Disco de Blackalicious: “The Craft [Digipak]”

Blackalicious. After listening to this album practically everyday for the last 3 weeks, all I can do is shake my head when I say their name. Gab and Xcel cut down all the artificiality (again) and with a firm shake of the earth, establish themselves among hip-hop's elite. As if Nia, and Blazing Arrow weren't enough (not to mention A2G), they bring one of the most complete albums hip-hop has seen in years. Gab let's you know on the first two tracks "World of Vibrations" and "Supreme People" that he knows more about the hip-hop world than you do. Xcel also shows that can make music that makes what you just pulled out of your stereo sound like a blind kid on a $10 Casio garage sale keyboard. The music he produces draws the distinction between the "heartbeat" of true hip-hop, and the "flatline" of commercialized rap. They make it very clear very early that their newest album is going to be the best one you bought in a while.

After these two tracks, you come across "Rythm Sticks." With concepts reminiscent of "Alphabet Aerobics" and "Chemical Calisthenics," Gab creates an acronym of BLACKALICIOUS that by itself expands your mind. 2 verses later, he spits a verse that few in the hip-hop world are capable of now. Maybe the collective efforts of Jurassic 5, or a Talib Kweli, but they would only be duplications--Gab already did it.

Forget the "commercialization" criticism you hear about them bringing in George Clinton and Floetry. If that is commercialization, then everybody you like and can easily get your hands on a CD of is commercial. I'll lay off that criticism until they get a "Chopped and Screwed" version of Nia, which I can confidently assume will never happen. So don't listen to that stuff. The Clinton and Floetry influence isnt even that heavy on the songs they appear on. In fact, the best guest appearance is probably Pigeon John's hilarious verse on "Side to Side". Lateef the Truth Speaker and Gab have flawless verses, but Pigeon John comes in and seals the deal. He describes being in the club and that watching the girls sway on the dance floor makes him "have to pee". Not to mention the fact that Xcel provides the boys with one of the most layered-but-easy-to-dance-to beats on the album.

Of course Gab and Xcel take it more inward the second half of the album, with a message from Gab's sister playing over the end of "The Rise and Fall of Elliot Brown" and the beginning of "Black Diamonds and Pearls" reading a letter describing the state of modern prison. The introspective turn only veers slightly on "Egosonic Wardums", but comes right back with the final title track. Gab probably wont receive many accolades for what his astoundingly personal but creatively-delivered lyricism, but try to imagine the actual writing of the lyrics for "The Craft" and I think you will come across a conflicted yet peaceful genius, scribbling out words, sighing, and yet perservering for sake of the quality of the song.

All in all, I recommend this album to anyone, no matter their background in listening to hip-hop. Some songs, albums, and/or artists transcend their genres. Blackalicious' "The Craft" is one of these albums. Pay the $15, listen closely, and be glad you didnt cave in for the new "Fresh out of Houston with diamonds in my teeth and a G.E.D." artists or the "Capitalizing on trends started by artists with actual abilities" artists, and go with the good stuff.

I dont understand how all the previous reviewers can rep this album so much. This is a real digression from the sounds of Arrow and Gabs 4th Dimension. They should have released an EP with tracks 9 10 11 and 14 and put the rest in the bin.

I dont think the Blackalicious of old would have accepted some of the tripe they dish up at the start of this album. I've invested quite a few bucks on Quannum sounds over the years, and this has been my most disappointing purchase.

That said, when its good, its really, really good. Vintage, timeless... Automatique rocks my socks.

If you're familiar with Blackalicious, buy it anyway. They deserve your loyalty on the basis of services to hip hop. If this is your first album, check the back catalogue.

If you're a pure hiphop head that liked the way Blackalicious always pushed forward while at the same time just built on the gospel of 2-4 rap beats of the past, this might be a dissapointment. Its wierd. Half of this album, every Blackalicious fan will love. But the other half will be split; are you looking for the forward looking Powers, Egosonic, the more southern-tinged flavours? Or are you looking more for the funk-meets-quantised-chug tracks of Rise and Fall of Elliot Brown or Automatique that evoke feelings of Stevie Wonder and company?

Any band with the artistic fearlessness of Blackalicious is going to divide its fans as it creates new ones, so my ultimate verdict is buy this album if you're a 'licious fan. If you're not sure, make sure you sample every song, because this is one album that has so much of absolutely everything good that it trascends tastes, despite everything being extremely well executed.

I don't mind appreciating the songs I dont like, they just ain't my wheelhouse. It doesn't change my opinion that Blackalicious is almost too talented and fearless for their own good.

I always find my standout tracks are fairly different than others'. For me, its the exquisitely produced World of Vibrations, the amazing story/message/party/posse track Side to Side, and the far too short My Pen and Pad .. the latter which might just make you wonder if you ever wanted Gab to progress beyond the messageless but mindblowing lyrical dexterity of "A to Z." Change is difficult, but Blackalicious always makes me realize its worth the challenge.

I've always been an observer of the Quannum crew. I kept my distance, but they always had my attention. I didn't know what to make of these cats because for every album I thought was dope, they'd put out something that I couldn't get into (like Lyrics Born's "Later That Day" LP). There's a consistency that this camp has become known for, yet (with the exception of Blackalicious) I didn't feel comfortable enough with their work to put any dollars on any of it. I'd borrow their stuff or have someone copy it for me, but that's all changed in 2005. This is the second Quannum album, along with General Elektriks' "Cliquety Kliqk" album, that has been on repeat in my car for about two weeks now. I've always known Gift of Gab to be an excellent MC. He makes rapping seem so easy. Chief Xcel is just crazy on the boards. He keeps expanding his sound and taking it to places that I didn't think were possible to go in hip hop. There are so many tight songs on the album that I'be be writing two more paragraphs just to cover them all. But know that out of 14 joints, 12 of them are excellent,top notch pieces of work in my humble opinion. There aren't necessarily any breakout hits, but the whole album meshes well together. Like another reviewer said, you have to listen to to the whole thing in order to gain a full appreciation of it.

There are maybe one or two blemishes on this LP, but you'd be hard pressed to find them. Honestly, I wasn't feeling "Supreme People". By no means am I calling it wack; it just isn't quite my speed. And the hook for "World Of Vibrations" seems a little too hokey for this listener. All negatives in regards to this album end there.

As we all know, Gift of Gab is always on point when he's on the mic. What makes things really stand out to me is the progression in Xcel's production. He truly shows some range on this album. Just when I think he can't march any further, he digs in and outdoes himself again. The Craft should be a welcome addition to any fan of rap music or just good music in general. After examining this album and giving it repeat spins, I can say that Quannum Records have gained themselves another convert. I'll definitely be on the hunt for more of their material. Highly recommended

Standout Tracks: The Fall And Rise Of Elliot Brown (My Favorite), Give It To You feat. Kween & Lyrics Born, Side To Side feat. Lateef & Pigeon John, Your Move feat. Lifesavas, Black Diamonds And Pearls feat. Larry Saunders & Ledisi, Automatique feat. Floetry, World Of Vibrations, My Pen And Pad, and Lotus Flower feat. George Clinton

No, no, no, no, no. This is not the kind of 'diverse' album that we should celebrate. This is experimentation gone wrong. When you have a beautiful thing like the traditional sound of Blackalicious why would you mess with that?

There are certain groups out there in desperate need of changing their sound. Blackalicious was not one of them. The chopped samples laden with refreshingly original soul and African funk have been replaced by the kind of 'space funk' that would make Andre 3000 wet his pants. A shout-out to George Clinton and Sun-Ra is always a good thing but I just do not think it's working here. Spaced-out grooves work if you can smear decadence all over it like Prince, Chromeo, or The Neptunes do. Otherwise it's just kitch. Songs like 'Powers' - a track cornier than the Black Eyed Peas - is more a soft radio-friendly pop tune than anything else. Same thing can be said about 'World of Vibrations'. Other poor quality tracks include the lackluster 'Supreme People' featuring sloppy cuts on Xcel's part at the beginning of the track. For someone who put together songs like 'Deception' and 'Alphabet Aerobics' I am genuinely perplexed.

Basically from songs 1 to 6 this album is not worth your beer money. I wouldn't even recommend downloading them. 'Rhythm Sticks' is a boring sample that sounds exactly like 'Supreme People' and 'Lotus Flower' doesn't have the same sex appeal that older Blackalicious joints like 'Aural Pleasure' off of Blazing Arrow have.

That being said, there are still 7 more tracks on this album that are highly listenable and remain loyal to the Blackalicious sound that we all know and love. 'Side to Side' is stellar MCing courtesy of the always on-point Gift and his Quannum counterpart Lateef. 'Automatique' is the album's highlight with great rhymes and gorgeous production that really channels the West Coast funk. 'The Craft' is the album's rare success with space-funk as Xcel samples an old 70s television theme, which compliments beautifully over Gift's standard contemplative rhymes. Don't skip tracks from track 7 onwards because Gift and Xcel go to work here, as The Chief sneaks in some fabulous intermission groove causing Gab to competently switch up his flow, creating some tasty one-minute jam sessions between songs.

I wear my love for hip hop on my sleeve. Blackalicious has been one of my favorite rap groups ever since I heard Melodica way back when. But having always understood and witnessed the pitfalls of being a so-called 'positive' rap group the major problem here is that one is always been suspect of being on the soft side - just look at the Black Eyed Peas. Because Gift is such an amazing MC and Xcel churns out classic jams you can't really hate, although this time around the duo have taken an experimental path that I fear will alienate their original fanbase in what I assume is their effort to earn some mainstream scans. If you don't understand what I mean just listen to 'Powers' and think of all the radio rap that Nelly, Ja Rule and the Black Eyed Peas have put out in the last five years. While I still love these guys and will continue to listen to their music and try to understand their endeavours, I must admit that they have exposed an ojective in their music that I am just not feeling right now. Too positive, too kitch, too much. Not for the seasoned listener.