Dodge this blazing arrow, and make way for Blackalicious’ new album.
Blackalicious is one of the most talented hip-hop groups in existence, and “Blazing Arrow,” their new album, shows off this talent throughout its 17 tracks. The Bay Area duo’s newest album is not only their major label debut, but it is also a successful showing of their talent and their willingness to experiment.
Blackalicious is a result of the juxtaposition of lyricist Gift of Gab and DJ/producer Chief X-Cel. The rhymes on “Blazing Arrow” are smooth and electrifying, and the beats are impressive.
In true hip-hop style, the group gets help from everyone and their momma. The group includes Quantum Posse, Dilated Peoples’ Rakaa and Babu, and Jurassic 5’s Cut Chemist and Chali 2NA. Rockers Ben Harper and Rage Against the Machine’s Zach de la Rocha also contribute to the album. Several tracks are also laid down by DJ Shadow and Saul Williams, and Lyrics Born provide lyrical help on “Release part 1, 2, & 3.”
“Release” is a homage to the
evolution of hip-hop. The song is impressive because each Gift of Gab, Saul Williams and Lyrics Born have a go at the microphone and contribute their style to the song. Gift of Gab and Chief X-Cel met in high school and worked together on and off through their days at the University of California — Davis, releasing their first album “Melodica” in 1993. Blackalicious’ sound has continually matured and become freer since their first album. Both 1999’s “A26” and 2000’s “Nia” sold well and were helped by the fact that they both included the song “A to G,” which became a huge underground hit with its fast-paced crescendo of vocal stylings.
Like most modern hip-hop, the group accentuates its sound with a variety of eclectic samples. The most poignant one is the title track, which includes a short sample from the song “Me and my Arrow” from the children’s movie “The Point,” a trippy morality cartoon narrated by Ringo Starr. Gift of Gab’s lyrics are interspersed with the joyful chant, “Me and my arrow / straighter than narrow / Me and my arrow / taking the high road.”
On “Sky is Falling,” Gift of Gab explodes with a melodic wave of rage. The song continues to build in intensity as Gab chants “Children in high school rollin’ and smoke in they classes up and people that is rich don’t be checking for what is happenin’ degrading the women knocking them up leavin’ ’em smackin’ ’em up there is no way to reach us we sleeping like hell’s masters.” It then it dissolves into a frantic sample, “Rain and thunder and lightening crumbling.”
The album is perfect for dancing, chilling, driving and studying.
Blackalicious will be coming to the WOW Hall on May 27.