City Arts Fest Spotlight: Blackalicious

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True b-boys through and through, Blackalicious have been making smart, street-ready hip-hop for more than 10 years. Rapper Gift of Gab and DJ/producer Cheif Xcel are Blackalicious. The Bay Area-based duo gets lumped into what hip-hop heads call the "positive tip" a sub-genre that is typified by lyrics that are often spiritual and uplifting rather than violent or misogynistic.

Gift of Gab's rhymes are rapid fire and whip smart. Gab magically combines introspective, soul-searching lyrics and mind-blowing, MC-crushing battle skills. His complex, tongue-twisting rhymes will have your head spinning. While Twista may hold the record for fastest rapper, Gab can go from 10 wpm to 80 wpm, never missing a beat and always remaining articulate.

When you listen to Blackalicious' albums, from their first full-length 1999's Nia to 2006's The Craft, you can hear their sound evolving and growing. On each album Xcel pushes the limit further and further, experimenting with a wider variety of samples and creating tighter beats. They are deep yet simple--not overly complicated. Xcel will surely have your head bobbing and hips swaying.

The critically acclaimed The Craft is their most recent venture. It had a release date in 2006...a long time ago. By music release standards, The Craft is almost a classic, but with shows scheduled across the country, it makes you think that a new album is just around the corner. Our fingers are crossed!

Blackalicious' shows don't have the bling, pyrotechnics, costumes, and backup dancers of bigger rap acts. They are true hip-hop shows: two turntables, a microphone and raw talent.

Check out Gab's head spinning rhymes in the video below.