Tightly wound, even melodic rapping Featuring some of this stellar mc's hungriest work, Melodica remains a focused, well produced, powerhouse rap ep. Gift of Gab has to have the most impressive aresenal of rapid fire syllabic control I have ever heard, although his tone and oft- off kilter tendencies usually rub rap fans wrong. While Gab's overly ambitious verses may alienate the uninvolved, anyone who has ever cared for the art of rhyme should be able to see through the blatantly ambitious raps and cut right down to that essence where the usage of words as an organic microbeat with wit included.
buyer beware!!!!!!! this album is not as rare as people make it out to be. DO NOT be tricked into paying $70 for an album that you can special order from any record store for under $15. This album is a masterpiece of hip hop, but is not all that rare.
One of the top hip-hops eps, ever (as of 10/22/2003) This EP is an exercise in lyrical dexterity and sublime production. Blackalicious' debut into recorded hip-hop was one of the top releases of the 1990's. Chief XCel (in collaboration with Dj Shadow at times) does what should be unthinkable (as he does on Nia and Blazing Arrow as well somehow), and provides beats that match up the the aptly-named Gift of Gab's sensational spit. Despite the seemingly inherent contradiction in terms, on "Swan Lake", Gift of Gab at times mumbles with perfect clarity over Chief XCel and Dj Shadow's evolved sample of The Stylistics' "People Make the World Go Round." Both "Lyric Fathom" and "Deep in the Jungle" feature John Moschita-like flow by Gift of Gab at the top of his game. Guest appearances by Asia Born and Lateef the Dread Piper (known these days as Lyrics Born and Lateef the Truth Speaker respectively) round out the album. This joint shows the skill that would produce one of hip-hop's true high-spots in Blazing Arrow. Saying that though, does this release an injustice by inferring that it had much room for improvement.
rhyme skills that make 95% of all other MC's obsolete The rhymes on this ep are absolutely sick. but unlike some other artists who have similar skills but have slightly annoying delivery (aceyalone, for example), blackalicious exudes a laid-back, arrogant-...-but-skilled-enough-to-back-it-up vibe. Listening to this music is actually exciting-- you're continually wondering what kind of lyrical wizardry is waiting just around the corner.
As far as reference points, think de la soul, except with a bit more attitude and energy, and also wigged out on some kind of bizarre cleverness drug.
Blacalicious got funk for the future fillin'up fiends finaly Blacalicious (gift of gab and chief Xcell) really came through with this album. Despite the resources made available to solesides at the time, Blackalicious created a very well produced album. The beats are phat and the gift of gab never ceases to lyricaly blow my cerebral cortex into the outer realms of space.As a huge fan of underground hip-hop I highly recomend this album!
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
