![]() It goes without saying that Madlib and J Dilla are two of the greatest beatmakers in the history of hip hop, and Champion Sound saw two musicians of virtuoso calibre and a matching musical mindset creating a full-length LP together. If you liked this record, then check out Quasimoto’s other work such as the follow-up, The Further Adventures of Lord Quas, his most recent LP Yessir Whatever, and the Astronaut EP. The Unseen is essential, however Quas’ high-pitched vocals may be an acquired taste for some. Quasimoto’s The Unseen was Madlib’s first taste of major critical and commercial acclaim, and proved hip hop could be just as weird, original and quirky as any other genre out there. The pitch shifted vocals sound as if Madlib has huffed a huge canister of helium, a technique in sound manipulation which offers a bizarre, almost psychedelic sensation when rapped over the experimental beats. He also sports a shrill voice which originated from Madlib’s personal aversion to his Barry White resembling voice. Quasimoto is the animated alter-ego of Madlib a giant yellow anteater looking entity who’s known for his deviant and anti-social behaviour. An instrumental version is available and definitely worth a listen, as is 2008’s rework/remix Madvillainy 2: The Madlib Remix. Madvillainy is the ideal starting point into the world of Madlib, yet repeated listens are crucial to acclimatise to his challenging and unique sound. The partnership makes perfect sense as both musicians are in tune with conceptual weirdness, conscious of jazz’s central influence on hip hop, and they both possess an ability to crate-dig for obscure records to sample and skew beyond recognition. It’s the highest profile release of either artist, and is recognised as being one of hip hop’s crowning achievements. Madvillainy is a collaboration between two of alternative hip hop’s most cherished figures Madlib and the cult masked MC MF DOOM. There’s also a Spotify playlist at the end of this article. This article aims to shed some light on Madlib’s rich career, providing a breakdown into respective outlets of Madlib’s musical mindsets, groups and characters his jazzier side, the classics, the ideal entry points, and the underappreciated records. Dizzying in weight and stature, Madlib’s music requires some thought before tackling. Not only has he released hundreds of albums, singles, EPs, DJ mixes, compilations, remixes, mixtapes and collaborative efforts, he’s done so under numerous pseudonyms and alter-ego’s which range from fictional jazz groups to curious cartoon characters. Inspiring in his creativity, Madlib has one of the most difficult discographies to tackle in contemporary music. The crate-digging extraordinaire has his roots in the more traditional forms of hip hop, however his love for dub reggae, avant-garde jazz, traditional Brazilian and African music, psychedelia, and film soundtracks have been constantly demonstrated throughout his illustrious career. Madlib is hip hop personified his awareness of the genre’s history and musical background is unparalleled, and his ability to flip rare and unknown records into unforgettable beats is incomparable. Self-described as a “DJ first, producer second, and MC last”, the Californian musician utilises a diverse array of genres, styles, and temperaments into his unique method of musical composition, a method which usually employs experimentation, improvisation, and sampling from niche artists and subgenres from across the globe. Otis Jackson Jr., aka Madlib, is one of the most prolific, diverse, interesting and exciting musicians hip hop has ever seen.
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