Gift of Gab
Escape 2 Mars
Play Escape 2 Mars
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AMG Review of Escape 2 Mars
Marisa Brown
All Music GuideGift of Gab, the verbally adept (as his name rightfully implies) MC and one half of the seminal indie hip-hop group Blackalicious, has certainly been busy since the last Blackalicious album, The Craft, came out in 2005. It's been more than a while, though, since he's sounded as quick and witty and fun as he did on either of his group's first two albums (2002's Blazing Arrow and 2000's phenomenal Nia). Gab's 2005 solo debut felt unfocused and spacy, his mixtapes not much better, and while his work as part of the Mighty Underdogs (with fellow Quammie Lateef and Crown City Rockers producer Headnodic) had moments that reaffirmed why he's been such a lauded rapper, it didn't quite connect the way his earlier efforts did. Thankfully, Gab seems to have found himself again on Escape 2 Mars, his second official full-length. Much of this is due to the production (by DNAE BEATS and Headnodic), which is full and melodic and very, dare it be said, Chief Xcel-esque. Though the record has the initial trappings of a concept album gone awry (humans have destroyed Earth, and therefore have to move to Mars), the MC mercifully keeps these ideas to just a couple of songs, both of which are good: the eerie "Electric Waterfalls" (which features vocals from Joyo Velarde and Lateef), and the title track, which has a vocal bit seemingly taken from the 2006 Stern Review and finds Gab bringing eighth notes in to his preferred triplets, and rhyming, rather adeptly "Two zero one two party over oops/out of sight, time, mind, illuminati deathtrap/blind, deaf and dumb, crazy bent eighty percent/wiped out, sniped out, burn, baby, burn get/hit when we coulda been turning the cell phones off...," a kind of reprise to Blazing Arrow's "Sky Is Falling," that somehow, given contemporary circumstances, feels much more menacing and real. Themes may be revisited ("Richman, Poorman" is reminiscent of "Deception," "El Gifto" is a quirky boast on his skills, kind of like "A to G," but without the alliteration), but Escape 2 Mars stills comes across as fresh and meaningful and fun. The excellent verses from fellow underground heroes Del and Brother Ali on "Dreamin'" help this, of course, but the album is a success because Gab himself come across as confident and focused. He knows what he wants to say and how to say it, and doesn't beat around the bush. That is to say, it's exactly what you would want from him: all meat and wit and amazingly nimble rhymes, no filler. And that, if nothing else, is something to celebrate.
New Gift of Gab: El Gifto Magnifico
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I swear I didn’t plan on back-to-back posts on Quannum artists, but then, I didn’t know Gift of Gab was releasing a new album – Escape 2 Mars – on Oct. 27. The album – a follow-up to his 2004 solo debut 4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up – comes roughly a year after Gab, Headnodic [...]
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MOG it up!
Gift of Gab to Release His Second Outer-Space-Expedition-Themed Rap Album
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Gift of Gab, best known as the MC in the duo Blackalicious, is set to release his first solo album in five years, which is rather infrequent for someone who calls himself Gift of Gab... I'm just saying. Escape 2 Mars, the follow-up to 2004's 4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up, is mostly produced by DNAEBEATS, with a few songs by Hednodic of The Mighty Underdogs, plus guest spots from Del The ...
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Gift of Gab ft. Del the Funky Homosapien & Brother Ali - Dreamin’
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They say that in the Bay they do things a little different, and if you need proof that the saying’s true you need look no further than Northern California, an area overflowing with creative emcees, including the always swift-tongued Gift of Gab - who’s deservedly making his debut on DJBooth with his new cut Dreamin’. Over an appropriately dreamlike beat from Headnodic (of the Crown City crew
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Gift of Gab Gets Goofy
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Track:El Gifto Magnifico
I've long been a fan of Blackalicious - Nia, Blazing Arrow, and The Craft are still some of my favorite nerdrap albums (although not in that order). I was never totally impressed with Blackalicious' frontman Gift of Gab's solo projects, however. They lacked the freshness, the unique style that Blackalicious created as a group.Recently, though, I happened upon a track from Gift of Gab's upcoming al
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Gift of Gab - "El Gifto Mignifico" x Escape 2 Mars Cover x Tracklist
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New shit from Gift of Gab! Here's some info:Gift of Gab, best known as the technically adept of the vaunted Blackalicious, knew that after waiting over five years for a follow-up solo release that he would have to really take this one far. Like other planet kind of far. Escape 2 Mars signifies the next groundbreaking voyage in the career of an MC who is nothing short of iconic. Cornerstone
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Blackalicious Frontman Gift of Gab Conquers the Final Frontier With the Release of "Escape 2 Mars", Another Solo Achievement
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Gift of Gab, best known as the technically adept of the vaunted Blackalicious, knew that after waiting over five years for a follow-up solo release that he would have to really take this one far. Like other planet kind of far. Escape 2 Mars signifies the next groundbreaking voyage in the career of an MC who is nothing short of iconic. Cornerstone...
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MP3s: Gift of Gab (Blackalicious) - El Gifto Magnifico
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MP3: Gift of Gab - "El Gifto Magnifico" from Escape 2 Mars, out October 27 on Cornerstone R.A.S. The Blackalicious frontman goes solo. Gift of Gab: iTunes, Amazon, Insound, wiki Blackalicious: iTunes, Amazon, Insound, wiki...
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Audio: Gift of Gab "Dreamin'" feat. Del The Funky Homosapien & Brother Ali
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Blackalicious frontman, Gift of Gab, will be releasing his next solo LP, Escape 2 Mars, on November 3rd. Of this new project Gab had this to say "People are gonna think this is about Martians, but it's not," Gab explains. "It's more so about taking care of the planet we're on. We might have to escape to Mars or somewhere else if we keep taking the planet we live on for granted. [...]
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Hip Hop Album Releases for Nov. 3: Chief, Gift of Gab, Masta Ace & Edo G, Mr. Chop, NOW That's What, Rita J., Shwayze, Themselves
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Shwayze - Let It BeatTo receive this Weekly Hip Hop Albums report separately each week, please sign up for our free weekly newsletter delivered every Monday with Tuesday's releases.The following new releases are available at Amazon and iTunes.NOW That's What I Call Music! Vol. 3211/3Chief - Collabo CollectionCunninlynguists - Strange Journey Volume Two [Deluxe Edition]Gift of Gab - Escape 2 Mar...
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Gab Gives You a Magnifcent Gift
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Syllabically dexterous Bay Area emcee Gift of Gab-one half of groundbreaking underground Hip-Hop duo Blackalicious and a founding member of the visionary Quannum Projects collective-is preparing to strike out on his own for the first time since his 2004 solo debut ‘4th Dimensional Rocket Ships Going Up.’His sophomore disc ‘Escape 2 Mars’-which features contributions from DNAEBEATS, Hednodi
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New! Gift Of Gab - El Gifto Magnifico
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First post from NY! Crazy past couple of days, but it's good to finally be here. And it's great to hear music on the radio the day it breaks, instead of listening to old Plies songs non stop (miss you, Florida).New single from Gift Of Gab (of Blackalicious) off his upcoming album Escape 2 Mars, out in October. Blackalicious used to be my shit, but it's kinda corny to me now. Definitely have to ...
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 "Escape 2 Mars")
