Gift of Gab (rapper)

Gift of Gab
Gift of Gab in 2006
Background information
Birth name	Timothy Parker
Born	1971/1972 (age 45/46) Panorama City, Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres	Alternative hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Quannum Projects
Associated acts	Chief Xcel DJ Shadow Lateef the Truthspeaker Lyrics Born G Koop
Website	officialgiftofgab.com

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”, “one of the best underground rappers in the business”, “his raps are jam-packed with internal rhymes, allusions, metaphors, ten-cent words, and amazing tongue-twisting feats of skill”, and he has been able to “redefine the art of lyrical technique”.Peter Shapiro describes him as “a walking encyclopedia of MCing styles”,Pitchfork Media refers to his “astonishing verbal dexterity and enunciation”,Popmatters says he has a “nearly impenetrable reputation for style and innovation”, and Stylus Magazine calls him “one of the top MCs in the game”.

Gift of Gab is featured on Galactic's album From the Corner to the Block (2007). He collaborated with DJ Z-Trip on the track "Go Hard" for the All-Pro Football 2K8 Soundtrack. He also released The Prelude EP with Lateef the Truthspeaker and Headnodic as The Mighty Underdogs. He went on to do a song called "All In" with The Grouch & Eligh. He is also featured on the track "The People Tree" on the 2009 N.A.S.A. release "The Spirit of Apollo".