Live Review: Blackalicious

Hip hop monoliths Gift Of Gab and Chief Xcel make up the two halves of Sacramento hip hop duo Blackalicious, who are currently touring Australia for the first time since 2010. To say that this duo influenced modern hip hop is a sizeable underestimation. You can hear homages to Chief Xcel's expertly sampled backing tracks in everything from early Hilltop Hoods to Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly, while Gift Of Gab's linguistic prowess has clearly inspired the high-octane verbosity of many hip hop stars.

It would have been underwhelming to go from playing to a sizeable crowd in Perth on Saturday to performing for a small group at The Gov on a sleepy Sunday night. The Gov was barely half-filled by a smattering of people, most of whom were more interested in slouching over their tables with a beer than getting up to dance. This was a shame, as the support acts for the show included an array of talented artists. A special mention goes to local DJs Sanchez and DL, whose superior spinning skills punched the energy back into an otherwise sluggish venue. MCs Jumbo and Lateef the Truthspeaker similarly did an excellent job of filling the dancefloor, despite some noticeable communication issues with the sound desk.

By the time GOG and Chief Xcel entered the stage, Jumbo and Lateef had successfully pulled every punter to the front of the stage. What the crowd lacked in numbers it made up for in enthusiasm. The group of four immediately launched into On Fire Tonight, a delectably smooth start to a promising set. At least it would have been, had the audio levels not completely drowned out GOG's voice. Looking displeased, GOG gestured to the sound desk.

"If you're going to hear Blackalicious play," he growled, "you'd best be making sure my voice is thunderous."

After that, we heard every word perfectly.

It was interesting to see whether GOG's verbal dexterity is just as impressive live as recorded. We were not disappointed. Gift Of Gab raps at an electrifying speed that must be seen to be believed. While it was impressive to see him lyrically annihilate tracks such as Blazing Arrow, Blacka and the enduringly iconic Alphabet Aerobics, it was his freestyle that was truly mesmerising. Despite recent health issues, GOG was ferocious in his delivery, causing jaws to drop all across the room.

Although both Lateef and Jumbo proved themselves to be capable of spitting incredibly intricate rhymes, Gift Of Gab completely stole the show. The combination of his rapping with Chief Xcel's sublimely engineered backing tracks was awe-inspiring, as well as a fantastic reminder of why Blackalicious are considered a monumental part of hip hop history.