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Blackalicious were part of a fresh new movement in Hip-Hop that included DJ Shadow, Hieroglyphics and Pharcyde, all based in San Francisco, the crews brought with them an approach that combined old school B-Boy culture and new school production. Blackalicious then went on to record the 'Nia' album for UK label Mo' Wax, as well as creating their own label, Quannum Projects, which has since acted as an outlet for the duo's various projects. Lyric's Born has one of the most distinctive voices in Hip-Hop, almost like the southern drawl of Big Boi (Outkast), he flows perfectly over any beat and on 'Later That Day', which was mostly self produced, he has never sounded better. The first single, "Callin' Out" stands out instantly, a neat exploration of early eighties electronic funk, the instrumental sounds like some outake of a lost collaboration between the Brothers Johnson and Mantronix. "Rise & Shine" is a tight ode to getting up in the morning, a metaphor for getting off your butt and doing something, and features Joyo Velarde on backing vocals, a previously unknown singer that contributes some great soulful lyrics throughout the album. Jurassic 5's Cut Chemist lends his ample production skill to "Do That There", which is a strangely jiggy slice of West Coast funk, and "The Last Trumpet" sees Lyric's Born rap alongside Blackalicious collaborator Lateef the Truthspeaker, and recalls the duo's Latyrx album from a few years back, with the most mental of rhymes flowing back and forth between the almost telepathic rappers. A strong and undeniably creative album, Lyric's Born has that ability to make deeply personal music we can all relate to and get down to. 'Later That Day' will confirm what the many fans of the man and Blackalicious have known all along, and will appeal to fans of funk, rock and of course hip-hop - its a genreless record that beyond any pretensions works. Recommended, especially for fans of Blackalicious, Jurassic 5, De La Soul and the like.
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