Nia

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com's Best of 2000
With each release, Blackalicious expand the definition of hip-hop to suit themselves. In the capable hands of MC Gift of Gab, one of the best in the business, a rhyme can be personal, like a whisper from a close friend. Or it can be a searing battle rap. On Nia, producer Chief Xcel creates rhythms that burst with life: everything from snaky Middle Eastern beats to thundering bass lines. --Lizz Mendez Berry

Product Description
First full length album from hip-hop supergroup featuring Lateef, Lyrics Born of Latyrx and DJ Shadow. 19 tracks. 2000 release. Standard jewel case.

Nia

Nia,Blackalicious,Quannum Projects,Pop,Rap,Rap & Hip-Hop,Underground Rap,West Coast Rap

Nia

Tracks:

Searching
The Fabulous Ones
Do This My Way
Deception
A To G
Cliff Hanger
Shallow Days
Ego Trip My Nikki Giovanni
You Didn't Know That Though
If I May
Dream Seasons
Trouble (Eve Of Destruction)
Smithzonian Institute Of Rhyme
As The World Turns
Reanimation
Beyonder
Making Progress
Sleep
Finding

Amazon.com's Best of 2000

With each release, Blackalicious expand the definition of hip-hop to suit themselves. In the capable hands of MC Gift of Gab, one of the best in the business, a rhyme can be personal, like a whisper from a close friend. Or it can be a searing battle rap. On Nia, producer Chief Xcel creates rhythms that burst with life: everything from snaky Middle Eastern beats to thundering bass lines. --Lizz Mendez Berry

Amazon.com

With Nia, Blackalicious hit their stride as leaders of the hip-hop true school. The Sacramento-based duo of producer/DJ Chief Xcel and lyricist The Gift of Gab has been creating luscious, intelligent music since they started out in 1994, and Nia shows them at their best. Gab's rhyming skills are supreme, ranging from evocative storytelling about fame and misfortune ("Deception") to rapped reflections on the state of his art ("Shallow Days") and scathing straight spitting ("Trouble"). A true master of ceremonies, Gab keeps it right by grounding his lyrics in his own experience, preventing his antiestablishment message from getting boring. On the musical front, Xcel's beats fit Gab's wordplay like a glove. They range from the funky, caffeinated drum stutters of "Fabulous Ones," to knowing piano-laced patterns (on the genius "Deception") and slinky, serpentine, Middle Eastern styles ("Smithzonian Institute of Rhyme"). Nia is honest music: from Xcel's carefully stitched-together, relentlessly inventive beats, to Gab's personal poetics. This is soul food for your ears. --Lizz Mendez Berry

Album Description

First full length album from hip-hop supergroup featuring Lateef, Lyrics Born of Latyrx and DJ Shadow. 19 tracks. 2000 release. Standard jewel case.

Customer Reviews:

One of the Best LP's I ever bought!.......2006-09-30

What can I say other than this is one of the best albums out there. The production was amazing, my head was noddin w/every single beat. Gift of Gab has one of my favorite flows from any MC out there. To me, its like a mixture of Big Pun's breathless-like flow combined w/ Jay-Z's Rhythmic Wordplay. Hands down is it one of the best records from the west? Nah.... Its One of the Best records in Hip Hop!!!

Chief Xcel is so underrated........2006-03-19

Gift of Gab without a doubt is one of the most original, underrated, and dope emcees of our time. And along with amazing production at the hands of Chief Xcel- Blackalicious always brigs something interesting to listen to. NIA is a fantastic album from beginning to end but its one of those you need to be in a certain mood for. Personally, Gift of Gab is one of those artists who you dont heavily rotate but when you do play ears are definitely satisfied without complaints...Just has to be that certain 'mood' for the album and artists to fully sink in.

Excellent album. Need to catch up on the other Blackalicious albums to compare. Definitely worth a purchase and a listen!

Blackalicious Sets the Tone.......2005-09-27

Blackalicious is a west coast rap group but their sound transcends all geographic distinctions. In fact, I think their music operates on an entirely different plane of the genre. Chief Xcel's sampling and production is lovably, head knockingly obscure and effective. Gift of Gab is one of the finest rappers. I recently had the pleasure of witnessing the man in action at a show near my school. He's quite the stage presence and his flow is unmatched.
Nia was their first LP and it establishes their ability to weave a concept into an effective catalogue of golden hits. WIhtout a doubt the best song is deception, a parable about a kid named Sisqo. Some surprises include production from quannum crew buddy and california native DJ Shadow on Hanger, Cliff. The track is a little incongruous but another showcase of Gift of Gab's storytelling abilities.
Reaction puts the team on the level and sets the stage for commercial success. It's the soundtrack to a Sunkist commercial!
Only 4 stars because it's not Blazing Arrow, one of the most important albums in hip hop.

Review of a Paragraph President.......2005-08-28

Like any middle school child in 90-92, I thought I knew about hip-hop being the proud owner of "The Chronic", "Doggystyle", and "Predator". Yet, my liking of hip-hop was always extended to just a couple of the hot albums of the day, and I never really considered myself a hip-hop head.
When, just a few years ago, I realized there was an entire undercurrent of, not simply underground hip-hop, but hip-hop that is not force-fed to the masses incessantly, I was intrigued.
Because of acts like Blackalicious, my intrigue has waned in favor of outright militancy.
As a seventh grade teacher on the immediate outskirts of Washington D.C., I have the challenging, yet enjoyable task of trying to connect with some of the most brilliant teenagers in the world, as well as those whose futures have been pre-condemned because of socioeconomic setbacks.
I thank God for musicianns like Blackalicious because they project hope and positivity.
Throughout the year I will post quotes and play snippets of songs from NIA to pique the interest of my students.
With "Cliffhanger" we can study the elements of plot structure.
Not since Slick Rick has an MC made storytelling so compelling.
Gift of Gab displays an astounding ability to couple precise flow with a variety of tempos, always blessed with creative, and most often, thought-provoking lyrics.
The beats, ranging from soulfully-melancholic head-nodders to upbeat funk numbers, provide the perfect backdrop to Gift's signature flow, and foretell of the ability Chief X-Cel delivers on later releases.
From straight out we're here to impress songs like "A to G" and "You Didn't
Know That Though" to the conscious "Shallow Days", "Making Progress" and, "Deception" which supply ammo to those who continue to argue that hip-hop can be an inspirational and uplifitng tool, NIA stakes a major claim in the timeline of hip-hop for those who believe in its true spirit.

4.5 Stars - Emcees Are (Truly) In "Trouble"..........2004-12-20

NIA is Blackalicious' first full length after having released several 12 inches and two EPs (Melodica and A2G) throughout the 90s. With this album, Gift of Gab showcases his versatility as an emcee, conquering storytelling ("Cliff Hanger," "Deception"), battle tracks ("Fabolous Ones," "Trouble"), and conscious rhymes ("Shallow Days" "Making Progress"). Although Chief Xcel was not quite as developed on NIA as he would prove to be on later LPs [Blazing Arrow (2002), Ambush (2004)], most of the beats provide the perfect gritty backdrop for Gab and guests to drop science over. An essential hip-hop album.

Average customer rating:

Awesome

A New Thing
Nia Allen
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000QGO5VI

Product Description

Nia Allen had her first solo at age five in her grandfathers church and hasnt stopped singing since; blessing all those within the sound of her voice. She is a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts where she majored in Music Education. SONG TITLE Since you Came Lately I Love You More You are Holy Lord You are the Potter Give Him your Life Wait A New Thing

Customer Reviews:

Awesome.......2007-05-21

I was just listening to clips of this CD on i-Tunes and it's definitely a must have!! Nia has an awesome voice and the songs are wonderfully made for praise, worship, chillin',...everything! I'll be sure to tell others about this newcomer!!

Average customer rating:

WHERE IS THE DUB MIX OF "Release Yourself"???
RELEASE YOURSELF.........LET'S GO BACK!!!!!

Release Yourself: The NIA Sessions
The Fantastic Aleems
Manufacturer: Soul-Tay-Shus
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Blues | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music
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X-Periment/Pleasure Seekers
To the Future Shock
The Best of Mantronix 1985-1999
Journey with the Lonely
The Best of Junior

ASIN: B0006419JG
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Tracks:

Get Down Friday Night
Hooked on Your Love
Release Yourself
Confusion
Get Loose
Fine Young Tender
Searchin'
Step Out
I Gotta Get Myself Together [#]
Blame It on Love [#]
Confusion

Customer Reviews:

WHERE IS THE DUB MIX OF "Release Yourself"???.......2006-10-01

this is a good compilation, and showcases The Aleem's at their prime, but where is the dub mix of "Release yourself"????
This was a HUGE oversight, as the mister magic dub mix was the one played in all the clubs, and even the radio. The regular vocal mix was hardly ever played, but is included here in it's inferior glory.

The dry alternate mix of "confusion" is nice to hear, but not essential.
The other tracks (with previously unheard mixes) are nice to have, but nothing special either.

Tracks 8 & 9 are of bad sound quality (bad mixing), and as songs are not very strong overall.

I give the comp 4 stars for all the other great tracks on it.

RELEASE YOURSELF.........LET'S GO BACK!!!!!.......2005-02-26

I REMEMBER IT BEING 1986, MIDTOWN MANHATTAN,(NYC) IN A CLUB CALLED "THE FUNHOUSE" HIP HOP HAD FADED FOR A MOMENT, AND UNDERGROUND CLUB ANTHEMS HAD SURFACED, THE ALEEMS AS WE KNOWN THEM BROUGHT IT ON WITH THE BANGER " RELEASE YOURSELF" 12INCH VERSION-WITH AN AWESOME DUB VERSION- AS SOON AS WE HEARD IT , THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID, SCREAMING AND LETTING LOOSE WAS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. THEIR FOLLOW-UP SMASH "CONFUSION"(IN MY BRAIN)12INCH VERSION WAS TRULY AWESOME, IT WAS A MID-TEMPO GROOVE AND IT HAD A SOUND ALL IT'S OWN."GET LOOSE" WAS PRETTY MUCH "RELEASE YOURSELF" ALL OVER AGAIN , BUT IT WAS ENJOYABLE AS WELL. THIS CD CONTAINS HARD TO FIND CLUB ANTHEMS THAT WERE POPULAR IN THE LATE 80'S, CLUB-GOERS FROM NYC, CHICAGO, AND DETROIT KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THE FANTASTIC ALEEMS FEATURING LEROY BURGESS...CLASSIC!! CLASSIC!! CLASSIC!!!!!

Average customer rating:

Nothin' But Trouble
Nia Peeples
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Nia Peeples
Street of Dreams
Nia Peeples
Rock the House
Back to Basics

ASIN: B000008JCO
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Trouble
High Time
Star-Crossed Lovers
Be My Lover
Is This Really Love?
Never Gonna Get It
This Time I'll Be Sweeter
Poetry in Motion
I Know How (To Make You Love Me)
For the Sake of Loving

Average customer rating:

TRACK LIST

Nia Peeples
Nia Peeples
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
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Nothin' But Trouble
Move to This
Stacy Earl
Corina
Body Mind Soul

ASIN: B00000DR6X
Release Date: 1991-10-29

Tracks:

Kissing the Wind
Street of Dreams
Faces of Love
You Make Me Wanna
Hurricane
Entity (Sex)
Heaven Help Me
Every Word
King of Cool
Shut Up & Fix It

Product Description

Excellent condition, includes the original CD, case, and paperwork, fast shipped, ask me for my CD List! :D

Customer Reviews:

TRACK LIST.......2005-10-03

[1] Kissing The Wind [2] Street Of Dreams [3] Faces Of Love [4] You Make Me Wanna [5] Hurricane [6] The Entity (Sex) [7] Heaven Help Me [8] Every Word [9] King Of Cool [10] Shut Up & Fix It

Average customer rating:

Songs of the Cinema
NIA PEOPLES
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000QQ5L5W

Product Description

1 Movies were Movies 2 Somewhere Over the Rainbow 3 Tonight (Quintet) 4 The Sound of Music 5 Fame Medley 6 Moulin Rouge Medley 7 Country Western Favorites 8 Let The River Run 9 Action Films Medley 10 Dancin' 70's & 80's Medley 11 Rainbow Medley 12 Time of My Life

Average customer rating:

HERE ARE ALL THE VERSIONS:

Street of Dreams
Nia Peeples
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
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Nothin' But Trouble

ASIN: B00000DPAP
Release Date: 1991-10-23

Customer Reviews:

HERE ARE ALL THE VERSIONS:.......2006-04-15

1. Radio Version
2. Shep Pettibone 12" Remix
3. Shep Pettibone House Mix
4. Shep Pettibone Moody Mix
5. Shep Pettibone House Dub
6. Shep Pettibone 7"
7. Just Sing

Midnight Sun: Improvisations of Persian Traditiona

Average customer rating:

Midnight Sun: Improvisations of Persian Traditiona
Hossein Behroozi-Nia , and Pejman Hadadi
Manufacturer: Panda Digital
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Middle East | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00007EL9K
Release Date: 2002-11-26

Tracks: