Underrated Albums: Blazing Arrow - Blackalicious

Somehow lost in many hip-hop head discussions, Blackalicious remains somehow underrated if only by a lack of exposure. Their talent is apparent upon first listen, even if your first listen may have been from Daniel Radcliffe’s superb rendition of “Alphabet Aerobics” on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Comprised of two, Gift of Gab flexes his deft poetry, firing off with the casual ease of synapses, as Chief Xcel creates ample boom-bap to give enough space for both nostalgia and Gift of Gab’s verbal acrobatics. The album that best captures their essence is Blazing Arrow, a 17 track soul induced trip to the past. Reflective, yet celebratory, it’s an album that’s as fun as it is intellectual, all while paying tribute to the culture of golden age hip-hop.Daniel Radcliffe Raps Blackalicious' "Alphabet Aerobics"The guest appearances on this album do well in establishing this nostalgic atmosphere. With contributions from noted hip-hop revivalists, including the grandfather of rap himself, Gil Scott-Heron; the album has the feel of a summer hangout with old friends reminiscing of the good days. Producers Hi-Tek, Cut Chemist, Questlove, and DJ Shadow leave their fingerprints all over the album, with each contributing at least one song in the album. Some of the highlights include “First in Flight”, a soulful ode to the freedom of overcoming featuring the gravel poetics of Gil Scott-Heron on rhythm and time. “Paragraph President” and its pulsating boom-bap space funk features Gift of Gab and Chief Xcel at their most frenetic. Gift of Gab, true to his lyrics, goes about ripping the track and spitting the facts, as sample cuts scratch in and out throughout, with Chief Xcel doing his best DJ Premier impression. The song immediately then transitions into an interlude from DJ Shadow called “Halfway Home”. A much needed breather, its expansive production serves as a change in tone for the album, as the second half of the album mellows into the contemplation of life, love, and nostalgia.Blazing Arrow - BlackaliciousLyrically, there are few on par with Gift of Gab. The combination of his rhyme structure, lyrical content, and overall MCing are unparalleled, especially as he manages to maneuver past the stumbles that many conscious rappers face in being too preachy. The standout track on the album which best encapsulates the core of the album though is “Make You Feel That Way”. The muted horns and strings in tandem give the song a somber, yet appreciative tone. Its lyrics are a reflection on the little victories in life, yet it manages to avoid any sense of existential lecturing, truly making it a beautiful song. The rest of the album is sold, with standouts being “Chemical Calisthenics”, a spiritual successor to “Alphabet Aerobics” and “Release Pt. 1, 2, & 3”. The latter which features guest appearances from Zack de la Rocha, Saul Williams, and Lyrics Born in what is the albums most anxious song, featuring Gift of Gab at his most urgent. Overall this album is a very solid listen. With 17 songs, there are some notable misses and songs of unfulfilled potential, but the highs are brilliant. It’s an album which rests on nostalgia, taking us back to the days when all our problems weren’t so big. And while it is a celebration of simpler times, it remains an album of optimism for the future, knowing full well that the good times will come back.