Oakland, California, hip-hop duo Blackalicious has existed since 1992. The two members are called Tim Parker and Xavier Mosley in daily life, but their stage names are much nicer: Gift Of Gab and Chief Xcel. They are often classified with 'westcoast' rappers like Dr. Dre and 2 Pac but their records sound completely different. Their lyrics are more positive and their music fits better with De La
… Soul, Jungle Brothers and Arrested Development. Blazing Arrow is the fourth Blackalicious album and the first for a major record company. So it seems time for the definitive breakthrough and there is a good chance of that, because in 1999 they already scored a hit with Don't Let Money Change Ya from the album NIA. It is a long CD (over seventy minutes!) That is full of variety. So we hear influences from the funk, jazz (fusion) rock and old skool hip hop. Not every idea works out well, but on average the album scores more than satisfactory. Also interesting is the guest list: Zack de la Rocha (ex-Rage Against The Machine), Jaguar Wright, Saul Williams, Money Mark (Beastie Boys), Ben Harper, Gil Scott-Heron, DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist as well as members of Jurassic 5 and The Roots. Blazing Arrow is a varied, cross-border musical voyage of discovery and one of the best hip-hop albums of 2002. Let yourself be convinced by bangers like 4000 Miles, Make You Feel That Way or the overwhelming Release, which lasts more than nine minutes but doesn't bore you for a second. (MvP) Money Mark (Beastie Boys), Ben Harper, Gil Scott-Heron, DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist as well as members of Jurassic 5 and The Roots. Blazing Arrow is a varied, cross-border musical voyage of discovery and one of the best hip-hop albums of 2002. Let yourself be convinced by bangers like 4000 Miles, Make You Feel That Way or the overwhelming Release, which lasts more than nine minutes but doesn't bore you for a second. (MvP) Money Mark (Beastie Boys), Ben Harper, Gil Scott-Heron, DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist as well as members of Jurassic 5 and The Roots. Blazing Arrow is a varied, cross-border musical voyage of discovery and one of the best hip-hop albums of 2002. Be convinced by bangers like 4000 Miles, Make You Feel That Way or the overwhelming Release, which lasts more than nine minutes but does not get boring for a second. (MvP)more
