I used to be a member of a Facebook group called "There's More to Rap than The Roots and Atmosphere", a mostly good-humored dig at the taste in rap shared by the majority of our liberal art cohorts.

This entry isn't about either those groups, but instead one that seems to belong on the list: Blackalicious. I've been listening to them again lately, mostly due to the limited CD selection in my car. And it has always seemed strange to be that despite their lyrics, vibe, and general sensibility Gift of Gab and Xcel don't seem to get the love from the liberal art crowd that I run with. Then again, maybe I'm with the wrong crowd.

Regardless, and largely because A2G was one of the first albums I owned, Blackalicious feels like my rap dads--always telling me to get good grades, eat my vegetables, and to make them proud. And, in my book, that's enough reason to love anyone.