Gift of Gab (rapper)
Gift of Gab (born Timothy Parker, in Panorama City, CA) is an American MC best known for performing in the Bay Area hip-hop duo Blackalicious with DJ Chief Xcel. He is also a member of Quannum Projects, a Bay Area hip-hop crew and record label, and has performed and recorded as a solo artist.
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[edit] Recognition
Gift of Gab is often praised by critics for his rapping skills – Allmusic says he is “one of the very finest MCs to ever pick up a microphone”,[1] “one of the best underground rappers in the business”,[2] “his raps are jam-packed with internal rhymes, allusions, metaphors, ten-cent words, and amazing tongue-twisting feats of skill”,[3] and he has been able to “redefine the art of lyrical technique”.[3] Peter Shapiro describes him as “a walking encyclopedia of MCing styles”,[4] Pitchfork Media refers to his “astonishing verbal dexterity and enunciation”,[5] Popmatters says he has a “nearly impenetrable reputation for style and innovation”,[6] and Stylus Magazine calls him “one of the top MCs in the game”.[7]
[edit] Collaborations
Gift of Gab is featured on the Galactic album From the Corner To the Block, and collaborated on a track with Z-Trip called "Go Hard" for the Soundtrack for All-Pro Football 2K8. He also released a 2007 EP with Lateef The Truth Speaker and Headnodic as The Mighty Underdogs called The Prelude He went on to do a song called "All In" with The Grouch & Eligh. He is also featured on the track "The People Tree" on the 2009 N.A.S.A. release "The Spirit of Apollo".
In 2002, Gift of Gab contributed to Red Hot + Riot, a compilation CD released by the Red Hot Organization in tribute to the music and work of Nigerian musician, Fela Kuti, that raised money for various charities devoted to raising AIDS awareness and fighting the disease. He collaborated with hip-hop artist Lateef to remake the famous song by Fela Kuti, "Kalakuta Show."
His next solo album, "The Next Logical Progression", will be released March 27th on Quannum Projects
[edit] Discography
[edit] Solo albums
- 2004: 4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up
- 2006: Supreme Lyricism Vol. 1 - Limited Edition mixtape
- 2007: The Prelude - with The Mighty Underdogs
- 2008: Droppin' Science Fiction - with The Mighty Underdogs
- 2009: Escape 2 Mars
- 2012: The Next Logical Progression
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r446244
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r680166
- ^ a b http://www.allmusic.com/album/r587732
- ^ Shapiro, Peter, 2005, The Rough Guide To Hip-Hop, 2nd Edition, Penguin, p. 308
- ^ http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/788-the-craft/
- ^ http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/13969/blackalicious-craft/
- ^ http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/blackalicious/blazing-arrow.htm
[edit] External links
- Interview with ArtofRhyme.com
- Extensive feature on Gift of Gab at Fine Print Magazine
- Gift of Gab announces free download of new single - Style43.com Aug '09
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