T/S: Blackalicious's The Craft VS Kanye West's Late Registration

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Can't answer yet, only half-way through The Craft right now, but is seems like a natural match-up.

― Suzy Creemcheese (SuzyCreemcheese), Friday, 2 September 2005 00:52 (twenty years ago)

Gift of Gab can be a much better MC and storyteller than Kanye.

But Kanye's beats are better.

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Friday, 2 September 2005 00:58 (twenty years ago)

gift of gab has flow

kanye doesnt

― dennis, Friday, 2 September 2005 01:33 (twenty years ago)

I haven't heard the new Blackalicious yet, but you can give me 'Broken Arrow' over Kanye's tedious soul samples any day of the week! Having said that, I seem to be developing something of a soft spot for 'Gold Digger'.

― Daniel Paton (angriest dog), Friday, 2 September 2005 02:32 (twenty years ago)

Hm; neither one is much of an MC, but Kanye's tracks are several million times better.

― Zed Szetlian (Finn MacCool), Friday, 2 September 2005 02:39 (twenty years ago)

Gab has a great voice. Kanye's isn't especially memorable. But he's a better songwriter and producer. Then again, I haven't heard either album yet.

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Friday, 2 September 2005 02:44 (twenty years ago)

I don't think Kanye's rhymes are too bad, he's sometimes quite funny, Gab is a bit on the serious side for me.

Haven't heard the new Blackalicious but I'm not a huge fan of their production, I generally like Kanye's.

Tedious soul samples?? You don't like his Marvin Gaye/Ray charles sampling tunes? I'd say they're up there with his best.

― Bn1 (Bn1), Friday, 2 September 2005 02:47 (twenty years ago)

Gab is good a lot of the time but he also gets wanky. I hope he releases alphabet aerobics part 6,803 sometime soon.

― deej.., Friday, 2 September 2005 04:58 (twenty years ago)

god i hated that damned solo album by gab. higher hopes for 'the craft' though.

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 2 September 2005 15:20 (twenty years ago)

Has this leaked to your friendly local P2P network yet?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 2 September 2005 15:22 (twenty years ago)

I found torrents for both at mininova.org

I am listening to Kanye now, haven't got to Blackalicious yet.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Friday, 2 September 2005 15:34 (twenty years ago)

I still think its weird how often Kanye gets shit for being a 'bad rapper' from you guys as if that means something to L'Trimm jockers.

― deej.., Friday, 2 September 2005 16:26 (twenty years ago)

excuse me, MIA jockers.

― deej.., Friday, 2 September 2005 16:26 (twenty years ago)

He's pretty good, but he's no Pras.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Friday, 2 September 2005 16:32 (twenty years ago)

Oh yeah - the tracklisting on the Late Registration I downloaded didn't match up with the official one at hiphopsite.com, so I guess it's another one of those goddamn in-progress advance versions.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Friday, 2 September 2005 16:35 (twenty years ago)

On listening to this... Gab makes corniness much more appealing than Kanye, probably because his isn't forced.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 2 September 2005 16:47 (twenty years ago)

"Neutron, proton, mass effect, lyrical oxidation, yo irrelevant
Mass spectrograph, your electron volt, atomic energy erupting
As I get all open on betacron, gamma rays thermo cracking
Cyclotron and any and every mic
You're on trans iridium, if you're always uranium
Molecules, spontaneous combustion, pow!"

― deej.., Friday, 2 September 2005 16:51 (twenty years ago)

"The Theory is that all matter is composed of at least three fundamental particles
Protons, electrons, neutrons, Protons charge is positive
By now you've guessed electrons are probably negatively charged
Neutrons don't follow either, neutral, in the middle, only no apologies
Centered, unmoved by yin and yang ideology
Neutron, bomb songs, electron fury
Cosmic musical radio-activity
Different points in joints within infinity
Oxygen and hydrogen alive within all types of energy
Within all types of energy
Within all types of energy
Within all types of energy"

So is Gab a high school teacher or a rapper?

― deej.., Friday, 2 September 2005 16:52 (twenty years ago)

Why not both?

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000026FOX.02._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 2 September 2005 16:54 (twenty years ago)

I like some of his songs, when he doesnt sound like he's trying to help us pass chemistry or teaching us the alphabet.

― deej.., Friday, 2 September 2005 16:55 (twenty years ago)

When Nia first came out I thought it was my favorite rap album for a minute!

"Sleep" is still great, "Deception" too.

― deej.., Friday, 2 September 2005 16:57 (twenty years ago)

"Sleep" is like the Goodnight, Moon of rap music.

― deej.., Friday, 2 September 2005 16:57 (twenty years ago)

Backpack Guilt C/D?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 2 September 2005 16:58 (twenty years ago)

I really like the K-Os album as well! JANSPORT ROCK IN THE 05!

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 2 September 2005 16:58 (twenty years ago)

K-Os picks good beats! His jack of "Hot Music" was rather gorgeous.

― deej.., Friday, 2 September 2005 16:59 (twenty years ago)

"This is the end of the jiggy era!"
-K-Os

― deej.., Friday, 2 September 2005 16:59 (twenty years ago)

I enjoy KW's soul-sampling more than Blackalicious' rock-soul guitar (esp. on the first half). Can't be bothered with either's 'corniness.'

But I'm bothered much more by KW's marketing music vibe than by Gab's social consciousness vibe.

― Suzy Creemcheese (SuzyCreemcheese), Friday, 2 September 2005 17:39 (twenty years ago)

http://www.readingrockets.org/images/books/0590414291_big.jpg

― deej.., Friday, 2 September 2005 18:14 (twenty years ago)

This is a funny comparison, as it seems to me like both Kanye's and Blackalicious's weaknesses are complimentary - where Kanye is annoyingly self-confident, Gab has this sorta "did I do that?" Urkely forced nerdliness to him...where Kanye's beats are generally really exciting and powerful, Xcel's are generally bland and scare quotes "funky"...Kanye is always playing up his "college dropout"ness, while Gab is sorta pretending to be a college professor or something - I think they both would do well to colaborate with/learn something from each other.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 2 September 2005 18:15 (twenty years ago)

beats on "the craft" are boring as fuck. good thing i got this uninspiring bullshit at no cost. i don't like kanye, but at least his beats let me know he's not deaf. deleted. to the recycling bin. should've never been made.

― fdsgfg, Saturday, 3 September 2005 08:19 (twenty years ago)

I couldn't get all the way through "the craft", whereas I loved "blazing arrow". I didn't even get halfway. fdsgfg otm - the beats are terrible.

― Simon H. (Simon H.), Saturday, 3 September 2005 14:08 (twenty years ago)

Customers who bought this title also bought:

* Maroons: Ambush ~ Lateef & the Chief (Rate it)
* Same !@#$ Different Day ~ Lyrics Born (Rate it)
* Late Registration [EXPLICIT LYRICS] ~ Kanye West (Rate it)
* NIA ~ Blackalicious (Rate it)
* Possibilities ~ Herbie Hancock (Rate it)
* Joyful Rebellion ~ K-Os (Rate it)
* Be [EXPLICIT LYRICS] [SPECIAL EDITION] ~ Common (Rate it)
* White People [EXPLICIT LYRICS] ~ Handsome Boy Modeling School (Rate it)

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 3 September 2005 14:58 (twenty years ago)

That Maroons record is really good, too. I wonder when X-Cel lost his hand on the boards?

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Saturday, 3 September 2005 15:36 (twenty years ago)

gab is corny but he doesnt know it. kanye is corny but he knows hes corny. id say the former is worse.

― okoko, Saturday, 3 September 2005 22:30 (twenty years ago)

stunning, okoko

― dennis, Sunday, 4 September 2005 17:58 (twenty years ago)

the new blackalicious doesnt have any standout tracks. thats the problem with it. blazing arrow was too long but at least it had plenty of stand out tracks. this new album just washes over you.

― okokok, Sunday, 4 September 2005 18:57 (twenty years ago)

I liked Blazing Arrow more than Craft or Late Reg (and more than College Dropout).

I think Craft might come out at the bottom of it all, though. Kind of disappointing.

― Suzy Creemcheese (SuzyCreemcheese), Sunday, 4 September 2005 20:01 (twenty years ago)

The Craft

― Tobin Moffatt, Monday, 5 September 2005 20:32 (twenty years ago)

Hmmmm. One of those is a pop-hit packed classic and one of them is by Blackalicious.

― I Ain't No Addict, Whoever Heard of a Junkie as Old as Me? (noodle vague), Monday, 5 September 2005 20:45 (twenty years ago)

The latter wins!

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 5 September 2005 20:48 (twenty years ago)

Is that the official view of the Campaign for Real Rap?

― I Ain't No Addict, Whoever Heard of a Junkie as Old as Me? (noodle vague), Monday, 5 September 2005 20:55 (twenty years ago)

http://www.emilyskinner.com/images/strawpeople3.jpg

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 5 September 2005 21:16 (twenty years ago)

I think Dom has a whole .zip full of strawman pictures for when he goes to the mat for jurassic 5 or blackalicious.

― deej.., Monday, 5 September 2005 22:02 (twenty years ago)

A) When have I gone to the mat for Jurassic 5?
B) On what planet do "Campaign for Real Rap" campaigners not spend all of their time on Kanye's d?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 5 September 2005 22:07 (twenty years ago)

I don't even dislike Blackalicious but the kneejerk Kanyism must stop.

― I Ain't No Addict, Whoever Heard of a Junkie as Old as Me? (noodle vague), Monday, 5 September 2005 22:07 (twenty years ago)

Also, the correct term is Kanye's phd.

― I Ain't No Addict, Whoever Heard of a Junkie as Old as Me? (noodle vague), Monday, 5 September 2005 22:09 (twenty years ago)

I have been listening to The Craft. Although it is no Blazing Arrow, it has good tracks, Side to Side, the first half of World of Vibrations and Powers. All up beat decent tracks. but two strong albums at the moment are Commons Be and Lush Life (beachboys vs KW). But Be is special.
Plus I saw J5 live last week. They was ok, but it was the same as last time i saw them. They are still doing the motorbike section. Bit of a change would be nice.

KW, John Legend and Common are doing something special. They will be big next year.

― Ru (Ruadhan), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 22:30 (twenty years ago)

A) When have I gone to the mat for Jurassic 5?
B) On what planet do "Campaign for Real Rap" campaigners not spend all of their time on Kanye's d?
-- Dom Passantino (juror...), September 5th, 2005.

It wasn't anything personal Dom, I was just joking around. There was a thread a couple weeks back where you observed that the jurassic 5-fan strawman doesn't really exist. And I'm not sure when most 'campaign for real rap' fans have been into kanye - or who those fans on ILM are. For awhile I thought Al and I were the only ones who still like the dude. I know padgett doesnt like him. I don't think i ever saw dk make a post about him, certainly not on govt names. Most people are all "he's so full of himself" or "he's got good beats but he's a shitty rapper."

― deej.., Tuesday, 6 September 2005 22:46 (twenty years ago)

in general, kanye has been and always will be corny. he talks about nothing important. and don't say "what about diamonds are forever?" because if you actually LISTEN to the lyrics, he's not talking about the real issues with slave labor, etc. blacka is an incredible combination, the music is supposed to be fun. and for anyone that has ever seen them live, you know that its a wild time. they put on a show like KRS-One did back in the mid 90s. stay real to hip-hop, not this cornball kanye that somehow snuck into the category

PS: kanye only has the beats. listen to his old tracks... he couldn't catch the beat if his life depended on it. can you say "ghostwriter"?

PSS: cop that new Little Brother album "The Minstrel Show" album of the year

― J.Win, Tuesday, 20 September 2005 16:53 (twenty years ago)

that blackalicious album is pure garbage and the little brother ain't much better.

― mark p (Mark P), Tuesday, 20 September 2005 16:58 (twenty years ago)

blacka is an incredible combination, the music is supposed to be fun.

this is the funniest thing i have read today.

on a not unrelated note, does anybody else pine for black star, or am i just showing my age?

― yuengling participle (rotten03), Tuesday, 20 September 2005 17:08 (twenty years ago)

very very disappointed with the new blackalicious and very very surprised with the new kanye.

― alex in montreal (alex in montreal), Tuesday, 20 September 2005 17:20 (twenty years ago)

fuck it. blackalicious has more class in his little finger than kanye. open your ears and eyes, no one is going to be playing kanye in 20 years, except stupid white kids who liked him in high school cause he was on mtv and everyone else did.

― justin in ottawa, Saturday, 24 September 2005 04:48 (twenty years ago)

whereas the people playing blackalicious will be smart white kids who liked "him" in college cause the dude with dreads in the frat was like dude you gotta check this shit.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Saturday, 24 September 2005 05:11 (twenty years ago)

let's admit something here - both kw and blackalicious are trying to make some dollars here in their efforts. I'm even questioning the timing of Late Registration's drop and Kanye's slam on Bush on national TV. Instant platinum. Hmmmn. I have to agree with an earlier point about seeing the live performances. If you want MTV-style white-fratboy-"i'm badass"-ness, go see Kanye. If you want the old-school-KRS-One-white-fratboy-surrounded-by-actual-black-people-ness, check out Blackalicious. Kanye may be more ear-candy-friendly, and Blackalicious may strive for higher social-conciousness, but I'll just say I dig 'em both. Just don't look for me at a live Kanye show.

― how howe, Tuesday, 27 September 2005 16:12 (twenty years ago)

Uh, I really don't think Kanye would have had a problem going platinum without his Bush comment. Sure it helped out his sales, but to act like he wouldn't have gone platinum without the controversy is just plain dumb.

― jonviachicago, Tuesday, 27 September 2005 16:29 (twenty years ago)

If you want MTV-style white-fratboy-"i'm badass"-ness, go see Kanye. If you want the old-school-KRS-One-white-fratboy-surrounded-by-actual-black-people-ness, check out Blackalicious.

haha wtf

― deej.., Tuesday, 27 September 2005 16:45 (twenty years ago)

Man, you are all such white motherfuckers.

― Francisco Monar (fmonar), Tuesday, 27 September 2005 19:05 (twenty years ago)

thirteen years pass...

fuck it. blackalicious has more class in his little finger than kanye. open your ears and eyes, no one is going to be playing kanye in 20 years, except stupid white kids who liked him in high school cause he was on mtv and everyone else did.
― justin in ottawa, Friday, September 23, 2005 11:48 PM (thirteen years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

― jaymc, Tuesday, 14 May 2019 04:18 (six years ago)

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