U:Move

    Gift of Gab, the lyrical side of the two man duo known better as Blackalicious alongside DJ Chief Xcel, has cemented his music in the greater landscape of the California hip hop underground over the past two decades as part of the Solesides/Quannum projects.  Lyrics Born, DJ Shadow and Pigeon John are other artists who make up the crew, but with Gab branching off and doing solo projects with production from beat-makers outside of Chief Xcel within recent years, we peppered him with questions as to whether or not Blackalicious is still active and what’s getting him through the days heading into 2012 since recording “40 Oz. For Breakfast”.  Being a Bay Area guy, we also asked him just how crazy that part of California is right now with the tumultuous Occupy Oakland protests.  Be sure to check out Gift of Gab and his arsenal of rhymes live at the Record Bar on November 6th.  Buy tickets HERE. 

    Umove:  Google searches had given me some conflicting information but what part of California are you from originally?

    Gift of Gab:  I am originally from LA, the San Fernando Valley.  I went to high school in Sacramento, that’s where Blackalicious formed.  And I’ve lived in the Bay Area for the last fifteen years.  So you could say I’m from all over California.

    Umove:  How crazy is the Bay Area right now with the Occupy Oakland thing going on right now?

    Gift of Gab:  It’s nuts dude.  In just the past couple of weeks it was two riots, near riots.  The police were throwing tear gas in the crowd and it’s crazy over there right now. 

    Umove:  What’s your take on the whole thing?

  Gift of Gab:  I think it’s needed.  I think that it’s time that people stood together and recognized that there is a small group of people that control everything.  And it’s supposed to be a democracy so it’s supposed to be about the people.  I think it’s good that people are coming together for change. 

    Umove:  Is Blackalicious done or is Blackalicious still active with DJ Chief Xcel?

    Gift of Gab:  Wow, no far from it.  Blackalicious is actually working on some new music.  I have a solo record coming out in January, my third solo record.  But Blackalicious is still alive and well in the studio working on our next album which will be some time in 2012.  We just did four shows up in the Northwest, up in B.C., Windsor, Vancouver, Portland and Seattle.  Blackalicious is alive and well with new music coming in probably late 2012.  Maybe earlier than that because we’ll probably leak some free songs but Blackalicious is in full effect, as they used to say in the 90’s.  Full effect.

    Umove:  What can we expect with the new Blackalicious record?  Are you guys going to be going on tour with it?

    Gift of Gab:  We’re gonna be doing everything.  We’re in the early stages of it right now.  The next project I’m putting out is a solo record.  It’s called “The Next Logical Progression” and it’ll be out January 17th.  And the next Blackalicious record, expect that in the fall.  I don’t want to give away too much because we’re in the early stages right now.

    Umove:  Who do you find doing a lot of the beats for your solo records (without DJ Chief Xcel)?

    Gift of Gab:  The first record (4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up) was Vitamin D and Jake One.  The second record, which was Escape 2 Mars, was DNAEBEATS and The Mighty Headnodic, who’s rolling right here with me right now.  We’re gonna do this show tonight in Eureka.  And for the third album, it’s G Coop and Headnodic doing the production. 

    Umove:  What’s the key to the chemistry between you and Xcel when it comes to making music?

    Gift of Gab:  Me and X met in high school.  At an early stage we realized that we liked the same kind of hip hop, we have the same passion for making it and we have the same vision for the type of music we liked and the type of music that we want to hear.  With us, the chemistry is pretty instant.  When we get to vibing and we really get to moving, the creativity just flows. 

    Umove:  What’s new with the Quannum crew?

    Gift of Gab:  The next two projects on Quannum is Lateef’s (Lateef The Truth Speaker) record and my record.  Lateef’s record which is entitled “Firewire”, will be released in about a week actually.  It comes out November 8th, it’s called “Firewire”.  Then the next thing to come out on Quannum will be my record, “The Next Logical Progression”, January 17th.  I don’t want to sound like I’m plugging it too much.  Lifesavas are coming out with new music on Quannum and the next Blackalicious record is gonna come out on Quannum as well. 

    Umove:  In comparison to what was going on with you when you made “40 Oz. For Breakfast”, what’s getting you through the day now?

    Gift of Gab:  Just being focused, being an adult.  Music, family, and being affiliated with good people and good energy.