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| Blackalicious - NIA Band: Blackalicious Tracks: - Searching - Fabulous Ones - Do This My Way - Deception - to G - Hanger, Cliff - Shallow Days - Ego Trip by Nikki Giovanni - You Didn't Know That Though - If I May - Dream Seasons - Trouble (Eve of Destruction) - Smithzonian Institute of Rhyme - As the World Turns - Reanimation - Beyonder - Making Progress - Sleep - Finding Nearly perfect One of the most amazing albums I have ever heard! I've been a fan of Dj Shadow for ages and when I heard Quannum's "Spectrum" I loved Gift's rapping and had to buy the A to G EP and this. Its one of the most diverse sounding albums out there and the tracks could stand alone even without the Gift of Gabs often outstanding lyrics. The music is amazing, the rapping is incredible. Dj Shadow and the almost as amazing Latryx make guest apppearances - stand out tracks "If I may", "Smithzonian Institute..", "Do this my way" and " You didnt know that know". Dj Shadow is as inventive as always with the bizarre "Cliffhanger". With 19 tracks, none any worse than great, it'd be a shame to miss out on this accomplished, groundbreaking album. If you know anyone that refuses to listen to Hip Hop, introduce them via "Nia" - and they'll see the light. Perhaps the best on the Left. Gift of Gab's interesting, harmonic flow is the highlight of this excellent example of what hip hop could be. If only other hip hop artists could take the example set by Blackilicious, J5 and DJ Shadow, and actually add artistic creativity to their work, the world would be a better place. It's true that a few of the tracks found here are on the A2G EP, but the album still works as a coherent work. And as I said earlier, Gift of Gab tops it off as the most interesting MC to come out of the west coast since the heyday of g-funk. The highlights on this album are "Deception" with its infectiously catch hook, "Do this My Way" with Gift of Gab's exploration of flow, and "AtoG" with it's lyrical workout. If you're just getting into Blackilicious, get this album first. Wait, screw that, buy both this and the EP, cause you're gonna want to hear "Alphabet Aerobics" to hear the completion of the expansion of the AtoG workout. "It's Such a Beautiful Thing, this Musical Thing..." Oakland group Blackalicious has been on the seen for a few years with Quannam projects and the wonderous DJ Shadow, but Nia is their first domestic LP release. This record is Truly inspiring to anyone who is seeking music beyond the conventions of popular junk and features a track listing that can be played without skipping a song. Cuts like "Do This My Way," "As the World Turns," and "Shallow Days, Hollow Nights" are marvels not just of hip hop but songwriting in general. "A2G" and its partner "Alphabet Aerobics" (on A2G EP only) are miraculous feats of emceeing by the Gift of Gab and the the entire record, void of "guest appearances" and frills that define and defeat to many would-be great, substantive recordings make "Nia" one of the hundred best records of all time. This album is not to be missed, nor is their Live show. Buy Blackalicious Nia at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.comJamster - the latest ringtones for your phone! |
