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Blazing Arrow

 
Album Review: Blazing Arrow
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Blazing Arrow

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  • Artist: Blackalicious
  • Rating: StarStarStarStar
  • Release Date: April 30, 2002
  • Genre: Rap

Review

The late '90s ushered in a second golden age of progressive hip-hop, as a group of ambitious young lions rose from the underground to redefine the art of lyrical technique and revive the idea that hip-hop had relevant statements to make. With their 2000 debut album, Blackalicious established themselves as one of the West Coast's top outfits in this vein, and while it was very good, their follow-up, Blazing Arrow, is simply fantastic, vaulting the duo to the forefront of the progressive hip-hop pack. Much of Blazing Arrow retains NIA's airy, laconic feel, but the group's sense of craft has improved to a startling degree; the hooks are sharper and more plentiful, Gift of Gab's rhymes are denser, Chief Xcel's production is more breathtakingly lush, and his arrangements more sophisticated. What's more, the tracks draw from a rich sonic palette -- not just the expected jazz-funk and old-school influences, but straight pop (check the Nilsson sample on the title track) and smooth soul (particularly the Philly variety, but also the contemporary neo-soul revival) in particular. In spite of the duo's intellectual bent, the grooves on Blazing Arrow exude a tremendous warmth that's only complemented by the positivity of their messages. And if Gift of Gab wasn't recognized among hip-hop's premier lyricists before, he certainly ought to be now; his raps are jam-packed with internal rhymes, allusions, metaphors, ten-cent words, and amazing tongue-twisting feats of skill. Guests include members of Jurassic 5, Dilated Peoples, and Latyrx (all worthy company), not to mention singer/songwriter Ben Harper, Zack de la Rocha (Rage Against the Machine), and the legendary Gil Scott-Heron. All the pieces add up to not just one of the best rap albums of 2002, but one of the richest, most captivating albums to emerge from hip-hop's artsy new underground. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Introduction: Bow and Fire (Lyrics) Chief Xcel, Gift of Gab Blackalicious (1:06)
Blazing Arrow (Lyrics) Chief Xcel, Gift of Gab, Harry Nilsson Blackalicious (2:39)
Sky Is Falling (Lyrics) Chief Xcel, Gift of Gab Blackalicious (2:26)
First in Flight (Lyrics) Gift of Gab, Chief Xcel Blackalicious, Gil Scott-Heron (4:32)
Green Light: Now Begin (Lyrics) Chief Xcel, Gift of Gab Blackalicious (3:12)
4000 Miles (Lyrics) Vincent Segal, Gift of Gab, Chali 2na, Lateef the Truth Speaker, Chief Xcel Blackalicious (4:35)
Nowhere Fast (Lyrics) Gift of Gab, Chief Xcel, ?uestlove Blackalicious (6:41)
Paragraph President Gift of Gab, Paul Huston, Chief Xcel, Vincent Mason, David Jolicoeur Blackalicious, De La Soul (5:09)
It's Going Down (Lyrics) Chief Xcel, Gift of Gab KeKe Wyatt, Lateef the Truth Speaker, Blackalicious (3:44)
Make You Feel That Way Chief Xcel, Gift of Gab Blackalicious (3:26)
Brain Washers (Lyrics) Chief Xcel, Gift of Gab, Innocent Criminals, Ben Harper Blackalicious, Ben Harper (6:22)
Chemical Calisthenics (Lyrics) Cut Chemist, Gift of Gab Blackalicious, Cut Chemist (3:21)
Aural Pleasure (Lyrics) Chief Xcel, Gift of Gab, Andy Fairweather Low Jaguar Wright, Blackalicious (4:47)
Passion (Lyrics) Chief Xcel, Tyrone Thomas, August Moon, Rakaa-Iriscience DJ Babu, Blackalicious, Rakaa-Iriscience (3:54)
Purest Love (Lyrics) Chief Xcel, Gift of Gab Blackalicious (4:03)
Release Pt. 1, 2 and 3 Saul Williams, Vincent Segal, Gift of Gab, Chief Xcel Saul Williams, Blackalicious, Lyrics Born (9:26)
Day One (Lyrics) Gift of Gab, Chief Xcel Blackalicious (4:52)

Credits

Cut Chemist (Producer), Oliver Charles (Clarinet), Robert Russell Bennett (Management), Chris Gehringer (Mastering), DJ Shadow (Mixing), Xavier Mosley (Executive Producer), Vincent Segal (Percussion), Vincent Segal (Strings), Money Mark (Organ), Karl Denson (Flute), DJ Babu (Cut), DJ Shadow (Producer), Lateef the Truth Speaker (Vocals), Gift of Gab (Vocals), Harley White (Keyboards), Anthony Coleman (Trumpet), Ben Kenney (Bass), Cut Chemist (Scratching), De La Soul (Performer), James Poyser (Keyboards), Mario Caldato, Jr. (Engineer), Kevin Guarnieri (Engineer), Ahmir Khalib Thompson (Drums), Cut Chemist (Cut), Chali 2na (Vocals), Chief Xcel (Composer), Chief Xcel (Producer), Seth "Slim" Zwerling (Trumpet), Linda Parker (Vocals), Vincent Segal (Cello), Chief Xcel (Arranger), Kimberly Bilbrew (Project Coordinator), Jaguar Wright (Vocals), Tom Sarig (A&R), Money Mark (Piano), Omar Edwards (Keyboards), Hi-Tek (Engineer), Harley White (Bass), Vincent Segal (Electric Cello), Jose Espinoza (Sax (Alto)), Steve Mandell (Engineer), Tracey Moore (Vocals), Paul Humphrey (Drums), Russell Elevado (Mixing), Leon Mobley (Percussion), Joyo Velarde (Vocals), Saul Williams (Vocals), Timothy Parker (Executive Producer), Juan Nelson (Bass), Lyrics Born (Vocals), Chief Xcel (Engineer), Rail Jon Rogut (Engineer), Gil Scott-Heron (Vocals), Brian Cross (Photography), Syble Scovell (Vocals), Oliver Charles (Fender Rhodes), Jose Espinoza (Sax (Tenor)), Hi-Tek (Producer), Ben Harper (Producer), Gil Scott (Vocals), Rakaa-Iriscience (Vocals), Chief Xcel (Mixing), KeKe Wyatt (Vocals), Alfred Ortiz (Percussion), Chief Xcel (Cut), Jeanne Venton (Project Coordinator), Rakaa-Iriscience (Performer), Innocent Criminals (Producer), Jose Espinoza (Sax (Baritone)), Zack de la Rocha (Vocals), Erinn Anova (Vocals), Ben Harper (Vocals), Ben Harper (Guitar)
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Wikipedia: Blazing Arrow
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Blazing Arrow
Studio album by Blackalicious
Released April 30, 2002
Genre Hip hop
Length 74:24
Label MCA Records
Producer Chief Xcel
Questlove
DJ Shadow
Hi-Tek
Ben Harper
Cut Chemist
Professional reviews
Blackalicious chronology
Nia
(2000)		 Blazing Arrow
(2002)		 The Craft
(2005)

Blazing Arrow is the second full-length album by Blackalicious, the follow-up to 2000's Nia. It was released on April 30, 2002 on MCA Records.

Contents

Track listing

All tracks by Chief Xcel and Gift of Gab

  1. "Introduction: Bow and Fire" – 1:06
    • Vocals by Linda Parker, Susan Bonaparte and Syble Scovell
  2. "Blazing Arrow" – 2:40
  3. "Sky Is Falling" – 2:26
  4. "First In Flight" – 4:32
    • Featuring Gil Scott-Heron
    • Saxophone: Jose Espinosa
    • Trumpet: Seth Zwerling
  5. "Green Light: Now Begin" – 3:12
  6. "4000 Miles" – 4:35
  7. "Nowhere Fast" – 6:41
  8. "Paragraph President" – 5:09
    • Contains interlude "Halfway Home," produced by DJ Shadow
  9. "It's Going Down" – 3:44
    • Featuring Lateef the Truth Speaker and Keke Wyatt
    • Produced by Chief Xcel
    • Co-produced by Hi-Tek
  10. "Make You Feel That Way" – 3:26
    • Trumpet: Anthony Coleman
  11. "Brain Washers" – 6:22
  12. "Chemical Calisthenics" – 3:21
    • Featuring Cut Chemist
    • Produced by Cut Chemist
    • Cuts by Cut Chemist
  13. "Aural Pleasure" – 4:47
    • Featuring Jaguar Wright
    • Saxophone: Jose Espinosa
    • Trumpet: Seth Zwerling
    • Contains interlude "Faith's Fire," featuring Lifesavas, backing vocals by Miho Hatori
  14. "Passion" – 3:54
  15. "Purest Love" – 4:03
    • Bass, Guitar, Piano: Teke Underdue
    • Flute: Karl Denson
    • Horns: Deejan Underdue
    • Backing vocals: Bear and Damu Quarles
  16. "Release (Part 1, 2 & 3)" – 9:26
  17. "Day One" – 4:52
    • Contains interlude "Bow and Fire Outro"

Critical reaction

The album was generally received well by critics, with Allmusic writer Steve Huey praising Gift of Gab's performance:[1]

“ In spite of the duo's intellectual bent, the grooves on Blazing Arrow exude a tremendous warmth that's only complemented by the positivity of their messages. And if Gift of Gab wasn't recognized among hip-hop's premier lyricists before, he certainly ought to be now; his raps are jam-packed with internal rhymes, allusions, metaphors, ten-cent words, and amazing tongue-twisting feats of skill. ”

Pitchfork Media was also impressed with the album:[2]

“ He and Xcel have the stage, and all they want to do is share it. It's as if the scope of this album-- the stylistic diversity, the guest artists, the sincere, ecstatic rhymes-- doesn't come from ambition or creativity for its own sake, but out of a need to include everyone they know and everything they see around them. Not since Car Wash has there been such a celebration of diversity and hot fun in the summertime. ”

Credits

  • Executive Producer(s): Xavier Mosley, Timothy Parker
  • Bass: Harley White (tracks: 1, 3-5, 8A, 9, 10, 13A, 14, 16A-17A)
  • Drums: Paul Humphrey (tracks: 1, 11B, 16A)
  • Keys: Money Mark (tracks: 1, 6, 16A)
  • Producer: Chief Xcel (tracks: 1-6, 7B, 8A, 9-11B, 13A-17B)
  • Scratches: Chief Xcel (tracks: 1, 2, 7A, 8A, 11A, 14)
  • Strings: Vincent Segal (tracks: 1, 3-7A, 10, 14, 16A-17A)
  • Vocals: Erinn Anova (tracks: 3, 5, 15, 17A), Joyo Velarde (tracks: 3, 15, 17A), Vursatyl (tracks: 3, 15, 17A)

Samples

Blazing Arrow

Paragraph President

Make You Feel That Way

  • "Picture of Innocence" by Cliff Duncan

Aural Pleasure

Passion

  • "It's My Thing" by EPMD

Album chart positions

Year Album Chart positions
Billboard 200 Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
2002 Blazing Arrow #49 #33

References

  1. ^ Huey, Steve. "Blazing Arrow". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:y0jv7i83g71r. 
  2. ^ Dahlen, Chris (2002-05-30). "Blackalicious: Blazing Arrow: Pitchfork Record Review". Pitchfork Media. http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/15521/Blackalicious_Blazing_Arrow. 

External links

v • d • e
Quannum Projects
Groups
Apsci | Blackalicious | The Blacktop Project | Honeycut | Latyrx | Lifesavas | Lateef and the Chief (Maroons) | Poets of Rhythm
Members
Full Length Albums
Latyrx (The Album) | The Muzapper Mixes | The Muzapper Remixes | Quannum Spectrum | Nia | Solesides Greatest Bumps | Discern/Define | Blazing Arrow | Spirit in Stone | Soul Food Taqueria | Later That Day | Maroons:Ambush | 4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up | Thanks for Asking | Achados e Perdidos | Cliquety Kliqk | Same !@#$ Different Day | The Craft | Supreme Lyricism | Overnite Encore: Lyrics Born Live
EPs
Affiliated Groups or Members

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 
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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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