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Madlib

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Madlib is the stage name of Otis Jackson Jr., an American DJ, producer and rapper, born in 1973 in Oxnard, California. His parents were musicians and his uncle is the jazz trumpeter Jon Faddis. At eleven he sampled his first track, from his father's records. In the 1990s he worked with rappers in his studio, and with Lootpack he made records for Stones Throw. His first solo album, The Unseen from 2000, was released under the name Quasimoto.

Music and breakthrough

In 2001 he began the Yesterdays New Quintet series, a jazz group in which Madlib himself is all the players. In 2003 Shades of Blue appeared, for which he delved into the Blue Note archive, and with J Dilla he formed the duo Jaylib. With MF Doom he made, as Madvillain, the album Madvillainy from 2004. Freddie Gibbs' Piñata followed in 2014 and Bandana in 2019. In 2010 he started his own label, Madlib Invazion.

Influence

His production style makes extensive use of samples from sources both obscure and well known. His greatest examples are Miles Davis, Sun Ra and David Axelrod. His work often contains elements of jazz and world music. This has earned him a reputation as one of the most influential producers in modern hip hop.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Mystic Bounce and notice the samples, the beat and the bass. Which jazz sounds do you hear in it, and how are they stuck together?

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: ArtistsLo-fi hip hop