In the polarized world of hip hop/rap, somewhere in between 50 Cent and Sweatshop Union, exists the hip hop group known as Blackalicious. Blackalicious has earned a reputation in the underground as a group that consistently puts out quality product and they succeed once again with their third album, The Craft.

After recent explorations into other projects, Blackalicious' Gift of Gab (lyricist) and Chief Xcel (producer/DJ) rejoined forces and created an album that is experimental and yet, distinctively Blackalicious. The Craft features more of Gab's unrelenting, fast-paced verbal flow, which at times creates more melody than the underlying beats. But what separates Gab from other quick rhymers like Twista is the poetic quality of his lyrics. His unique rhyming schemes, meticulous word selection and distinctive phrasing make his rhymes seem to bounce and skip across the tracks. An excellent example of this is “Rhythm Sticks,” where Gab starts the beginning of each line with a letter from the word “Blackalicious.” - word play reminiscent of “A to G” from the groups 2000 debut, Nia.

The lack of sample-based tracks is the most noticeable change from Blackalicious' first two albums. With their diminishing reliance on samples, there is some loss of the animated quality of their music but this is replaced by a more soulful, mature musical feel. Vincent Segal reprises his role from Blazing Arrow, setting up well-utilized string arrangements on tracks like, “Automatique,” “Side to Side” and “The Rise and Fall of Elliot Brown.”

The Craft is a darker, more introspective album and is sure to please both old fans and new listeners alike.