Madlib

For the word game, seeMad Libs.

Otis Lee Jackson, Jr.(born October 24, 1973), known professionally asMadlib,is an American record producer, DJ, multi-instrumentalist, and rapper. Critically acclaimed for his eclectic and sample-heavy production style, he is regarded as one of the most influential producers in modern hip hop and alternative hip hop. His frequent collaborators includeMF DOOM(asMadvillain),J Dilla(asJaylib),Freddie Gibbs(asMadGibbs),Talib Kweli,andErykah Badu.

Madlib
Madlib performing in 2014
Background information
Birth name	Otis Lee Jackson, Jr.
Also known as	Quasimoto Yesterdays New Quintet DJ Rels Beat Konducta The Loop Digga
Born	(1973-10-24)October 24, 1973 Oxnard, California,U.S.
Genres	West Coast hip hop instrumental hip hop soul jazz fusion funk electronic jazz psychedelia
Occupations	Record producer rapper songwriter disc jockey
Instruments	Turntables sampler vocals drums keyboards synthesizer bass guitar vibraphone percussion guitar flute saxophone
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Stones Throw Madlib Invazion Blue Note
Member of	Likwit Crew Lootpack MadGibbs Quasimoto
Formerly of	Madvillain Jaylib
Website	www.stonesthrow.com/madlib

Raised in Oxnard, California, Jackson began his career in music production in the early 1990s. He gained prominence as a member of the hip hop collectiveLootpackand later formed the jazz-influenced group Yesterdays New Quintet. Jackson gained wider recognition for his collaboration with MF DOOM under the name Madvillain, producing the critically acclaimed albumMadvillainy(2004). He was also credited for his work on "The Unseen"(2000) under his alter egoQuasimoto.

As a producer, Jackson has worked on numerous critically acclaimed projects. He produced the entirety of Freddie Gibbs'Piñata(2014) andBandana(2019), both of which received widespread critical acclaim.

Madlib is the founder of the record labelMadlib Invazion.His work often incorporates elements of jazz and world music.

Early life

Otis Lee Jackson Jr. was born on October 24, 1973,inOxnard, California,to musician parents Otis Jackson, Sr. and Dora Sinesca Jackson. He sampled his first song at 11 years old, sourced from his father's collection. His younger brother is the producer and rapperMichael "Oh No" Jackson.His uncle is the jazz trumpeterJon Faddis.He was raised in Oxnard, where he began his music career.

Career

1993–1998: Early career

In the early 1990s, Madlib formed a loose-knit collective composed of rappers who worked with him in his Oxnard-based Crate Diggas Palace (CDP) studio.This collective was composed primarily of his friends, and became known as CDP. The crew included affiliated artists such as Madlib's younger brotherOh No,Kankick,Dudley Perkinsaka Declaime,M.E.D.aka Medaphoar, and others. Madlib's first commercially released music was production for the rap groupTha Alkaholiksin 1993. He went on to record music of his own with the groupLootpack.Their 12-inch EPPsyche Movewas released by Madlib's father in 1995 on a label also called Crate Diggas Palace. This record caught the attention ofPeanut Butter Wolf,founder of theStones Throw Recordslabel, who signed the group in 1998.

Madlib atStones Throw Recordsspecial, December 4, 2005

1999–2009: Stones Throw Records

Lootpack's 1999 debut albumSoundpieces: Da Antidoteushered in a string of releases on Stones Throw centering on Madlib's production work which would continue for a decade. His first solo work,The Unseen,under the guise ofQuasimoto,came in 2000. The album was met with critical acclaim and named bySpinas one of the top 20 albums of the year.

In 2001, Madlib moved away from hip hop music and began a series of releases from Yesterdays New Quintet, ajazz-based, hip hop andelectronic-influenced quintet made up of alter-egos or fictional musicians played by Madlib. Over the next several years, through several record releases on Stones Throw and other labels, the growing number of pseudonyms and fictional players came to be known as Yesterdays Universe.Madlib was later invited to remix tracks from theBlue Note Recordsarchive in 2003, which he released asShades of Blue.In addition to the remixes, the album contained newly recorded interpretations of Blue Note originals, many of which were credited to members of Yesterdays New Quintet. Beginning with the 2007 albumThe Funky Side of Lifeby Yesterdays New Quintet spin-off group Sound Directions, the Yesterdays Universe also began incorporating additional session musicians who were not pseudonyms of Madlib.

Returning to hip hop music in 2003, Madlib announced two collaborative projects. He joined hip hop producerJ Dillain a duo known asJaylib,which releasedChampion Sound.

Madlib then collaborated with rapperMF DOOM,known together asMadvillain,for the albumMadvillainy.Though released in 2004, the album was being worked on as early as 2002. However, production was halted when the album was leaked while Madlib was on a trip to Brazil.Madvillainywas produced by using aBoss SP-303and a turntable.Madvillainywas highly anticipated and well-received, topping many critics' year-end lists.

The 2005 Quasimoto albumThe Further Adventures of Lord Quasmet with warm receptionand continued the Quasimoto tradition of using vocal samples fromMelvin Van Peebles,who is credited on the album liner notes as a collaborator. Throughout the rest of the decade Madlib continued to release jazz material simultaneously with his hip hop work:PerseverancewithPercee P,LiberationwithTalib Kweli,SujinhowithIvan ContiofAzymuth,his own instrumental hip hop seriesBeat Konducta,In Search of Stoney JacksonwithStrong Arm Steady,O. J. SimpsonwithGuilty Simpson,and production work for artists such asErykah BaduandDe La Soul.

Madlib and J Rocc in Cologne, Germany, in 2003

2010–present: Madlib Invazion,Madlib Medicine Show

"Maclib" redirects here. For macro library, seeMacro (computer science).

In 2010, Madlib announced his ownimprintcalledMadlib Invazion,formed to release a music series calledMadlib Medicine Show.The series would ultimately take over two years to complete, culminating with 13 album releases and several vinyl-only EPs spanning hip hop, jazz, remixes, and multi-genre DJ mixtapes. The label has continued to release records outside of the original series. In 2011, Madlib composed thefilm scorefor theA Tribe Called Questdocumentary filmBeats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest.Madlib also produced "Cadillacs" withSnoop Doggfor his mixtapeThat's My Work Volume 3,released on February 27, 2014.

Freddie Gibbsand Madlib announced plans for a collaboration album late in 2011 with the release of an EP titledThuggin,which was followed by a second EP titledShameon June 22, 2012, and a third EP titledDeeperon September 24, 2013. The duo's full-length collaboration albumPiñatawas released on March 18, 2014, to widespread critical acclaim. The pair, later known asMadGibbs,released a follow-up album titledBandanaon June 28, 2019.

In a 2010 interview withLA Weekly,Madlib stated thatKanye Westput five of his beats on hold for the album he was working on at the time.While none of the beats were used, Madlib did take part in the recording sessions for the album, which evolved fromGood Ass JobtoMy Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.He was also rumored to be involved in West's collaboration album withJay-ZentitledWatch the Throne,but ultimately was not.West was interviewed as part of the 2014 Stones Throw documentary filmOur Vinyl Weighs A Ton,in which he opens up about working with Madlib and wanting more of his beats for future projects.

On January 18, 2016, West released the Madlib-produced"No More Parties in L.A."featuringKendrick LamaronSoundCloudas part of hisGOOD Fridaysseries.According to reports, the track originated from the recording sessions forMy Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasyin 2010.West also recited a few lines from the track in theOur Vinyl Weighs A Toninterview."No More Parties in LA" appears on his seventh album, which underwent several name changes:So Help Me God,SWISH,andWaves,before finally being released asThe Life of Pabloon February 12, 2016. West also hinted at the possibility of future collaborations with Madlib viaTwitterthanking him for sending over six beat CDs.

FollowingMac Miller's death, Chicago producer Thelonious Martin claimed on February 20, 2019, that Mac Miller and Madlib were reportedly working on an album together, called MacLib.Madlib addressed this statement on March 19, 2019, stating that he had recorded an EP with Mac Miller between 2015 and 2017, but that there were no plans of releasing the EP.However, Madlib added during an interview on June 3, 2019, that if Mac Miller's estate gives him the right to, he will release the EP.On February 8, 2020, a MacLib song was leaked.On March 28, 2023, Madlib revealed in an interview onSway in the Morningthat he was "finishing up" his collaborative effort with the late Miller, and that the rapper's estate was on board with a release.

In January 2021, in an interview with The Guardian, Madlib revealed he missed the opportunity to join forces with Kendrick Lamar on his 2015 album,To Pimp a Butterfly.

Madlib in 2013

On April 23, 2021, fellow rapperLogicreleased "Mars Only pt. 3," a collaboration between him and Madlib, on his YouTube channel under the name Madgic.

Musical style and influences

During an interview onChrome Children,Madlib stated that his most significant musical influences includeMiles Davis,Sun Ra,andDavid Axelrod.

On his song "Jazz Cats, Part 1" from his albumThe Unseen(2000), he gave an extensive overview of his jazz influences. Aside from Davis and Ra who are noted earlier, he namedGeorge Benson,Hampton Hawes,Steve Kuhn,George Cables,Cedar Walton,Herbie Hancock,Gene Harrisandthe Three Sounds,Bobby Hutcherson,Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers,Horace Silver,Bill Evans,Terry Gibbs,Gary Burton,Donald Byrd,George Duke,Lee Morgan,Shirley Scott,Groove Holmes,Jimmy Smith,Gene Russell,the Art Ensemble of Chicago,Michael White,Cal Tjader,Weather Report,Max Roach,Freddie Hubbard,Cannonball Adderley,Eddie Harris,Milt Jackson,Ron Carter,Rahsaan Roland Kirk,William Fisher,John Coltrane,Gary Bartz,Kool & the Gang,Modern Jazz Quartet,Johnny Hammond,Carl Saunders,Paul Bley,Thelonious Monk,Norman Connors,Albert Ayler,McCoy Tyner,&Dizzy Gillespie.

Some of his hip hop influences areLarge Professor,Marley Marl,Paul C,DJ Pooh,andDr. Dre.

Partial discography

Main articles:Madlib discographyandMadlib production discography

Solo albums

• The Unseen(2000, asQuasimoto)
• Shades of Blue(2003, remix tracks from the Blue Note Records archive)
• Theme for a Broken Soul(2004, as DJ Rels)
• The Further Adventures of Lord Quas(2005, as Quasimoto)
• WLIB AM: King of the Wigflip(2008)
• Yessir Whatever(2013, as Quasimoto)
• Piñata Beats(2014)
• Rock Konducta Part 1 & Part 2(2014)
• The Beats (Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton Soundtrack)(2014)
• Bandana Beats(2020)
• Sound Ancestors(2021)

Collaborative albums

• Soundpieces: Da Antidote(1999) (withWildchildand DJ Romes, asLootpack)
• Champion Sound(2003) (withJ Dilla,as Jaylib)
• Madvillainy(2004) (withMF Doom,asMadvillain)
• Liberation(2007) (withTalib Kweli,as Liberation)
• Perseverance(2007) (withPercee P)
• Sujinho(2008) (withIvan Conti,as Jackson Conti)
• Madvillainy 2: The Madlib Remix(2008) (as Madvillain)
• O. J. Simpson (album)(2010) (withGuilty Simpson)
• In Search of Stoney Jackson(2010) (withStrong Arm Steady)
• Piñata(2014) (withFreddie Gibbs,asMadGibbs)
• Trouble Knows Me(2015) (withHemlock Ernst)
• Bad Neighbor(2015) (with MED andBlu)
• Bandana(2019) (with Freddie Gibbs, as MadGibbs)
• The Professionals(2020) (withOh No,as The Professionals)
• Pardon My French(2020) (withKarriem Riggins,as Jahari Massamba Unit)
• In the Beginning, Vol. 1(2021) (withDeclaime)
• In the Beginning, Vol. 2(2022) (with Declaime)
• Flying High(2022) (withLMNO,M.E.D.,and Declaime as LMD)
• In the Beginning, Vol. 3(2023) (with Declaime)
• Liberation 2(with Talib Kweli) (2023)
• Champagne for Breakfast(2023) (withMeyhem LaurenandDJ Muggs)
• YHWH Is Love(2024) (as Jahari Massamba Unit with Karriem Riggins)

Bibliography

• "Madlib – Official Discography".Stones Throw Records.RetrievedJanuary 24,2021.
• Blanning, Lisa (August 2009)."The crate mass experiment".The Wire(306). The Wire Magazine: 33.ISSN0952-0686.RetrievedMay 9,2010.
• Madlib,Talib Kweli(October 27, 2007).BET Rap City Interview With Madlib(Adobe Flash).Black Entertainment Television.Archivedfrom the original on December 13, 2021.RetrievedMay 9,2010.
• Aziri, Jon (January 20, 2002)."Tight Lipped".Wax Poetics(1). Wax Poetics.ISSN1537-8241.RetrievedMay 9,2010.
• DiGenti, Brian (February 8, 2004)."Blunted on Beats".Wax Poetics(8). Wax Poetics.ISSN1537-8241.RetrievedMay 9,2010.
• Madlib, Eothen Alapatt (2002).Madlib – King of the Beats(Adobe Flash).São Paulo:Red Bull Music Academy.RetrievedMay 9,2010.
• "Freddie Gibbs Confirms" Bandana "With Madlib Is Dropping In 2019".Freddie Gibbs. October 31, 2018.RetrievedNovember 3,2018.

External links

• Official website
• MadlibatAllMusic
• Madlibdiscography atDiscogs
• Madlibdiscography atMusicBrainz
• MadlibatStones Throw Records
• MadlibArchivedApril 20, 2012, at theWayback Machinelecture atRed Bull Music Academy