Check out our amazing premiere and feature on XXL.

“For many, the appeal of Blackalicious comes not from Gift of Gab’s mind-boggling delivery or the crisp, diverse energy of Chief Xcel’s beats but from the spirit that drives their music. Over three albums—1999′s exploratory Nia, 2002′s thought-provoking Blazing Arrow and 2005′s fully-realized The Craft—the duo from Sacramento, Calif. built a passionate following of hip-hop heads who looked at Blackalicious as a representation of something larger, as artists who were not afraid to be forward or vulnerable in turn, who asked questions knowing that there might not be an answer after all. They formed a lane alongside like-minded MCs like Lateef Tha Truthspeaker, Lyrics Born, Chali 2na from Jurassic 5 and The Coup’s Boots Riley as artists who challenged convention with a very insightful brand of hip-hop.

But after The Craft, Gift of Gab and Chief Xcel parted ways, working on solo material and other collaborative projects while maintaining Blackalicious solely as a touring unit rather than an outlet for new material. But now, almost exactly a decade since their last album, the two have reunited for their four full-length LP, Imani Vol. 1, the first in a trilogy of projects on the way from X and Gab. And hip-hop heads the world over are celebrating the return…..”

Read More: Stream Blackalicious’ First Album in 10 Years – XXL | http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2015/09/premiere-stream-blackalicious-imani-vol-1/?trackback=tsmclip