Blackalicious Long-Awaited Fifth Full-Length Studio Album 'The Craft' Set To Debut On September 27, 2005

Oakland, CA, June 2nd, 2005 - Blackalicious’ are set to release their long awaited 5th full-length studio album
The Craft on September 27th, 2005. Balancing deep
thought with visceral impact, The Craft features 15
new tracks and is the group’s most accomplished release
to date. The album is the duo’s first collection of new
material since 2002 and also marks their debut release
on Anti Records. The group plans to a release the track
“Rhythm Sticks” from The Craft as a 12” this summer.

The Craft reveals one of global hip-hop's best loved,
most critically acclaimed crews in the midst of yet another artistic breakthrough. Chief Xcel and Gift of Gab have
created a record that represents state-of-the-art hip-hop
with an expansive worldview. The music has such sonic depth and lyrical ambition that it can proudly stand
alongside the work of Bay Area funk fathers Sly Stone and Shuggie Otis, as well as hip-hop classics like Outkast's Aquemini, The Roots' Things Fall Apart and Gang Starr's Daily Operation. From its opening, the album moves from peak to peak, including the Prince-ly rush of the album’s
first single "Powers", a sinuous funk summit with
George Clinton on "Lotus Flower", and the seductive
meta-futurist soul of "Automatique," which features
special guest vocals from Floetry.

Said Chief Xcel "The Craft is our passion to bring discipline to this music, the passion to keep growing, keep stretching, keep doing things we haven't before. The craft is what we
live for."

Gift of Gab added "It's my favorite of all of our albums.
I think that it's our best."

The tracking list for The Craft is as follows:

1. The World Of Vibration (featuring Ledisi)
2. Supreme People
3. Rhythm Sticks
4. Powers
5. Side to Side (featuring Lateef & Pigeon John)
6. Lotus Flower (featuring George Clinton)
7. Automatique (featuring Floetry)
8. The Fall & Rise Elliot Brown Parts 1 & 2
9. The Fall & Rise of Elliot Brown Part 3 (Black Diamonds & Pearls) [featuring Ledisi & Larry Saunders]
10. Cry
11.Your Move (featuring Life Savas)
12.Give It To You (featuring Kween & Lyrics Born)
13.In The Days To Come
14. Egosonic War Drums (featuring Peace)
15.Dance of Firefly

Emerging from the influential Bay Area indie scene of the mid-90s, The Gift of Gab, one of the most respected MCs in the game today, and phenomenal producer/DJ Chief Xcel, fused together to form Blackalicious. Since impacting the music world in 1995 with their critically acclaimed debut album Melodica, the pair’s innovative compositions and insightful lyrics have provided a roadmap for hundreds of underground artists to follow. Gab and Xcel’s relationship as the MC and DJ/Producer reflects the core artform of hip-hop, and the duo now claims five groundbreaking albums and EPs to their credit.

Look for Blackalicious to hit the road this fall. For more info go to Blackalicious.com or anti.com.