Customer Reviews

A2g

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This EP is a preview for the full-length album "Nia" by Blackalicious. It contains seven tracks, four of which are present on "Nia". The three exclusive tracks are good. One of them, "Alphabetic Aerobics", is excellent. Here, rapper The Gift of Gab shows off his rapid-fire delivery in verses for each letter of the alphabet. The song gets faster and faster as he progresses through the letters. "A2G" is a similar workout in consonance, but with slower delivery and only the letters A through G. "Back to the Essence" features guest rapper Lateef the Truth Speaker. "Deception" is the most structured song here. The lyrics are a narrative about a rapper who becomes seduced by wealth. It emphasizes, without direct reference, the underground roots and ideals that Blackalicious have stayed true to since their first EP "Melodica" was released in 1994 on Mo'Wax records. The beats provided by Chief Xcel are superb. Cut Chemist from Jurassic 5 produces "Alpahabetic Aerobics" and is easily overshadowed by the lyrics. Overall this is an awesome EP. If you like ather acts such as Jurassic 5 or Dilated Peoples you will dig this. Also check out their debut full-length album "Nia".

I bought this CD after a close friend of mine told me about the amazing song Alphabet Aerobics. Buying this CD, I expected one good track and nothing else. I WAS DEAD WRONG!! This IS the most amazing CD I've ever listened to. Words can't descirbe it. Chief Xcel produces awsome beats and Gift of Gab is the second best MC in my opinion (behind KRS-One). Gab's rapid fire delivery and insightful, unbelievible (and clean) lyrics make him amazing to hear.

Alphabet Aerobics is an amazing song where Gab goes from A to Z in an alphabetical, alliterative rap. Back to the Essence has (in my opinion) a catchy hook to it that really is a head bobber. I could review every song, but EVERY ONE IS SUPERB! Not ONE weak track. If you want some real Hip-Hop with excelent beats and unbelievible, rapid-fire lyrics, PICK THIS UP!!

This ep is just a taste of what these two guys can do. Gift of Gab is one of my favorite emcee's and he totally kills it on this 7 song teaser of a record. Their full length, Nia, is already out on import and should be released in the states before the summer. Everyone who loves hip hop for what it truly is should check this group out.

(soapbox session #1)...i been a hip-hop fiend for over 20 years (WHOA, SH!T, I'M GETTIN OLD!!)...and yeah, the Golden Age is over...we aint gonna see that slew of emcees comin out like they use to with their own sound, lyrics and production. that era is dead. today, you pretty much hafta belong to a "label" - a certain group of producers who will stamp their "sound" & "approval" to your project, thus justifying you as an artist. that's so sad. "labels" aint hungry...they jus wanna maintain whatever prominence they have already reached, mostly at the cost of creativity.
that's not the case here!! this is some authentic stuff...they got some strong hip hop beats and they actually rely on a "dj" to provide their music and not a "producer"...and Gift-of-gab is a strong emcee...this is tight and now i have to own their full lenght cd...yall should proly get it too, unless youre wantin some super-glossy, over-flossy top 40 hip-pop, then maybe you better off with the above-ground stuff.

I agree with that other person. Alphabet is one of the best songs this year. I rarely by a record for one song, but this time I did, and I was happy with all the other ones.

Ok, I'm sure you're going to read maybe one other review on this and it's probably going to say similar things to what I have, and they're not lying... This EP... This 7 Track BLIP... is better in 7 songs than most albums are in 15-20 tracks... A2G the song is just great... Amazing alliteration assembled by Blackalicious, and the 2 1/2 minute workout is jaw-dropping... But those are the tracks you were expecting... or at least those were the tracks that I was expecting, and all the other 5 tracks don't disappoint either. Sure... It's 7 Songs. It's not a full album... But it's 7 great songs, no filler, no B.S., and it's got 7 tracks that are better than almost any 7 tracks on any album I can think of in a long time.

Blackalicious' EP effort is delightful and quite a good seque for mainstreamers to get into something a bit more underground. Im lucky enough to work for KDVS 90.3 fm and they were among the first to get "The Blazing Arrow" (Gab and Chief went to high school near me and both went to UC Davis). Gab will never cease to amaze me. His talent lyrically as well as with delivery puts him on the short list for best MC's in the scene today. Buy this and do yourself a favor.

This CD is the ultimate car music. When you're rolling at 60 on the interstate, this stuff pumps you up. No need to skip songs, they're all good. Pay special attention to #2 (Clockwork). A must buy.

The first 6 tracks are pretty fair, but "Alphabet Aerobics" is worth the seven bucks alone. Good stuff.

Excellent but short album w/ brilliant production and stellar lyrics. I know Im mad late, but you know how the saying goes.