"'It's Just Practice' is some straight-up raw lyricism,” says seminal MC GIFT OF GAB of his surprise single drop that is released today. “This is for the heads that are into the art of rhyming!” Unleashed today via his website, “It’s Just Practice” is an exercise in vocal dexterity – a trademar for Gift of Gab.  The track is available free at http://www.officialgiftofgab.com/.

Praised by All Music Guide as “one of the very finest MCs to ever pick up a microphone” and Pitchfork for his “"astonishing verbal dexterity and enunciation", Gift of Gab is best known for being one half of the Bay Area’s celebrated hiphop duo Blackalicious (who are currently on tour and will be recording the follow-up to their critically-hailed 2015 album Imani Vol. 1). Meanwhile, as a solo artist, Gab is gearing up for the release of a new EP set for release in April 2017 called “Rejoice! Rappers are Rapping Again” which will set in motion a string of exciting musical events that will propel him towards 2018 and beyond.

“The new batch of songs I’m working on is all about lyricism for heads who love it,” Gab tells HipHopDX exclusively. “I’m in a place in my career right now where I’m hearing a lot of talk that Hip Hop isn’t as lyrical as it once was. I come from the school of Rakim, Big Daddy Kane and rappers that are really intensely rhyming. With this new slew of music I am doing, it’s almost like I’m rhyming for other rappers." More information on the “Rejoice! Rappers are Rapping Again” EP to be announced soon!

In addition to Blackalicious, Gift of Gab has had a long and prolific solo career that began with 2004’s album, 4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up and continued with 2008’s Escape 2 Mars and 2012’s The Next Logical Progression which featured many guest artists including Martin Luther, Zion I, George Clinton as well as his Quannum brothers Lyrics Born and Lateef the Truthspeaker.

With the release of “It’s Just Practice” and the announcement of his upcoming EP “Rejoice! Rappers are Rapping Again”, Gab is focused on dropping rhymes and beats throughout the year. “I will be doing some touring. I really wanna do a lot of creating and interacting with fans,” he says, excited for the upcoming year.  If this is “just practice”, we can’t wait to see what’s in store for the main event.

“It’s Just Practice” is available free at http://www.officialgiftofgab.com/.  The new EP "Rejoice! Rappers are Rapping Again” will be available in April 2017.