Madvillainy represents the highly anticipated collaboration between
Madlib and
MF Doom. Recorded throughout 2003 -- a year which, between the two of them (under various aliases), saw more than eight releases featuring their work. When
Madvillainy was released in March 2004 it became obvious that the best was saved for last as
MF Doom's unpredictable lyrical style fits quite nicely within
Madlib's unconventional beat orchestrations. Twenty-two short and blunted tracks bang out mythical stories of villains and urban (anti) heroes trying to make it through with their ganja and wits still intact -- each flows together in a comic book fashion sometimes segued with vignettes sampled from 1940s movies and broadcasts or left-field marjuana-toting skits.
Madvillainy's strength lies in its mix between seemingly obtuse beats, samples, MCing, and some straight-up
hip-hop bumping. Take
"Accordion" for example. A wacky accordion sample loops throughout a slow-paced beat and lazy bassline while
Doom flies through almost unaware of the background at times. Or
"Raid," which features a beat that seems to be so out of time or step with a traditional
hip-hop direction. But
Doom sits quite comfortable within its frame and sets up
Medaphor for a slick guest appearance. Other guests include the bad character,
Lord Quasimoto, on
"Americas Most Blunted" and the
Sun Ra-inspired
"Shadows of Tomorrow";
Wildchild blasts million-miles-an-hour rhymes on
"Hardcore Hustle" and
Stacy Epps floats through
"Eye." Madvillainy gets close to the genius seen on
Quasimoto's
Unseen, and like that record this one might take a few listens to find it. But once it clicks in, this disc stays in the CD player for days. ~ Sam Samuelson
