Blackalicious Biography

Blackalicious is an American hip-hop duo from Sacramento, California, composed of rapper Gift of Gab and DJ/producer Chief Xcel. The duo is known for Gift of Gab's complex, multisyllabic rhymes and Chief Xcel's soulful production. Blackalicious was formed in 1992 when Gift of Gab joined Chief Xcel at the University of California, Davis, where Xcel was working with the hip-hop group SoleSides.

The duo released their debut single "Swan Lake" in 1994, followed by the EP Melodica in 1995. In 1999, they released their debut full-length album Nia, which was well-received in the independent music scene. The album was released in Europe by Mo' Wax and later re-released in the United States by Quannum Projects. Blackalicious signed a major label deal with MCA Records in 2000 and released their second album Blazing Arrow in 2002, featuring guest appearances by Zack de la Rocha, Questlove, and Gil Scott-Heron.

Blackalicious released their third album The Craft in 2005, which contained more live instrumentation than their previous work. The album was met with positive acclaim, and the duo continued to work on separate projects. Gift of Gab released several solo albums, including 4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up, Escape 2 Mars, and The Next Logical Progression. In 2014, Blackalicious reworked their song "Alphabet Aerobics" with sports-themed lyrics for Bleacher Report.

In 2015, Blackalicious released their fourth album Imani Vol. 1, which was well-received by critics. The duo had planned to release a three-volume series, but Gift of Gab's health issues and subsequent passing in 2021 put the project on hold. Gift of Gab suffered from kidney failure and underwent a kidney transplant in 2020, but died of natural causes on June 18, 2021, at the age of 50.

Despite Gift of Gab's passing, a final Blackalicious album is still in the works. In April 2022, Lateef the Truthspeaker confirmed that he was working with Chief Xcel to complete the album, and in October 2023, he reaffirmed that the work was ongoing. The album is expected to feature previously unreleased tracks and will serve as a tribute to Gift of Gab's legacy.