Timothy Parker — better known to the world as Blackalicious MC Gift Of Gab — died suddenly in June, months after receiving a long-awaited double kidney transplant. While his death was deemed to be of natural causes, it still brought an untimely end to a life lived with an unbridled passion for Hip Hop, his friends and family.
On Wednesday (September 1), Gab’s team dropped another posthumous single called “Alchemy” as the rollout for his final solo album, Finding Inspiration Somehow, continues. Beginning with gentle flute notes, the track quickly erupts into an explosive burst of lyrical gymnastics, with the late MC reflecting on living with kidney failure and his fierce determination to overcome his health challenges.
“I won’t stop, I’m a renegade,” he spits. “As long as I breathe in and out again, it’s all alchemy when love penetrates fear.”
While Gift of Gab ultimately lost the fight, his legacy will live on through his music. In addition to “Alchemy,” which follows the inaugural single “Vice Grip,” Gab’s team has also revealed the tracklist for Finding Inspiration Somehow and its cover art. The project features 13 tracks, culminating with the aptly titled song “Back To The Light.”
Gift of Gab was highly revered in the Hip Hop community, especially in the Bay Area where he called home. Following his death, an outpouring of condolences came from every corner of the earth from those appreciative of his innate rhyming skills and positive outlook on life.
Rappers Macklemore, Evidence, Run The Jewels' El-P, Lyrics Born & More Mourn Gift Of Gab's Death
From Macklemore and Evidence to Run The Jewels’ El-P and fellow Quannum Projects artist Lyrics Born, there was no shortage of recognition for his contributions to the culture.
“Gab was just a tremendously skilled high level technician and an amazing soul,” collaborator R.A. The Rugged Man told HipHopDX shortly after his passing. “It’s such a huge loss for the culture. I was honored and blessed to have had the opportunity to work with him. We did a small, no budget song independently for his Patreon and it unexpectedly blew up and millions of millions of people went crazy over it all over the world.
“It was such awesome time but music aside, he was just a humble, down-to-earth real dude that just loved the craft and art of spitting and perfected it.”
Finding Inspiration Somehow is expected to arrive on September 10 and pre-orders are available here. Until then, check out the tracklist below.
I don’t know bro, I love Gift of Gab because of the context in which I heard him first perform his songs at festivals and shows. Those experiences are what made listening to music fun. I have never heard of an underground rapper releasing a POSTHUMOUS album, and honestly going to listen to this album reflecting on his passing is depressing. I mean he just passed away in June and his team is here with an album that they can’t go on a tour to promote. It’s like the other day some slick guys released a Shock D brew and fools were online sipping it acting cool. In my humble opinion, I think it would be more sensitive and be a service to holding community meetings discussing what we can do to prevent future artists we love from transitioning too soon instead of an opportunities approach to capitalize off someone we knew in the industry but were not as close as their family. The bottom line is using his passing as a way to market his music is something I am not feeling unless he stated to specifically do this. RIP to Gift Of Gab, Shock D, and Zumbi!! We will always love you guys!!!!
This was scheduled to come out back in January. This is what he wanted for sure.
Xcel said Gab left behind more than 100 unreleased songs. A lot of them are presumably Blackalicious songs (“Imani Vol. 2” is complete and awaiting release), but I doubt this will end up being his final solo album. Gab actually announced a separate album called “My Phenomenal Fanbase” that was supposed to be released exclusively to his Patreon subscribers. He said he was close to completing it.