It’s going down

If you were hanging around downtown Davis during the early 1990s, you might have heard rumblings about some far-out shows happening on UC Davis’ radio station, KDVS. Those broadcasts, which featured future Blackalicious DJ Xavier Mosley, now known as Chief Xcel, were first-rate. It wasn’t uncommon to see DJ Shadow, the SoleSides crew and the Blackalicious members holding court in the studio, alongside a slew of talented local and regional MCs.

The two members of the conscious hip-hop duo Blackalicious, Chief Xcel and Gift of Gab (né Tim Parker), remember their local roots, beginning in the late 1980s at Kennedy High here in Sacramento. And, unlike a majority of major-label hip-hop collectives, the two have remained true to their fans and their music. Unhampered by their recording agreement with MCA, they were allowed complete autonomy to record and write their MCA debut full-length, Blazing Arrow, which featured a number of guest cameos and sold well more than 300,000 copies. Blazing Arrow was a slab of street-smart hip-hop that continued on the momentum of Blackalicious’ early independent releases on Quannum Projects, the Bay Area label that evolved out of the Davis indie label SoleSides, and even on the group’s first EP, Melodica (SoleSides, 1997).

Blackalicious is about to enter pre-production for its next release; before that, the duo is staging a quick blast of West Coast shows. “I’m really thankful for everything we have, really,” Blackalicious’ MC the Gift of Gab said over a cell phone from Seattle, while nursing a bad cough. “I’m thankful, I’m humble, and we’re still working hard. It’s not like we make a record, and that’s the end of it. I mean we all do work, we put it out, and then we do more work.”

Right now, Gab said, the duo’s energy is focused on getting a new album together. “We like to make sure our work is done before we put it out,” he said. “The album’s in the embryo stage at this point, and we plan to record most of it at the Compound”—Blackalicious’ Bay Area studio—“and maybe the East Coast ’cause it’s good to get out there and mix it up. We’re more comfortable recording at home, and we keep the work ethic up.”

Last year, Blackalicious traveled overseas, headlining venues and landing the coveted support slot on last year’s Public Enemy U.S. tour. “I believe we were requested,” Gab said. “It was almost a blessing in disguise. It’s like playing with our heroes. The last date of the tour in San Francisco was easily the best show of the tour, playing alongside P.E. for our people.”

Blackalicious’ live crew is Gab and Chief Xcel along with Lateef, Omega, Bear and soundman Will Prince. But in the studio, it’s another story. “Because of the nature of what we do, it’ll always be myself and Chief Xcel,” Gab pointed out. “Blackalicious will always remain a duo.”

Among Gab’s ambitions for this year is landing a new tour. “I’d most like to tour with George Clinton and Parliament,” he said. “I’m a big P-Funk head. I’d also like to go out with the Roots because they have a really intense show. If we went on the road with ’em, we’d be forced to take it to the next level.”

Other projects include a Gift of Gab solo album, to be released on Quannum later this year. As for turntablist Chief Xcel, he will collaborate with touring Blackalicious member Lateef on a new project called Maroons. An EP is due later this year.

Wednesday’s show at Freeborn Hall will be a homecoming of sorts for the duo, now based in Oakland, as it plays the venue that still sits above the hallowed KDVS basement studios. Odds are you will be able to find the guys hanging out downstairs before and after the show, mining the record vaults.

“Every now and then, I like to go back to KDVS and hit the listening booth,” Gab said. “It’s just a part of our history, you know?”