May
26

Madvillain – “Paper Mill”

My much postponed (through no fault of my own) feature on Madlib drops within a month, featuring revelations of Masonic Lodges, Mexican Bakeries, and Madvillain updates. When I spoke to the greatest Otis since Nixon (and maybe Redding) several months ago, he told me that Madvillain was almost complete. I’m not sure I believe him.… Continue reading »

Apr
27

Beat Mining With the Loop Digga

Despite the ersatz Molotov-Ribbentrop pact  inked in 2006 between Passion of the Weiss and Stones Throw,* I have yet to hear the fifth volume of Madlib’s Medicine Show. According to the Stones Throw promo page, it compiles various flotsam and jetsam made by Madlib in the years between his work with the Likwit Crew and… Continue reading »

Apr
23

Madlib on Friday Night Flavas

Stones Throw just dropped a 16-minute set of a 2005 appearance of Madlib on Power 106′s mix show, “Friday Night Flavas.”  With the other O.J. running through material from Quasimoto, Madvillain, & M.E.D., consider it an addendum to Sach’s post earlier this week, and testament to the fact that once in a blueberry kush moon,… Continue reading »

Apr
20

Sach O: The Madlib consumer guide

Eat your heart out Christgau! Reviewing Madlib albums in the traditional sense feels like a waste of time these days. There’s no point in trying to figure out a particular record’s inner logic: it’s probably just the result of Madlib’s particular listening patterns on any given week. In fact, Madlib’s output is single-handedly redefining what… Continue reading »

Mar
09

Globetrotting With the Beat Konducta

Madlib is releasing 18 albums this year. Maybe 19. Maybe more. No one really knows. Not me. Not Egon or Peanut Butter Wolf. Not Madlib himself. We know that there are a dozen Beat Konducta albums surveying Otis Jackson’s far-flung tastes. Reggae and Afro-Beat. Tropicalia and New Wave. Actual rap music for those down since… Continue reading »

Jan
11

Sach O: Strong Arm Steady – In Search of Stoney Jackson

Sach O forms like Old McDonald: E I O. In Search of Stoney Jackson is Madlib’s 48 Hours. His Center of Attention. His Livin’ Proof. If those names don’t ring a bell, you’re probably not a fan of super producers giving away their best beats to seemingly undeserving rappers. That’s not a diss: I honestly… Continue reading »

Sep
20

Madlib-Blunted in the Bomb Shelter

The story goes: “in 2002 some good folks who have the Trojan & Greensleeves catalog asked Madlib to make a mixtape of these classic reggae records. They sent him a huge box with every record they had. For about two months Madlib played these records, smoked trees, made hip-hop beats, and recorded with YNQ in… Continue reading »

» Newer posts