Imani, Vol. 1
by Blackalicious
  • Record Label: !K7
  • Release Date: Sep 18, 2015
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
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  1. Chicago Tribune
    Sep 18, 2015
    88
    The tracks brim with sing-along choruses, strutting horns and bright melodies that evoke the heyday of Philly soul, the mystic optimism of Earth Wind & Fire and the "Car Wash" soundtrack.
  2. Q Magazine
    Dec 9, 2015
    80
    It's not perfect, but there's enough of their magic here to see even Harry Potter fall back under their spell. [Jan 2016, p.106]
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  3. The A.V. Club
    Sep 18, 2015
    75
    Thankfully, Imani, Vol. 1 succeeds by focusing on the music and a modest message, and setting aside any desire to prove, recapture, or define anything in particular about its creators or their careers.
  5. Paste Magazine
    Sep 18, 2015
    73
    Imani is less appealing when it treads too close to feel-good platitudes (“Inspired By,” “Twist of Time”), though Gab’s conversational flow still packs enough sincerity to get away with lines like “Family will have your back when everybody else will skip.”
  6. Pitchfork
    Sep 18, 2015
    72
    Blackalicious is most effective when Gift of Gab’s knotty multisyllabic schemes unspool without decryption and nestle neatly in the nooks and crannies of Xcel’s soulful romps.
  7. Uncut
    Dec 9, 2015
    70
    A welcome comeback. [Jan 2016, p.73]
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  8. PopMatters
    Nov 2, 2015
    70
    Imani boldly announces a new chapter for Blackalicious. Family and mortality are only going to get more complex as one gets older. However, Blackalicious prove you can still hit your stride if you have the ambition.
  9. RapReviews.com
    Oct 27, 2015
    70
    Gift of Gab remains a fire-spitter but his flow has withered slightly since the immaculately delivered rhymes crafted in the early 2000s, but it's not always noticeable. Musically, there's some jarring moments that hold this back from being one of their best works.
  10. The Guardian
    Oct 22, 2015
    60
    All that unalloyed positivity doesn’t always make for compelling listening, while a series of mid-tempo, light-jazz beats feel too much like throwbacks to 90s backpacker hip-hop.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. jimla
    Sep 19, 2015
    10
    Is it great? Is it incredible? No, it's indescribably. This album is in the my TOP-5 of 2015 now. I'm going to listen to the full discographyIs it great? Is it incredible? No, it's indescribably. This album is in the my TOP-5 of 2015 now. I'm going to listen to the full discography of these wonderful guys. Wooooooooow!… Full Review »
  2. StannyBoy
    Sep 23, 2015
    10
    This album wont be leaving my player any time soon. All i can say is WOW. When I first put in this album I didn't know what to think. It wasThis album wont be leaving my player any time soon. All i can say is WOW. When I first put in this album I didn't know what to think. It was good, but different. Its missing a lot of the catchyness that the previous albums had. This uses a lot of odd chord progressions and a little bit more dissonance that was missing in the other albums making it while not Immediately gratifying, it gives it something special once you have listened to it multiple times. Alot of the songs are slower, quieter then previous albums, but it still contains that Blackalicious feel. I really wish this is the kind of music that got played on the hip hop radio stations, instead of the crap they play. This is real hip hop. Pick up this album and give it a couple listens. You wont regret it!… Full Review »
  3. Flikkie72
    Jan 22, 2020
    9
    Amazing beats, intoxicating backup vocals and crazy good flow. Beautiful package for the positive messages it conveys. All in all anAmazing beats, intoxicating backup vocals and crazy good flow. Beautiful package for the positive messages it conveys. All in all an impeccable feel good album: can't wait for vol. 2!… Full Review »
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