Blazing Arrow

by Blackalicious

Overview

The late '90s ushered in a second golden age of progressive hip-hop, as a group of ambitious young lions rose from the underground to redefine the art of lyrical technique and revive the idea that hip-hop had relevant statements to make. With their 2000 debut album, Blackalicious established themselves as one of the West Coast's top outfits in this vein, and while it was very good, their follow-up, Blazing Arrow, is simply fantastic, vaulting the duo to the forefront of the progressive hip-hop pack. Much of Blazing Arrow retains NIA's airy, laconic feel, but the group's sense of craft has improved to a startling degree; the hooks are sharper and more plentiful, Gift of Gab's rhymes are denser, Chief Xcel's production is more breathtakingly lush, and his arrangements more sophisticated. What's more, the tracks draw from a rich sonic palette -- not just the expected jazz-funk and old-school influences, but straight pop (check the Nilsson sample on the title track) and smooth soul (particularly the Philly variety, but also the contemporary neo-soul revival) in particular. In spite of the duo's intellectual bent, the grooves on Blazing Arrow exude a tremendous warmth that's only complemented by the positivity of their messages. And if Gift of Gab wasn't recognized among hip-hop's premier lyricists before, he certainly ought to be now; his raps are jam-packed with internal rhymes, allusions, metaphors, ten-cent words, and amazing tongue-twisting feats of skill. Guests include members of Jurassic 5, Dilated Peoples, and Latyrx (all worthy company), not to mention singer/songwriter Ben Harper, Zack de la Rocha (Rage Against the Machine), and the legendary Gil Scott-Heron. All the pieces add up to not just one of the best rap albums of 2002, but one of the richest, most captivating albums to emerge from hip-hop's artsy new underground. ~ Steve Huey

Product Details

Release Date:	02/25/2022
Label:	Music On Vinyl
UPC:	0600753949276
Rank:	30911

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Blackalicious   Primary Artist
Babu   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Lateef the Truth Speaker   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Chali 2na   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Lyrics Born   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
De La Soul   Primary Artist
Saul Williams   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Keke Wyatt   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Rakaa Iriscience   Primary Artist,Vocals
DJ Babu   Primary Artist
Gil Scott-Heron   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Cut Chemist   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Scratching
Ben Harper   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Jaguar Wright   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Rakaa   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Anthony Coleman   Guest Artist,Trumpet
Karl Denson   Guest Artist,Flute
Money Mark   Guest Artist,Organ,Piano
Paul Humphrey   Guest Artist,Drums
Oliver Charles   Clarinet,Fender Rhodes
Leon Mobley   Percussion
James Poyser   Keyboards
Joyo Velarde   Vocals
Omar Edwards   Keyboards
Questlove   Drums
Juan Nelson   Bass
Ben Kenney   Bass
Vincent Segal   Cello,Strings,Percussion,Electric Cello
Gift of Gab   Vocals
Zack de la Rocha   Vocals
Tracey Moore   Vocals
Harley White   Bass,Keyboards
Alfred Ortiz   Percussion
Syble Scovell   Vocals
Erinn Anova   Vocals
Seth "Slim" Zwerling   Trumpet
Jose Espinoza   Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone)
Linda Parker   Vocals

Technical Credits

Tony Cottrell   Composer
Andy Fairweather Low   Composer
Chris Gehringer   Mastering
Lateef the Truth Speaker   Composer
Russell Elevado   Mixing
Chali 2na   Composer
Lyrics Born   Composer
De La Soul   Performer
Saul Williams   Composer
Rail Jon Rogut   Engineer
Rakaa Iriscience   Composer,Performer
Lucas McFadden   Composer
Brian Cross   Photography
Kevin Guarnieri   Engineer
Questlove   Composer
Harry Nilsson   Composer
Robert Russell Bennett   Management
DJ Babu   Cut
Chief Xcel   Cut,Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Engineer,Producer
Cut Chemist   Cut,Composer,Producer
Ben Harper   Composer,Producer
Vincent Segal   Composer
Mario Caldato, Jr.   Engineer
Gift of Gab   Composer
DJ Shadow   Mixing,Producer
Hi-Tek   Engineer,Producer
Dave Jolicoeur   Composer
Vincent Mason   Composer
Paul Huston   Composer
Lateef Daumont   Composer
Kimberly Bilbrew   Project Coordinator
Xavier Mosley   Composer,Executive Producer
Tim Parker   Composer,Executive Producer
Tom Sarig   A&R
Tyrone Thomas   Composer
Jeanne Venton   Project Coordinator
Innocent Criminals   Composer,Producer
August Moon   Composer
Ahmir Thompson   Composer
Charles L. Stewart   Composer
Shannon Showes   Composer
Duncan Scott   Composer
Rakaa Taylor   Composer
Steve Mandell   Engineer