The Craft
by Blackalicious
  • Record Label: Anti
  • Release Date: Sep 27, 2005
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 14
  3. Negative: 2 out of 14

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  1. Thur
    Sep 28, 2005
    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.
  2. AlbertM
    Sep 27, 2005
    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.
  3. davo
    Sep 26, 2005
    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 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. AlanR
    Oct 16, 2005
    10
    Because Blender has its finger on the pulse of creativity.
  5. cullenm
    Oct 24, 2005
    10
    kick ass
  6. SeanT
    Dec 11, 2005
    2
    huge letdown from blazing arrow
  7. manafa
    Dec 26, 2005
    10
    good shit
  8. BIGMAN22
    Apr 14, 2016
    10
    pretty dope album. like blazing arrow and Nia the lyricism and production is top notch. blackalicious has done it again by adding another masterpiece to their discography.

Awards & Rankings

88
#88 Best Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. AllMusic
    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."
    Read full review
  2. Alternative Press
    80
    Smart, eclectically but authentically funky, and humane to boot. [Oct 2005, p.168]
  3. Blender
    60
    Full of clever wordplay one moment, kind of pretentious the next. [Oct 2005, p.134]
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