The Craft - Blackalicious
The Craft Image
Metascore
80 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.6 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 11 Ratings

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  • Summary: The San Francisco rap duo of Gift of Gab (aka Timothy Parker) and Chief Xcel (Xavier Mosley) return with a third album.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. RapReviews.com
    100
    The magic in "The Craft" is that whether you're a student of the craft of hip-hop or not, you'll always enjoy the experience. The magic in "The Craft" is that it doesn't get stale with time - the beats and rhymes only get fresher and fresher.
  2. Q Magazine
    80
    A breath of fresh air. [Nov 2005, p.122]
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  3. All Music Guide
    80
    While the first half of the album may sound like a watered-down Blazing Arrow, everything picks up when the duo unveil two of the grooviest message tracks since Stevie Wonder's "Livin' for the City" in "The Fall and Rise of Elliot Brown" and "Black Diamonds and Pearls."
  4. Uncut
    60
    The finest moments... prove to be the same stripped-down verbally deft hip-hop that made their name. [Oct 2005, p.100]
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See all 22 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. Thur
    9
    And again an amazing album from Blackalicious. Not as good as Blazing Arrow but what album is? It's not as experimental (no Chemical Calestenics) but is has everything what makes an album great: terrific MCing from Gab en wonderful soulful beats from Xcel.… Expand
  2. AlbertM
    8
    The aptly named rapper has honed his gift to a sharp, double edged musical sword. My Pen and Pad is an ear buffet of our favorite Blackalicious rhythms. What is missing here is the explosive creativity of Nia & Blazing Arrow. It feels like the paragraph president is on vacation. However, it clobbers other rap acts in the biz today.… Expand
  3. davo
    7
    Blazing Arrow is still one of my favorite albums and so I had high hopes for the follow up. Perhaps too high. There are a few great songs, World of Vibrations, Powers is fun also... there are cool moments for Gab and the Lateef cameo isn't wasted (like Gab's was on LB's CD). There's no Paragraph President, Alphabet Aerobics, etc. It's not out of the park but it has its moments.… Expand
  4. SeanT
    2
    huge letdown from blazing arrow

See all 7 User Reviews

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