways.” Stic Man recently released a solo album, The Workout, comprised of motivational tracks about training, eating, and living an all-around healthy lifestyle. “Jumpin’ rope, open up the lungs full of oxygen / circulate the blood so the body works optimum,” is an example of the lyrics on the record. Inspired by people like Bruce Lee, Stic emphasizes the five principles of knowledge, nutrition, exercise, rest, and consistency, and his RBG Fit Club campaign offers everything from workout plans to meditation techniques. Stic.Man sticks to his principles. “I meditate every day,” he says, and when I spoke with him, he had just finished working out at the gym.

Dead Prez has come a long way from their wild days 12 years ago when Let’s Get Free was released. Both members spoke about the new responsibilities of fatherhood, including the necessity to portray the best image possible while still maintaining a revolutionary status. You can hear it in their newer lyrics: “Stayin’ healthy, it’s deep for me / it’s like a mantra / my son needs to see me doin’ more than smokin’ ganja.” “We are fathers, and with that comes a different perspective of life,” explains M-1.

He also explains Dead Prez’s growing global appeal. Some of his favorite artists today are from other countries, including England, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. He also has a project, AP2P (All Power to the People), with Italian producer Bonnot in which he transforms genres from electro and dance to reggae and ska.

Aside from that, M-1 is working on a solo album, as well as Information Age, the next album from Dead Prez. Stic.Man is also full of projects in the works. He shared how he recently wrote the score for a documentary about the health effects of soul food that will premiere on PBS. He’s also writing a book about relationships. Both M-1 and Stic.Man promise that in ten years they’ll still be producing innovative content while continuing in their roles as global revolutionaries. “In ten years, I see Dead Prez fostering resistance through music in many forms. We want to keep our finger on the pulse of the people so we can project peoples’ ideas and make music to move us from one point to the next,” says M-1.

Dead Prez performs Sunday, March 25 at Maison. Local standouts Natee, Truth Universal, Melaphyre, and Chels open. Tickets are $20 for regular admission, $30 for VIP balcony admission. Doors open at 8 p.m.