 
On the eve of their third full length release, Gift of Gab and Chief Excel are back at home in the bay hoping to once again demonstrate the reason for their on-going success to a sold-out crowd at the Independent in San Francisco. Having been on tour for over five weeks now, the group shows some signs of fatigue, but still manage to easily rip through their catalogue in true form. Never ceases to amaze, they run the stage with such intensity and drive that one has to remind oneself that this is a group that’s been around for over ten years and not just some hungry new-comers. A fact not lost on the crowd as they celebrate each old favorite and welcome their latest efforts. Still, one has to wonder just how Blackalicious manage to pull of this Hip-Hop dream, keeping integrity and their musical inclinations completely in tacked over all these years? After all, they have gone from local independents (Solesides) to major label players (MCA) and now back some where in between (Anti/Epitaph). At closer look, one of the main reasons seems to be due to their long-standing commitment to each other’s abilities and willingness to push pass musical boundaries. Jus t observe their body of work from their first release, Melodica on through their breakout LP, Nia and now with their newest release, The Craft and you’ll notice the type of progression that both Gab and Excel have been working so hard to create. The Craft envelopes all of their past accomplishments by continuing the feel without a hint of lost inertia. Equally responsible, both members do their part in advancing their sound. For Chief, it’s been his ability to work on a grander scale due to newer technology. Unlike his days spent laboring over his MPC 60, chopping up samples alongside fellow crewmember, DJ Shadow, he now has all of the benefits of technological advancements at his disposal and has definitely taken advantage of it. The beats on Craft are richly textured and create a very fluid vibe, ideal for Gab’s unrelenting flow. Gab himself has made attempts to push his lyrical abilities as well, changing both style and cadence throughout the album, giving the listener a refreshing variety to choose from. Whether it’s the head-nodding lyrical prowl ness of “Supreme People” or the idie-ish pop-induced danceable beat of “Powers”, Blackalicious have perfected the idea of a well-balanced album. Because of this, some of the songs that may not necessarily appeal to the listener by themselves still manage to add to the vibe of the album as a whole. Don’t get it wrong, though, there are very few moments on The Craft that one can actual claim to be fillers. If you’re fiending for Gab to demonstrate his uncanny wordplay, the album gives you plenty of that. Check “Your Move” for some classic no-nonsense Quanum type hip-hop as Gab spits viciously over a haunting distorted guitar riff or “My Pen and A Pad” with it’s very short but sweet demonstration of Gift of Gab’s vocal agility. And if that isn’t enough, just check out the impressive cast of guests enlisted to lend a helping hand this time around. Along with Lateef and Lyrics Born, The Craft includes appearances by the very soulful Floetry on “Automatique” and the one-and-only Mr. George Clinton on “Lotus Flower”. Each of these songs serve as soulful additions to the overall vibe and great transitions from one half of the album to the other. Essentially, The Craft is a demonstration of everything that the duo is capable of. In the end though, none of these factors really matter. After all, the sole purpose of any album is to be worth listening. Period. One could get every great musician on their album and still end up with rather disappointing results. Too often this is the case. Fortunately, Blackalicious have never lost their sense of pride in their work or the discipline in their approach and because of that, they continue to create albums that will stand the test of time and push hip-hop forward into new directions. |
Hip
Hop Craftsmen