Gift of Gab (rapper)
Encyclopedia
Gift of Gab is an American MC
best known for performing in the Bay Area hip-hop duo Blackalicious
with DJ Chief Xcel. He is also a member of Quannum Projects
, a Bay Area hip-hop crew and record label, and has performed and recorded as a solo artist.
skills – Allmusic says he is “one of the very finest MCs to ever pick up a microphone”, “one of the best underground rappers in the business”, “his raps are jam-packed with internal rhyme
s, allusions, metaphor
s, ten-cent words, and amazing tongue-twisting feats of skill”, and he has been able to “redefine the art of lyrical technique”. Peter Shapiro
describes him as “a walking encyclopedia of MCing styles”, Pitchfork Media
refers to his “astonishing verbal dexterity and enunciation”, Popmatters
says he has a “nearly impenetrable reputation for style and innovation”, and Stylus Magazine
calls him “one of the top MCs in the game”.
album From the Corner To the Block, and collaborated on a track with Z-Trip called "Go Hard" for the Soundtrack for All-Pro Football 2K8
. He also released a 2007 EP with Lateef The Truth Speaker and Headnodic as The Mighty Underdogs
called The Prelude
He went on to do a song called "All In" with The Grouch and Eligh. He is also featured on the track "The People Tree" on the 2009 N.A.S.A. release "The Spirit of Apollo".
In 2002, Gift of Gab contributed to Red Hot + Riot, a compilation CD released by the Red Hot Organization
in tribute to the music and work of Nigerian musician, Fela Kuti
, that raised money for various charities devoted to raising AIDS awareness and fighting the disease. He collaborated with hip-hop artist Lateef
to remake the famous song by Fela Kuti
, "Kalakuta Show."
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
best known for performing in the Bay Area hip-hop duo Blackalicious
Blackalicious
Blackalicious is an American hip hop duo from Sacramento, California made up of rapper Gift of Gab and DJ/producer Chief Xcel . They are noted for Gift of Gab's often "tongue-twisting", multisyllabic, complex rhymes and Chief Xcel's "classic" beats...
with DJ Chief Xcel. He is also a member of Quannum Projects
Quannum Projects
Quannum Projects is a hip hop collective based in the San Francisco Bay Area. It has been active since 1992, when it was formed at UC Davis under the moniker Solesides Records. It is also the name of the independent record label that releases their records, as well as those of a number of other...
, a Bay Area hip-hop crew and record label, and has performed and recorded as a solo artist.
Recognition
Gift of Gab is often praised by critics for his rappingRapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
skills – Allmusic says he is “one of the very finest MCs to ever pick up a microphone”, “one of the best underground rappers in the business”, “his raps are jam-packed with internal rhyme
Internal rhyme
In poetry, internal rhyme, or middle rhyme, is rhyme that occurs in a single line of verse.Internal rhyme occurs in the middle of a line, as exemplified by Coleridge, "In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud" or "Whiles all the night through fog-smoke white," in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." ...
s, allusions, metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
s, ten-cent words, and amazing tongue-twisting feats of skill”, and he has been able to “redefine the art of lyrical technique”. Peter Shapiro
Peter Shapiro
Peter Shapiro is a freelance music journalist, who has written for Spin, URB, Music Week, Uncut, Vibe, The Wire and The Times.-Literary works:*The Rough Guide to Hip-hop*The Rough Guide to Soul and R'n'B...
describes him as “a walking encyclopedia of MCing styles”, Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
refers to his “astonishing verbal dexterity and enunciation”, Popmatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
says he has a “nearly impenetrable reputation for style and innovation”, and Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine was an online music and film magazine launched in 2002. It featured long-form music journalism, four daily music reviews, movie reviews, a number of different podcasts, an MP3 blog, and a text blog....
calls him “one of the top MCs in the game”.
Collaborations
Gift of Gab is featured on the GalacticGalactic
Galactic is a funk and jazz jam band from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.-Origins and background:Originally formed in 1994 as an octet and including singer Chris Lane and guitarist Rob Gowen, the group was soon pared down to a sextet of: guitarist Jeff Raines, bassist Robert Mercurio,...
album From the Corner To the Block, and collaborated on a track with Z-Trip called "Go Hard" for the Soundtrack for All-Pro Football 2K8
All-Pro Football 2K8
All-Pro Football 2K8 is a football game for seventh generation consoles and the spiritual successor to the ESPN NFL 2K series. APF2K8 is the first football game to be published by 2K Sports since EA Sports purchased exclusive licenses to the intellectual properties of the NFL and NFLPA. Barry...
. He also released a 2007 EP with Lateef The Truth Speaker and Headnodic as The Mighty Underdogs
The Mighty Underdogs
__notoc__#"U.F.C. "#*Cuts by DJ Shadow#"Gunfight"#*Featuring MF DOOM#"Love-Life Soundtrack"#*Featuring LadyBug Mecca#"Status Symbol"#"Out of My Life"#"Bring Me Back"#*Featuring Raashan Ahmad...
called The Prelude
The Prelude
The Prelude; or, Growth of a Poet's Mind is an autobiographical, "philosophical" poem in blank verse by the English poet William Wordsworth. Wordsworth wrote the first version of the poem when he was 28, and worked over the rest of it for his long life without publishing it...
He went on to do a song called "All In" with The Grouch and Eligh. He is also featured on the track "The People Tree" on the 2009 N.A.S.A. release "The Spirit of Apollo".
In 2002, Gift of Gab contributed to Red Hot + Riot, a compilation CD released by the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
in tribute to the music and work of Nigerian musician, Fela Kuti
Fela Kuti
Fela Anikulapo Kuti , or simply Fela , was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, pioneer of Afrobeat music, human rights activist, and political maverick.-Biography:...
, that raised money for various charities devoted to raising AIDS awareness and fighting the disease. He collaborated with hip-hop artist Lateef
Lateef
Lateef the Truthspeaker also known as The Truthspeaker or simply Lateef, is an American hip-hop artist who is part of the groups Latyrx and The Maroons AKA Lateef and the Chief...
to remake the famous song by Fela Kuti
Fela Kuti
Fela Anikulapo Kuti , or simply Fela , was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, pioneer of Afrobeat music, human rights activist, and political maverick.-Biography:...
, "Kalakuta Show."
Solo albums
- 2004: 4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up is The Gift of Gab's first solo album, released in 2004.-Track listing:# "The Ride of Your Life" – 2:59# "Rat Race" – 2:52...
- 2006: Supreme Lyricism vol.1 - limited-edition mixtape
- 2007: The PreludeThe Mighty Underdogs__notoc__#"U.F.C. "#*Cuts by DJ Shadow#"Gunfight"#*Featuring MF DOOM#"Love-Life Soundtrack"#*Featuring LadyBug Mecca#"Status Symbol"#"Out of My Life"#"Bring Me Back"#*Featuring Raashan Ahmad...
- with The Mighty UnderdogsThe Mighty Underdogs__notoc__#"U.F.C. "#*Cuts by DJ Shadow#"Gunfight"#*Featuring MF DOOM#"Love-Life Soundtrack"#*Featuring LadyBug Mecca#"Status Symbol"#"Out of My Life"#"Bring Me Back"#*Featuring Raashan Ahmad... - 2008: Droppin' Science FictionThe Mighty Underdogs__notoc__#"U.F.C. "#*Cuts by DJ Shadow#"Gunfight"#*Featuring MF DOOM#"Love-Life Soundtrack"#*Featuring LadyBug Mecca#"Status Symbol"#"Out of My Life"#"Bring Me Back"#*Featuring Raashan Ahmad...
- with The Mighty UnderdogsThe Mighty Underdogs__notoc__#"U.F.C. "#*Cuts by DJ Shadow#"Gunfight"#*Featuring MF DOOM#"Love-Life Soundtrack"#*Featuring LadyBug Mecca#"Status Symbol"#"Out of My Life"#"Bring Me Back"#*Featuring Raashan Ahmad... - 2009: Escape 2 MarsEscape 2 MarsEscape 2 Mars is the second solo album from Gift of Gab of Blackalicious. It was released on November 3, 2009, on Cornerstone RAS.Gift of Gab released the first single from the album, "El Gifto Magnifico", in September 2009 as a promotional download single.Rapreviews.com writer Steve "Flash" Juon...