Blackalicious, Blazing Arrow (MCA/Quannum) 9+
It's mind-bending how an album like Blackalicious' accomplished 2000 debut Nia could have been so incredibly overlooked while bozos like Jay-Z and Eminem get all the attention. After more than ten years in the underground scene, the duo of Chief Xcel and The Gift of Gab have finally signed to a major label. To the dullards who whine about them selling out, I say, where the hell were you when Nia should have made them as big as De La Soul? Blazing Arrow continues with the earthy, soulful, tuneful Native Tongues style hip-hop that Blackalicious is keeping fresh, leading a West Coast contingent that includes Dilated Peoples and Jurassic 5, members of whom guest on "Passion" and "4,000 Miles". Fans of Gift Of Gab's mile-a-minute verbal athletics like "Alphabet Aerobics," "Deep In The Jungle," "Rhyme Like A Nut" and "A2G" will be thrilled with the dizzying standout "Paragraph President," but disappointed by "Chemical Calisthenics," a heroic attempt at rapping the periodic table of elements, but just doesn't flow very well. Kudos to them for being unafraid to geek out. Perhaps they'll be commissioned to do a hip-hop update of the Schoolhouse Rock cartoon shorts. Pleasurable moments abound in tracks like "Aural Pleasure" which starts with Fela afrobeat horns and a jumping reggae beat; catchy choruses in "Sky Is Falling" and "Make You Feel That Way," and the clever bubbling water sample of the title track. "Passion" is the hardest hitting track with an assist from Rakaa and Babu of Dilated Peoples. Blazing Arrowis a masterful demonstration of old-school hip-hop skills and lyricism. Yet up-and-coming artists who use the inspired production madness of Outkast and Cannibal Ox as their blueprint may soon make Blackalicious sound a bit old fashioned. Enjoy until the next revolution.
