This came out in 1999 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
George Washington is the father of his country, but George Clinton is the father of the P-Funk nation. And Bay Area duo Blackalicious — rapper The Gift Of The Gab and groove merchant Chief Xcel — are his latest musical godchildren.
Actually, judging by this debut disc, this may be one of those times when the sons surpass the father; along with the original Funkadelic’s warm vibe, anything-goes adventurousness and jazzy, acid-drenched soul, the duo kick it up a notch with liberal doses of deft turntablism and sampling, Afrocentric positivism and spectacular vernacular. All that’s missing is Bootsy’s rubber-band bass. George should be beaming with pride — and perhaps a little green with envy.
