From the forthcoming release, The Second Album, dropping worldwide 11/05/13. Produced by tUnE-yArDs

Today, Blackalicious is proud to announce the first public release of their classic Melodica EP. It comes complete with a bonus track “Changes”, which was recorded on Blackalcious’ first night in London when they went to sign a record deal with Mo’ Wax in ’93. Produced by DJ Shadow, Chief Xcel and James Lavelle (Mo’ Wax/UNKLE), the track was recorded and mixed all in one session. “Changes” was released only on the Japanese version of Melodica, making it one of the rarest tracks from the Blackalicious/Solesides vault. Additionally, Blackalicious will drop a brand new track, “Blacka” on July 31st. This will be the first song in a wave of long-anticipated new music from Blackalicious. The duo is also preparing to tour this Fall, more info on that later.

It’s one thing to make enduring records, another still to work with luminaries in multiple fields. Another thing still to treat the rhyme not only as a piece of poetry, but to play with the aesthetics of language in ways that represent the voice as a unique instrument in and of itself. Blackalicious do all of these things, and as evidenced by the reissue of 1993′s Melodica, they have been doing these things for years. Originally released exclusively on cassette, Melodica is being reissued digitally for the first time. It’s a vital document of the group’s progression towards their eventual position as lords of the West Coast Underground, Gift of Gab twisting his words with aplomb, his lyrics more carefree than his later work. Chief Xcel’s beats, meanwhile, tread the same funky, lighthearted waters as many of his left-field contemporaries, but everything on Melodica is coated in a murky scuzz that, somewhat conversely to logic, could place the EP alongside much of today’s weird, lo-fi hip-hop. As an added treat, Melodica contains “Changes,” an unreleased cut produced in part by one DJ Shadow, who joins forces with Blackalicious producer Chief Xcel to offer dusty drum loops and subtle, textured samples that would offer a glimpse into much of Shadow’s later work. In an era where hip-hop devolves into half-baked facsimile with alarming regularity, Melodica serves as a reminder that the true school will always triumph over the bullshit.

First leak from Headnodic’s Red Line Radio, due 07-26-11 on Brick Records.

LISTEN: Headnodic – “Turn Your Radio Up” (feat. Mr. Lif, Gift Of Gab, The Grouch)

Headnodic – “Turn Your Radio Up” (feat. Mr. Lif, Gift Of Gab, The Grouch)

Album tracklist below:

1. You Can Call It That (the introduction)
2. Red Line Radio feat. Mission (aka Raashan Ahmad & Moe Pope)
3. Movin’ On Up feat. Latyrx (aka Lateef the Truth Speaker & Lyrics Born) & Kat ((O1O))
4. Surgeon General feat. People Under The Stairs
5. The Mondays feat. Kat ((O1O))
6. Haven’t You Heard? feat. Sadat X, & Scienz of Life (aka John Robinson & ID 4 Winds)
7. These Days Ahead
8. The A.M. feat. Othello, Aima the Dreamer & DJ Vajra
9. Turn Your Radio Up feat. Mr. Lif, Gift of Gab & The Grouch
10. Russian River
11. Cough Drop feat. Raashan Ahmad
12. The Mush feat. Moe Pope & Benzito the Village President
13. Truth feat. Destani Wolf & The Jazz Mafia Horns
14. Durty Diamonds feat. Moe Pope, Bru Lei, Very, Jern Eye, Nightclubber Lang & One.Be.Lo
15. Carpe Noctum
16. Viles feat. Myka 9 & P.E.A.C.E.
17. Mr. Incomplete feat. The Jazz Mafia Horns
18. Pepper’s Lullabye
19. Thanks
20. Red Line Radio – Woodstock Remix feat. Mission & DJ Vajra (Digital Bonus Track)

ILLUS is making big moves and has a new song and video on the upcoming French super producer DJ Brans album. The new track and video feature the return of THE MASK who made his debut earlier this year in this incredibly fresh MASK VIDEO Check it out and get the single on iTUNES

ILLUS also has a brand new album dropping in July called FOR ADAM and it features Freddie Foxxx, Homeboy Sandman, Gift of Gab, Eternia, Craig G, Reef the Lost Cauze, Wordsworth, Block McCloud, DJ Johnny Juice, Paul Dateh, Erin Barra and J.J. Brown. For more info check out ILLUS and ILLUS Media Stay tuned for several new videos dropping soon. Pre-Order the limited edition cd HERE

Support independent Hip Hop!

The new ILLUS album “FOR ADAM” is complete and with your help will be available soon. Make a Kickstarter pledge of $10 and get a copy of the brand new limited edition CD featuring Freddie Foxxx, Gift of Gab, Homeboy Sandman, J.J. Brown, Eternia, Craig G, Wordsworth, Reef the Lost Cauze, Block McCloud, Paul Dateh, DJ Johnny Juice (on the scratches!) and Erin Barra. Make your pledge at http://kck.st/ffL4NS and stay in touch at www.adamwallenta.com.

This video features behind the scene footage of ILLUS and HomeBoy Sandman recording at 5G Productions Studio in Brooklyn, NY. It also features an interview with super producers J.J. Brown and Dan Maier after the mastering process is completed for the new album.

Illus “FOR ADAM” Tracklisting:

1. Requiem For Adam (w/DJ Johnny Juice from Public Enemy on the cuts)
2. Unstoppable featuring Freddie Foxxx and Paul Dateh (w/DJ Johnny Juice from Public Enemy on the cuts)
3. Born Criminal
4. Free featuring Homeboy Sandman
5. Brighter Day featuring Craig G, Reef the Lost Cauze and Block McCloud
6. Better featuring Gift of Gab and Paul Dateh
7. Sons and Daughters featuring Eternia, Wordsworth and Erin Barra
8. R.I.F. featuring Paul Dateh
9. Make Some Noize

    From the outset, Gab proceeds to sear eardrums with his preposterous rhyme scheme on “The Ride Of Your Life”. His breath control and delivery come off so ridiculous that the concept of manhandling this joint without punching in is rather asinine. But with a closer listen you realize that he is truly manipulating the beat. The same can be said for “Evolution”, where Gab’s verbal cadences easily blend with the smooth production. At times the combination is so smooth that one can argue that his rhymes liquefy into the beat traveling through the eardrums in unison. Anybody who’s listened to a Blackalicious album knows already how at ease Gab is with the subject of the ladies. “To Know You” is no exception to the rule as the silky production glides across your speakers. Gab dips in between the splattering snares with romancing rhymes as only Gab can do best. Probably the best throwback to the old school since Ahmad’s “Back in the Day” comes in the form of “Flashback”. Bounding pianos and subtle strings accompany Gab’s recollection of any and everything associated with his generation of growing up. As Gab spits “Welcome back to box cuts and shags/Jheri curl activator rocking the plastic bag/with a hat on the top/when niggas started to sag and gangbang/even if you didn’t you had to claim..” a sense of nostalgia may come over even the hardest of hard rocks. Lost in Gift of Gab’s nutty flow may be the concepts that come out of these joints. Songs like “Moonshine” (the anti-alcohol ode) and “In a Minute Doe” (dedicated to his nephew doing time) tend to get lost in the shuffle because of how effortless Gab rifles off his rhymes. But after multiple listens these songs become another set of jewels altogether.

    On the rise producers Jake One and Vitamin D deliver some more than exceptional production for Gab to utilize to his advantage.  The album possesses a certain flow which may be deemed unattainable for many artists of this day and age. As Gab shifts gears from subject to subject the flow of the album never falls to the wayside. Even the one minute instrumental “Hold On’ presents itself at the appropriate time, delivering a well timed break before the album continues its journey into the funkdafied atmosphere.

     As solid as Fourth Dimensional Rocketships Going Up may be, it isn’t without its faults. The terrible hook of “The Writz” is excusable after grasping Gab’s once again infections flow. After all is said and done, Gift of Gab may have come with the sleeper album of the year. An incredibly refreshing album from 1/2 of Blackalicious proves to be just the proper dose of dopeness needed in a time where albums tread the same monotonous themes. Hopefully at the end of the slick 46 minute offering fools will stop sleeping and give Gift of Gab the credit he deserves.