Blackalicious: 4/20 Live In Seattle

Mic legend the Gift of Gab and Quannum producer Chief Xcel, known commonly as Blackalicious, give us 4/20 Live in Seattle, out now on DVD and Blu-Ray. The show is one of typical quality for the Bay Area duo, and has them performing their finest work, kicking off with the well-known exercise in lyrical prowess “Alphabet Aerobics”, originally produced by Cut Chemist. The energy of a Blackalicious show is hard to capture. No matter the setting, the machine gun pace at which Gift drops knowledge captivates the crowd, whose feet stop moving as their minds try to grasp the MC’s content. We recall a 2003 show at SOB’s in New York where Gift, ailing from diabetes, performed the entire set sitting down and still had everyone there hanging on his every word. The DVD succeeds in conveying the experience of a Blackalicious show and is a must-have for anyone who’s lost faith in what the majority of contemporary live hip hop shows have become.