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Album Review: Blackalicious - Imani Vol. 1

Darren Collins
StarStarStarStar

"The beats flaunt influences from live rock, '70s funk and soul, Sugar Hill rap and even EDM, yet Gab ensures it always works."

More Blackalicious Blackalicious

Ten years between Blackalicious albums has been nothing short of torture.

Yet the wait is over as the Californian hip hop duo have finally delivered the first in a trilogy of new albums, Imani Vol.1. It's been worth the wait too, a revitalised Gift Of Gab alternating between his characteristic untouchable MC acrobatics, thoughtful concepts and storytelling over a range of soulful, often live-sounding backdrops from Chief Xcel that pay no mind to disposable, trappy trends. Instead the beats flaunt influences from live rock, '70s funk and soul, Sugar Hill rap and even EDM, yet Gab ensures it always works. Welcome back, boys, hip hop's been in need of you.