Dave Chamberlain

This vocal half of Blackalicious pits his subtle, almost devious rhyme style against a predictably eccentric but spare production level on his debut solo effort, "4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up" (Quannum). Not eccentric in the Kool Keith model, by any means, but an ice-cool, almost Barry White-like quirk that won't necessarily get fans of Blackalicious very excited. But it grows on you, especially as the rhymes of Gab ease, weasel and attack your psyche over time. Without dropping an especially oppressive sermon on any track, his dapper approach to identifying with quitting smoking on "Rat Race" flows with the vibraphone sample and busy rhythmic frame. And even "Real MCs," the closest thing to a brag Gab lets loose, angles more towards the wink-wink than bling flexing as he punches with "I'm off the chain/like Slick Rick in a truck/due to be rehabbed." Though I'd be surprised if every fan of Blackalicious kept at "4th Dimensional" long enough to like it, diehards have already eaten up and absorbed the record.

The Gift of Gab plays September 23 as part of the Adventures in Modern Music festival at the Empty Bottle, 1035 North Western, (773)276-3600.

(2004-09-23)

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