While it’s been a while since I’ve dabbled into the rap game, I do know a thing or two about a thing or two. Admittedly I no longer listen to the genre, but I do have a sense of appreciation for certain artists, and am going into this one with my mind open and with a sense of anticipation.

The disc itself is the recording of a live concert showing of the hip hop duo Blackalicious. Gift of Gab is known for his quick spitting and multi-syllabic rhymes which are immediately evident in this concert. The other half of the group is DJ and producer Chief Xcel, who is just as talented but in different respects. As the concert plays on the two flex their talent and put on a good show that includes several guest spots.

Previously I have only ever heard of Blackalicious in name, and never having actually listened to their music. But it was a pleasant surprise, and although I don’t listen to hip hop anymore I have to give credit where it is due. The lyrics are original and inventive, tied together with progressive beats and funky baselines your surround system will get a chance to prove its worth.

So whether you are a casual fan of the music or a fanatic there is plenty to appreciate here. Unfortunately for those of you who can’t stand rap music this isn’t going to change your opinion, or offer something that you haven’t heard before. But for those of you who keep your ear to the street you will notice a unique blend of production and lyrics that will surely impress. So give this music Blu-ray a listen if you want to hear some progressive sounds, and it goes without saying if you don’t like rap music just don’t bother listening.

Video

Presented in 1080i 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Blackalicious comes to Blu-ray with some mixed results.  Right off the bat the picture looks extremely dark, which is expected from an indie hip hop concert.  Besides the performers in the spot light there is nothing else to see.  Spiced interview segments look extremely soft and look more like SD then HD.  Thankfully the concert segments look much better.  The picture is sharp and detailed, although some distance shots look extremely blurry, but this is and not the transfers fault.

I have seen three other concerts on Blu-ray and this is probably the most underwhelming transfer I’ve seen.  It’s not terrible by any means; it just fails to compete to other concert releases on Blu-ray.

Audio

Blackalicious is equipped with a great sounding 5.1 Dolby Digital track.  Bass was present throughout the entire concert and boy did it sound good.  Whether you’re a fan of the genre, you can’t help but to feel some of these catchy beats.  The interview segments are perfectly balanced with the booming concert footage.

As good as the track sound, it is too bad that a lossless track wasn’t included as it would have been extremely beneficially given the material here.

Special Features

• The Bus Tour -(1:39)  (HD) A brief look of the Blackalicious tour bus.  The Gift of Gab shows us where the group sleeps and what they eat (pop tarts).
• Deception Music Video – The back cover does say this is included as a bonus feature, but I can’t find this video anywhere.

Final Thoughts

For fans of the group this disc is a must buy, the disc is quite nicely put together with surprisingly potent visuals and a superb bass heavy audio track. Though the special features are lacking this makes for a great disc to have running in the background at social events, or just to showcase your audio system. In summary, I recommend fans of hip hop to check this one out, otherwise just let it be.