The Prayer

Timothy Parker, better known by his stage name Gift of Gab, is an American rapper best known for performing in the Bay Area hip hop duo Blackalicious along with DJ Chief Xcel. He is also a member of Quannum Projects, a Bay Area hip hop crew and record label, and has performed and recorded as a solo artist.Gift of Gab is often praised by critics for his rapping skills – Allmusic says he is “one of the very finest MCs to ever pick up a microphone”,[2] “one of the best underground rappers in the business”,[3] “his raps are jam-packed with internal rhymes, allusions, metaphors, ten-cent words, and amazing tongue-twisting feats of skill”,[4] and he has been able to “redefine the art of lyrical technique”.[4] Peter Shapiro describes him as “a walking encyclopedia of MCing styles”,[5] Pitchfork Mediarefers to his “astonishing verbal dexterity and enunciation”,[6] Popmatters says he has a “nearly impenetrable reputation for style and innovation”,[7] and Stylus Magazine calls him “one of the top MCs in the game”.[8]