Gift of Gab Tries To Go Solo, Again

My introduction to hip hop wasn't Jay-Z or DMX. I suppose you could argue that it was the Beastie Boys (after all, what white suburban kid wasn't introduced to rap by Licensed to Ill?) but I'd go a couple years later to another influence. Because it wasn't until I heard Blackalicious that I really began to love hip hop. 


Blackalicious is a duo made up of emcee Gift of Gab and DJ Chief Excel. On their second album, Blazing Arrow - their pinnacle in my opinion - Gab's flows and Excels beats, which borrow largely from Henry Nilsson and an animated movie called The Point by Ringo Starr, combine to create a complete masterpiece. There aren't many rappers who can hang with Gift of Gab's sheer tongue twisting abilities, and the pair of them match each other perfectly. Gab is flashy with his talent without being obnoxious (hi Twista!) and Excel can hang with the best pastiche DJ's.


Gift of Gab recently has been exploring the solo side of the world, releasing a handful of solo efforts. The most recent of those solo jawns is Escape 2 Mars, a quick 11-tracker that dropped earlier this month. As with Gab's previous records sans Chief Excel, I'm torn.


On the one hand, Escape 2 Mars has some completely baller tracks. First single "El Gifto Magnifico" is a rompo caribeño that is as good an intro to Gab's flow and lighthearted hip hop as any track you'll find. Other tracks on the album, like "Dreamin" and "Light Years" completely kill. Then there are tracks like "Electric Waterfalls" and "Rich Man Poor Man," in which Gab lets his weird side go a little too wild, erring on the side of Dr. Octagon without the mad genius of that man. These tracks aren't unlistenable, they're just largely unenjoyable.


So what's the verdict? Well, I for one, will continue to bump Blackalicious, and keep my fingers crossed for another album from that dynamic duo. Gab is good on his own, and a few tracks from Escape 2 Mars will sneak onto some of my playlists in the future, but with my love of hip hop, nothing will be quite like my first.


Gift of Gab - Dreamin (f. Del The Funkee Homosapien and Brother Ali) (YSI) (filesavr)


Blackalicious - Chemical Calisthenics (YSI) (filesavr)