Blackalicious

Editor's Review:

Blazing Arrow finds this dynamic East Bay duo cleaning up the grit that (some say favorably) permeated their earlier releases (Melodica, A to G EP), and settling into a clean, soulful and jazzy groove. The star of the show is most definitely MC Gift of Gab, whose rapid-fire delivery is as impressive as ever, showing that you don't have to be a gangster or a pimp to possess top talent in the MC game. Deep hearty grooves hold strong throughout the mix, and guest spots by Gil Scott-Heron, Jaguar Wright, Ben Harper and Chali 2na - just to name a few - point to Blackalicious' influences and affiliations, but do little to boost the overall quality of the record. In the end, it's the classic combo of Gab and DJ Chief Xcel (on tracks like the revisited "Paragraph President") that make this album worth owning.
- Max Sidman



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Record Label MCA / Quannum Released May 2002

Tracks Intro: Bow & Fire Blazing Arrow Sky Is Falling First In Flight Green Light: Now Begin 4000 Miles Nowhere Fast Paragraph President It's Going Down Make You Feel That Way Brain Washers Chemical Calisthentics Aural Pleasure Passion Purest Love Release Part 1,2 & 3 Day One