Stream Young Black And Gifted’s (Azariah + Kidd Called Quest) ‘The Black Gift’ EP

Rochester, NY crew, Young Black And Gifted (Azariah + Kidd Called Quest) have released a new project for your digital pleasure this morning. The Black Gift EP is available for stream & purchase below and includes eight new tracks as well as four classic joints from their catalogue.

New single “Ain’t Nothing New” was leaked several days ago and recollects and reflects on their decade plus grind together as well as avoiding the pitfalls of the hood.

According to the group, the theme of the EP as a whole is Azariah’s (the emcee of the duo) understanding of his environment and the Black experience in America. YBG comrade Jae Hu$$le also makes an appearance on the track, “More Than Music” while the tracks “Act Out” and “Listen To My Words” were stand-out joints from the duo’s first project, Long Time Coming (2013).

Kidd and Azariah initially linked up while working on the emcee’s Subject To Change LP back in 2006 and have remained close comrades ever since. In 2012, Kidd formed the Young Black And Gifted collective with Azariah as the main emcee but has also included work with such artists as Golden, King Righteous, and Verse Essential under the collective’s banner.

Most recently, Kidd Called Quest produced the recently released full-length project for YBG associate Jae Hu$$le entitled Reflections: A Story Of My Lifetime Vol. 1. Never one to rest, Kidd revealed that The Black Gift is just an appetizer to the next YBG full-length, Second Coming, to drop shortly and which will also feature an appearance by Hu$$le.

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