Their third album, originally released in 2005. Blackalicious is an album of such sonic depth and lyrical ambition that it stands proudly alongside the work of Bay Area funk fathers Sly Stone and Shuggie Otis or hip-hop classics like Outkast's Aquemini and The Roots' Things Fall Apart. Lyricist Gab (âÇ June 18, 2021) went beyond the introspection of previous albums and goes deep on "Black Diamonds and Pearls" as a pregnant teen overcomes her fears, while on the epic "The Fall The Fall and Rise of Elliott Brown," a lost, incarcerated boy transforms into a leader of his community. What Gab has achieved lyrically, Xcel achieves musically, with beats reminiscent of classic funk that sit comfortably alongside the orchestral sweep of Stereolab. "The Craft," says Xcel, "is our passion to bring discipline to this music, the passion to keep growing, stretching and doing things we haven't done before. The Craft is what we live for."
