Track Listing

1. Introduction: Bow And Fire
2. Blazing Arrow
3. Sky Is Falling
4. First In Flight - Blackalicious, Gil Scott-Heron
5. Green Light: Now Begin
6. 4000 Miles - Blackalicious, Chali 2na, Lateef The Truth Speaker
7. Nowhere Fast
8. Paragraph President
9. It's Going Down - Blackalicious, Lateef The Truth Speaker, KeKe Wyatt
10. Make You Feel That Way
11. Brain Washers - Blackalicious, Ben Harper
12. Chemical Calisthenics - Blackalicious, Cut Chemist
13. Aural Pleasure - Blackalicious, Jaguar Wright
14. Passion - Blackalicious, Rakaa, Babu
15. Purest Love
16. Release Part 1,2, & 3 - Blackalicious, Saul Williams, Lyrics Born
17. Day One
18. Just What Can Happen

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15835 in Music
• Released on: 2002-06-17
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds
• Running time: 77 minutes

CD Description
'Blazing Arrow' is the second studio album by West Coast rappers, Chief Xcel and Gift Of Gab. Their sound has been influenced by acts such as De La Soul and The Jungle Brothers. The duo formed 1992 but did not release their debut album until 2000.

Customer Reviews

"Soldiers & Lovers Everywhere . . ."
Blackalicious' second full-length of their career, 'Blazing Arrow,' kicks off in style, with a musical introductory track, courtesy of Chief XL's considerable wizardry. We launch thereafter; weaving directly into Gift Of Gab's complex schemes, and high-octane flows on the title track. Echoes of what is still to come.

An enormous part of what makes this album such a knockout, is the sheer thick-blooded consistency of it -- combined with the diversity of the sound; the creative genious that stems from the chemistry between the two artists.

'Release,' standing at just over ten minutes long, features the stirring voice of former Rage Against The Machine front-man, Zach De La Rocha, along with renowned spoken word poet Saul Williams, and Quannum associate, Lyrics Born. This track -- arranged in three very seperate movements -- manages the difficult feat of being the most prominent "standout," on what is arguably one of the greatest albums of all time.

Elsewhere, 'Aural Pleasure' -- featuring the irrepressible vocal talents of Neo-Soul songstress, Jaguar Wright -- is a colourful ode to the beauty and the power of music. And we have an even greater treat, with the mythical Gil Scott-Heron appearing on the super-soulful cut 'First In Flight.' Other notable guest spots include Dilated Peoples' Rakaa Iriscience & DJ Babu on 'Passion,' Jurassic 5's Chali 2NA and Cut Chemist on '4000 Miles' and 'Chemical Calisthenics' respectively -- and Ben Harper on the cool 'Brain Washers'.

You will not hear many Hip-hop CDs better than this. This was, without a shadow of a doubt, my favourite album of the last five years. If you like music at all, then you WILL want this in your collection.

Brilliance. Nothing less.
Admitted. This album did really surprise me. Having heard a few of the songs (Make you feel this way and Paragraph President), I knew that I was going to get a class album, but this good? I did not expect. The basics first: For anyone who doesn't know Blackalicious I can tell that the group consists of two people; DJ Chief Xcel and MC Gift to Gab (don't ask about the name, mkay?). Together they form the group called Blackalicious. What is noticable about this little group is their style. Gift To Gab's unique voice, and lightning fast way of rapping is sure to amaze everyone (and if not, you're truly not supposed to listen to hiphop).

Likewise, one can only be amazed by the skills shown by the DJ of the group, Chief Xcel. His beats are always spot on. Although he did not produce every single track on the cd, he produced or co-produced all but one. And it shows. Most of the beats are quite melodic, and if you're in doubt that he's on level with Gift To Gab, then let me dement all rumours at once. He's amazing. No other word for it.

Now, the album itself, spans over 17 tracks, and lasting an amazing 74 minutes (well helped on the way with the track release which lasts approx. 10 minutes. The tracks are varied and it's quite certain that there's something for everyone. 4000 Miles provides an excellent quite rocking beat, whilst featuring Chali 2NA of Jurassic 5 and Lateef the truth Speaker. In the other end we have "Make you feel this way", a truly unbelievable track, in the more quiet and philosophical end. The only common denominator I could find for the album is the funky 70's inspired, yet always fresh beats. The album features an amazing list of guest star appearances, including but not limited to J5, Ben Harper, Saul Williams, Dilated Peoples and so many other.

Conclusion: If I haven't said it already, I'd like to say it now. This album is truly the one experience I'm not that likely to forget in let's say... the next 5 years? Only downside is the choruses which are a bit dodgy on one or two of the tracks. But they shouldn't really be the reason for you not to buy this album. It's one of those experiences which gets better with every listen. So. If you dig thoughtfull, but varied and fastflowing hiphop, this is the one album you should get this year.

Fantastic
I'm not sure I could praise this CD highly enough. This is an absolute cracker, far and away above the usual quality of hiphop music these days. Inventive lyrical word play backed by very catchy tunes: witness the insistant "nine to five" sound-a-like start of 'release', the base line on 'aural pleasure' or Gil Scott Heron's deep voice on 'first in flight', to pick a few highlights. It's worth buying this for 'chemical calisthenics' alone.