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- VH1 Soul is dead, long live Centric posted on March 29, 2010
- The ten most popular indie-rap artists… posted on January 11, 2011
- Digable Planets fracture, cancel tour posted on March 22, 2009
- Superlists!: Top Ten Femcees posted on March 24, 2009
- The Plug One Q&A: Flying Lotus posted on June 10, 2008
- Review: Atmosphere, “To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy” posted on September 9, 2010
- R.I.P. Paper Thin Walls posted on August 29, 2008
- Zion-I tour dates posted on February 25, 2009
- Vibe’s demise posted on July 1, 2009
- Why Plug One survives posted on March 17, 2010
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Tag Archives: Madlib
Review: Guilty Simpson, “OJ Simpson”
Guilty Simpson, OJ Simpson Stones Throw It’s not easy rapping over a Madlib Invazion. The Los Angeles producer is infamous for layering his beats with all sorts of nonsense that can turn an MC’s performance into a mere sideshow. However, … Continue reading
Video: MED, “MEDical Card”
MED and Madlib go the boogie route. My only problem is that MED lays his head to sleep on a stack of records near the end. A true record lover would never do that.
Welcome to violence: Madlib, “Medicine Show No. 1”
This essay on Madlib’s first installment in his Medicine Music Show series was published in the January 27 issue of the San Francisco Bay Guardian. Welcome to violence Madlib, now in his hardcore phase, hands out sonic pamphlets like a … Continue reading
Plug One 2000s: Quasimoto, “The Unseen”
17. Quasimoto, The Unseen Stones Throw Released June 13, 2000 When Quasimoto first appeared on Peanut Butter Wolf’s 1998 single, “Styles, Crews, Flows, Beats,†few realized that the helium-voiced instigator who promised to “slap your bitch up like a pimp†… Continue reading
The Plug One 50 2009: Top 20 Albums
This year’s crop of hip hop albums was an improvement over last year. But it didn’t come from the artists expected to dominate. Around this time in 2008, everyone was buzzing about the “new school” of blog-hyped rappers. They injected … Continue reading
Posted in Plug One 50, Reviews, Superlists
Tagged Aceyalone, Antipop Consortium, Brother Ali, Busdriver, Dorian Concept, Finale, Jneiro Jarel, Khujo Goodie, Madlib, MF Doom, Mike Slott, Mos Def, Mr. Lif, Nosaj Thing, P.O.S., Polyphonic, Raekwon, Sa-Ra, Serengeti, Shafiq Husayn, Tanya Morgan, Willie Isz, Zion-I
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Madlib’s “Beat Konducta Vol. 5-6”
On February 10, Stones Throw will release the latest chapter(s) in Madlib’s Beat Konducta saga. Unlike the prior two editions, Vols. 1 & 2 (Movie Scenes) and Vols. 3 &4 (In India), Vols. 5 & 6 doesn’t have a cinematic … Continue reading
Review: Jackson Conti, “Sujinho”
Otis ‘Madlib” Jackson, Jr. and Ivan “Mamão†Conti join forces as Jackson Conti and produce Sujinho, a trip into classic brasilismo. Continue reading
Madlib visits Brazil, becomes Jackson Conti
Acclaimed photographer/filmmaker Brian “B+” Cross’ MySpace subscribers have been receiving mysterious bulletins lately. They read, “Madlib and Mamão are…Jackson Conti. Please repost.” The source of the mystery is a forthcoming album by Jackson Conti called Sujinho. It’s set for release … Continue reading
Review: Percee P, “Perseverance: The Remix”
With Perseverance: The Remix, producer Madlib offers a fresh perspective on Perseverance, BX rapper Percee P’s long-awaited 2007 debut. Continue reading
Percee P commissions remixes, tours with Slick Rick
Bronx rhyme inspector Percee P may have only released one official album in over 15 years, this year’s Perseverance. But he’s making up for lost time.
Earlier this fall, Percee P joined the 2K Sports Bounce tour headlined by kufi expert Common. And this month, he jumped on the Stones Throw "Holiday edition" of the 2K Sports Bounce tour, too. Now, he’s jumping on the December edition of Scion’s Live Metro tour. It’s just a brief excursion that only encompasses four cities: Houston, Austin, Atlanta and Carrboro. But lucky attendees will get to see Percee with the mighty Slick Rick, both backed by the funky soul of Connie Price & the Keystones.
Meanwhile, kids who have been raiding the Stones Throw merch table have noticed one exclusive, a disc of Perseverance remixes by Madlib, that currently isn’t available anywhere else. The CD, however, will go on sale at retail outlets on January 29. The highlight is an original track, "Real Talk."
The track listing for Perseverance: The Madlib Remix and the Live Metro itinerary is below.
Live Review: “2K Sports Bounce Tour,” 11/30 at Abbey Pub
The 2K Sports Bounce Tour, a rare showcase of Stones Throw’s finest led by figurehead Peanut Butter Wolf, makes a pit stop in Chicago. Max Herman takes notes. Continue reading
Posted in Live & Direct
Tagged Arabian Prince, Guilty Simpson, Karriem Riggins, Madlib, Peanut Butter Wolf, Percee P
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Stones Throw undertakes 2K8 Sports Bounce tour
Unlike many of their indie brethren, the Stones Throw crew isn’t known for doing shows. They’re mostly content to lamp in the studio and maybe rock a DJ date in L.A., New York, London or some other major international city. Sitting in a hot-ass van and plowing through 50+ cities? That shit is for the birds.
So consider yourself lucky if they come to your town on the upcoming 2K8 Sports Bounce Tour "Holiday Edition" (also known as the B-Ball Zombie War tour). Just like last year’s Chrome Children package tour, it won’t be very comprehensive, and only encompass a baker’s dozen of shows. Featured artists will be the mighty Madlib, Peanut Butter Wolf, Madlib’s Supreme Team partner Karriem Riggins, onetime Beat Junkie J. Rocc, and rhyme inspector Percee P.
How rare is this tour? It’s so rare that the lineup for some recently added shows (ATL and Baltimore) hasn’t even been confirmed yet. Check out the itinerary below; as usual, I’ll update as more details become available.
Posted in News
Tagged J. Rocc, Karriem Riggins, Madlib, Peanut Butter Wolf, Percee P, Stones Throw
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Review: Madlib, “Beat Konducta Vol. 3-4: India”
The ever-prolific Madlib fearlessly absorbs Bollywood culture on Vol. 3-4: India, the latest edition in his Beat Konducta series. Continue reading
Percee P debuts with “Perseverance”
On September 18, Bronx MC Percee P will finally release his debut album, Perseverance. Amazingly, it’s the first full-length of his career after nearly twenty years of obscure 12-inches, scene-stealing cameos and obscure CD-Rs. The album itself arrives after nearly two years in delays and promises from his label, Stones Throw Records.
Perseverance is completely produced by Madlib. Not counting the Talib Kweli EP Liberation, it is Madlib’s first full collaboration since the Madvillain classic of three years ago. Other guests include Vinnie Paz from Jedi Mind Tricks, Guilty Simpson, Diamond D, former Jurassic 5 rapper Chali 2na, Prince Po and Aesop Rock.
For much of the last several years, bloggers, crate-diggers and rap experts have celebrated Percee P’s legendary "fast rap" style, essentially calling the greatest MC no one had ever heard of. With Perseverance, everyday Stones Throw geeks will finally get to decide if he lives up to the hype.
The track listing is below.
August 9 update: I was wrong about Perseverance being Madlib’s first full collabo since Madvillain. How could I forget about Dudley Perkins’ Expressions (2012 a.u.) from last year? Sorry, Dudley.
Stones Throw summer: Madlib, Percee P, Tortoise
Following a relatively quiet spring, Stones Throw Records has announced an ambitious slate of summer releases.
First up is the re-release of Jaylib’s Champion Sound. Originally released in the fall of 2003, Madlib and the late James "Jay Dee/J Dilla" Yancey’s highly anticipated collaboration drew disappointing reviews and record sales. "Few knew who or what ‘Jaylib’ was, and many of those who did felt that Champion Sound wasn’t given the attention is deserved when it was originally released," notes the label in a press release. Much as it did with J Dilla’s Ruff Draft reissue, Stones Throw has turned the album into a two-CD set with remixes and instrumentals. With luck, its reputation will improve in light of hip-hop fans’ ongoing reassessment of J Dilla’s career. The new Champion Sound drops May 8.
For those interested in Madlib’s Invazions, the enigmatic producer is reviving his Yesterdays New Quintet pseudonym for Yesterdays Universe: Prepare for a New Yesterday, Vol. 1. The story goes that the fictional "band" (Ahmad Miller, Monk Hughes, Malik Flavors, Joe McDuphrey and Otis Jackson, Jr.) has broken up, and this is their final album. It drops July 3.
Posted in News
Tagged Arabian Prince, J Dilla, Jaylib, Madlib, Oh No, Percee P, Stones Throw, Tortoise, Yesterdays New Quintet
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Madlib & PB Wolf head to “The Other Side of L.A.”
As if I don’t write enough about Stones Throw, its affiliated artists and sundry products, here’s another news bit. Madlib and Peanut Butter Wolf, two of the masterminds (along with Egon) behind the label, will collaborate on a CD/DVD for Time Out magazine and Deaf, Dumb and Blind Recordings’ "The Other Side" series. Their installment, The Other Side: Los Angeles, will join excellent contributions from Fischerspooner, Damian Lazarus, Blackstrobe, and Ellen Allien (hers is due in April).
Madlib will compile the mix CD. Peanut Butter Wolf will make the DVD, which will document Stones Throw’s history through an interview and videos. The Other Side: Los Angeles is due May 8.
2007 brings Kweli and Madlib’s “Liberation”
On New Year’s Eve, fan favorite Stones Throw closed an amazing 2006 by posting a free album in tandem with Talib Kweli’s Blacksmith Music Label.
The album, a collaboration between Kweli and mystery achiever Madlib, is called Liberation. Kweli has talked up the nine-track EP-length set on his MySpace page for months. As recently as December 5, he wrote, "So I know I know, I said Liberation will be out in November. I like to be a man of my word and believe me, I really tried! There are just politics with putting out a free album that I wasn’t ready for. Everyone has to be on the same page, and I got a lot of business on my plate right now." But all’s well that ends well.
Liberation, which can be downloaded for free here (with additional artwork) and here is, in Kweli’s words, "a straight ahead, sample driven hiphop record, from two of the best doing it." It marks his second underground release following the Blacksmith: The Movement mixtape in November. His new album, Eardrum, was scheduled for release last fall; it is now tentatively set for February. Meanwhile Madlib is working on a new Madvillain collabo with MF Doom.