Gift of Gab, of the Sacramento-based duo, Blackalicious is finally just weeks away from receiving a kidney after being on the transplant list for the past seven years. Prior to surgery, the Bay Area rap veteran has launched a GoFundMe campaign in an effort to offset travel costs to Arizona’s Mayo Clinic and the expenses that will incur while he’s recovering. Those who donate to the GoFundMe campaign will receive a free Gift Of Gab EP titled, Offering.
“I am reaching out to my fans and people in general with this GoFundMe because once I get the transplant it’s going to be costly. I need to bring a caregiver out, rent a car, buy food, and not to mention I can’t work for six weeks and bills and rent at home don’t stop. Reaching out to all to help me get thru this.”
Gab has been in dialysis for four sessions a week since 2013. The sessions last between three and four hours each. But even through all of his medical challenges, he has not only maintained a rigorous touring schedule but also a positive attitude, which he believes was crucial in getting him to this point. “Being on dialysis for me has been 90 percent mental. It’s all a state of mind. Luckily, even though it’s difficult and chaining at times, I’m still able to travel and do shows. That in itself has kept me going and kept my spirits up.”
Gift of Gab formed Blackaliocus along with Chief Xcel at the University of California, Davis in 1992. Their third studio album, 2005’s The Craft, peaked at number five on Billboard’s US Indie album charts. Throughout their career, Blackalicious has collaborated with notable artists like Questlove, Zack de la Rocha, and Gil Scott-Heron.
In addition to Offering, Gab is getting ready to drop a new solo project this year, which will mark the follow-up to 2017’s Rejoice! Rappers Are Rapping Again! Blackalicious also plans on releasing another installment of Imani in the very near future.
In the meantime, you may support his kidney transplant recovery fund. Every dollar is a tremendous help: https://www.gofundme.com/f/gift-of-gab-kidney-transplant-recover-fund
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