Blackalicious
Blazing Arrow

(MCA)

T.J. Simon's #20 album for 2002

First Appeared at The Music Box, February 2003, Volume 10, #2

Written by T.J. Simon

From the smart school of hip-hop comes California’s Blackalicious — a rap act free of the faux thuggery and East Coast vs. West Coast nonsense that has hindered many rappers from rising to the next artistic level. On the group’s second LP Blazing Arrow, MCs Gift of Gab and Chief Xcel share acrobatic, tongue twisting rap vocal duties with guest singers Gil Scott Heron (on First in Flight) and Ben Harper (on Brain Washers). Although the album is overly lengthy, the clever wordplay and innovative rhyming schemes will leave even the harshest rap critics filled with respect. I was won over by the marvelous Harry Nilsson sample on the breathtaking title track. ½

Blazing Arrow is available from
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Ratings

1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!

Copyright © 2003 The Music Box