{"id":26660,"date":"2019-10-07T10:00:24","date_gmt":"2019-10-07T15:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/?p=26660"},"modified":"2019-10-08T19:35:04","modified_gmt":"2019-10-09T00:35:04","slug":"the-15th-anniversary-of-madvillainy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/tartan-news\/2019\/10\/07\/the-15th-anniversary-of-madvillainy\/","title":{"rendered":"The 15th Anniversary of &#8220;Madvillainy&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fifteen years ago, one of the most legendary albums in the history of underground Hip-Hop was introduced to the world.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap wp-block-paragraph\">Released on March, 23, 2004, \u201c<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Madvillainy\" target=\"_blank\">Madvillainy<\/a>\u201d is the sole album by Madvillain, a duo consisting of two of underground Hip-Hop\u2019s most revered rappers and producers, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.factmag.com\/2013\/06\/08\/the-essential-mf-doom\/\" target=\"_blank\">MF DOOM<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/magazine\/2016\/02\/08\/the-waves-critic-at-large-hilton-als\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Madlib<\/a>, respectively.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MF DOOM (real name Daniel Dumile) is often regarded as \u201cYour favorite rapper\u2019s favorite rapper.\u201d And it shows. Numerous rappers, be they low-key or high-profile, underground or mainstream, have praised DOOM. Whether it\u2019s in the case of Mos Def going on a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=zTBIvIDnnv8\" target=\"_blank\">seven-minute fanboy rant<\/a> or the monotone, offbeat rhyme schemes and double entendres of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=rmHbxQh6iOg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Earl Sweatshirt<\/a>, DOOM\u2019s influence is littered throughout the rap world.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Madvillain\u2019s other half, the producer known as Madlib (real name Otis Jackson Jr.), is one of Hip-Hop\u2019s most creative electronic maestros. Recently, his most notable work consists of producing the 2019 album \u201c<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/pitchfork.com\/reviews\/albums\/freddie-gibbs-and-madlib-bandana\/\" target=\"_blank\">Bandana<\/a>\u201d with rapper Freddie Gibbs and being the brains behind the beat of the Kanye West single \u201c<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=NnMuFqsmYSE\" target=\"_blank\">No More Parties in L.A.<\/a>,\u201d which appears on West\u2019s 2016 album \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/pitchfork.com\/reviews\/albums\/21542-the-life-of-pablo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">The Life of Pablo<\/a>.\u201d Jackson composed the beat using just an iPad.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube aligncenter wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DG8EjYag15s?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption> The making of \u201cNo More Parties in L.A.\u201d (Source: The Most Unruly \/ YouTube)<br><br> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The result of several months and countless hours of two creative geniuses joining forces for what remains their only collaborative effort, \u201cMadvillainy\u201d is an exercise in wordplay, obscure samples and cheeky humor.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My first encounter with the album was in some ways by pure chance. It was in December of 2017, around the second week. I had just finished my final exam for the semester and was on one of the computers in the library, relaxing after a long, stressful four months of quizzes and assignments. I had heard of MF DOOM a few years prior, having listened to the song \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=CRHyBwNtkLA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Doomsday<\/a>\u201d out of curiosity and being relatively unimpressed.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, for whatever reason, as I sat at the computer terminal aimlessly browsing YouTube while the sound of the Starbucks coffee grinder pierced throughout the mostly empty library, I suddenly got the urge to give DOOM\u2019s music another chance. And I\u2019m so glad that I did.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I decided that I would type his name in the search query and click on whichever song I thought had the most interesting title. Less than fifteen seconds later, I came across the track \u201cAccordion\u201d and was sent into a trance-like state.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I remember it like it was yesterday. As soon as I clicked the video, I couldn\u2019t believe what I was hearing. The sound of an accordion and what seemed to be a ticking noise in the background (\u201cA clock?\u201d I pondered to myself). On paper, these two sounds should be like nails on a chalkboard. Yet, thanks to Madlib\u2019s production, they give the song a somber, introspective feel to accompany DOOM\u2019s monotone yet effortlessly smooth rhyme patterns.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube aligncenter wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DNc20yNB8nM?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption> Madvillain\u2019s \u201cAccordion.\u201d (La Tumba \/ YouTube)<br><br> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I played the song over and over again, my head resting in my palm and eyes darting around while my mind tried to process the music coming from my earbuds. Before I knew it, three hours had flown by, so I quickly downloaded the track onto my phone and left campus. The song served as the soundtrack for my commute back home. With cold air and snow flurries swirling around my head, \u201cAccordion\u201d made everything else fade into the background.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following day, I returned to Sinclair\u2019s library and decided to listen to \u201cMadvillainy,\u201d the album that \u201cAccordion\u201d is featured on. As soon as the first track (\u201cThe Illest Villains\u201d) began, I knew that I was in for something completely unique. At just under two minutes, the intro track is jam-packed with countless samples from what sounds like old movies, TV shows and cartoons, an implication of what listeners should prepare themselves for.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube aligncenter wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/V_A_0NJsza0?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption> Each of the samples used throughout \u201cThe Illest Villains.\u201d (Source: KylinAli \/ YouTube)<br><br> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The intro weaves seamlessly into track two, the aforementioned \u201cAccordion.\u201d In addition to being a standout track on an album filled with a dizzying array of memorable samples and verses, the song\u2019s beat appears to be a favorite in the underground music scene. Madlib sampled the beat from \u201cExperience,\u201d a song created by fellow producer and California native Daedelus.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube aligncenter wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tZh-Vh81Osw?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption> \u201cExperience\u201d by Daedelus. (Source: HipHopSamples \/ YouTube)<br><br> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Continuing with this fashion, both \u201cExperience\u201d and \u201cAccordion\u201d were eventually blended together into one cohesive track by Flying Lotus, yet another producer and California native of underground fame. If you\u2019ve ever watched Adult Swim, there\u2019s no doubt that you\u2019ve heard snippets of his music played during the programming block\u2019s signature \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nlpEq7ikhVE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">bumps<\/a>.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube aligncenter wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CkqR3D0etFI?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption> Flying Lotus\u2019 mashup of \u201cExperience\u201d and \u201cAccordion.\u201d (Source: Ichokedamelononce \/ YouTube)<br><br> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And if that wasn\u2019t enough, way before he became the world-famous star that he is now, even Drake\u2014yes, <em>that <\/em>Drake\u2014<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BcRJxBpDJBt\/?hl=en&amp;taken-by=champagnepapi\" target=\"_blank\">paid homage<\/a> with his own rendition of \u201cAccordion\u201d in a track titled \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Ha7OYEufgRI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">The Grind<\/a>.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From beginning to end, &#8220;Madvillainy&#8221; is a work of art\u2014a sonic masterpiece of Jean-Michel Basquiat proportions crafted by a match made in studio heaven.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With its iconic King Crimson\/Madonna-inspired <a href=\"https:\/\/genius.com\/a\/here-s-the-original-photo-for-mf-doom-madlib-s-madvillainy-cover-art\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">album cover<\/a>, \u201cMadvillainy\u201d debuted with critical acclaim and shook up the underground during the early aughts while 50 Cent and G-Unit ruled the mainstream.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether it&#8217;s the tongue-twisting rhyme schemes of &#8220;Meat Grinder,&#8221; the appearance of Quasimoto\u2014Madlib&#8217;s chipmunk-voiced alter-ego\u2014on the trippy &#8220;Shadows of Tomorrow,&#8221; or &#8220;Eye,&#8221; a gentle R&amp;B track performed by singer Stacy Epps, &#8220;Madvillainy&#8221; reigns as a cult classic.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube aligncenter wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Wmsg6bMf9Do?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>A handful of the many samples used throughout &#8220;Madvillainy.&#8221; (Source: HipHopNT \/ YouTube)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have an eclectic ear for music, this is one album that you don\u2019t want to miss out on.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Standout Tracks: \u201cAccordion,\u201d \u201cMeat Grinder,\u201d \u201cShadows of Tomorrow,\u201d \u201cMoney Folder,\u201d \u201cAll Caps\u201d<\/strong><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Rating: 10\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Quinton Bradley<\/strong><br>Contributing Writer<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Quinton Bradley is an Ohio-based writer. He runs a blog called<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/hammersandpapyrus.wordpress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"> Hammers and Papyrus<\/a> and can be followed on Twitter<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/QBAbstract\" target=\"_blank\"> @QBAbstract<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fifteen years ago, one of the most legendary albums in the history of underground Hip-Hop was introduced to the world. Released on March, 23, 2004, \u201cMadvillainy\u201d is the sole album by Madvillain, a duo consisting of two of underground Hip-Hop\u2019s most revered rappers and producers, MF DOOM and Madlib, respectively. MF DOOM (real name Daniel [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10416,"featured_media":26661,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2104,2616,2144,2109,3398,3],"tags":[113,73,2905,109],"class_list":["post-26660","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","category-featured","category-music-entertainment","category-opinion","category-review","category-tartan-news","tag-hip-hop","tag-music","tag-quinton-bradley","tag-review"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"cc_featured_image_caption":{"caption_text":false,"source_text":false,"source_url":false},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Madvillain.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5s3vR-6W0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26660","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10416"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26660"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26660\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26704,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26660\/revisions\/26704"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26661"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26660"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26660"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26660"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}