Madlib

Madlib is a California-based Hip Hop producer, rapper, and DJ.

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Madlib was born Otis Jackson Jr in Oakland, CA, to musician parents Otis and Senesca Jackson. He was raised in Oxnard, and currently works in Los Angeles. He began making music with the rap group Lootpack in the early 1990s. After an independently released EP, Lootpack caught the attention of Peanut Butter Wolf, founder of the Stones Throw Records label. They released two singles and a full-length album on the Stones Throw imprint in 1999. Madlib also worked with rap group Tha Alkaholiks for several albums.

Related Topics:
Oakland - Oxnard - Los Angeles - Lootpack - Peanut Butter Wolf - Stones Throw Records

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Madlib's first release under the guise of Quasimoto, titled The Unseen, was in 2000. The album was met with critical acclaim and named by Spin Magazine as one of the top albums of the year. The distinctive high-pitched voice of Quasimoto is attained by rapping over slowed-down beats, which are then sped up to normal speed during the recording process.

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In 2001, Madlib took a turn away from traditional Hip Hop music, releasing his first Yesterdays New Quintet LP, Angles Without Edges. Yesterdays New Quintet is a Jazz-based, Hip Hop and Electronic-influenced quintet made up of four ficticious characters, Ahmad Miller, Monk Hughes, Malik Flavors, Joe McDuphrey; and Madlib under his real name, Otis Jackson Jr. Madlib has continued to record other albums under the different guises of YNQ members, including 2002's tribute to Stevie Wonder, Stevie, 2004's tribute to Weldon Irvine, A Tribute to Brother Weldon, and other singles and EPs released only on vinyl.

Related Topics:
Hip Hop - Jazz - Stevie Wonder - Weldon Irvine

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Madlib describes himself as a "DJ first, producer second, and MC last," and he has done several projects as a DJ, mixer, or remixer. The first, released in 2002, was a collection of old dub reggae tracks, and was titled Blunted in the Bomb Shelter. The second, released in 2003, was a remix of Blue Note Records. This album features original Blue Note recordings, some remixed and resampled, and some replayed by Madlib, as well as rapping by M.E.D. aka Medaphoar.

Related Topics:
Blue Note Records - M.E.D.

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2003 heralded the first of two collaboration projects. Working with Detroit producer Jay Dee aka J Dilla, the duo known as Jaylib released the Champion Sound LP. Far more successful was Madlib's collaboration with hip-hop producer and rapper MF DOOM, known together as Madvillain. The 2004 Madvillainy album was highly anticipated, and well-received, topping many critic's year-end lists.

Related Topics:
J Dilla - MF DOOM

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The 2005 Quasimoto album, The Further Adventures of Lord Quas was accepted well and continued the Quasimoto tradition of using Melvin Van Peebles samples as the basis for a lot of tracks.

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