Prolific is an understatement when it comes to the world of Madlib. Diving in head first, people might know him from his most recent work with Freddie Gibbs. Or they might have heard about his acid tinged alter-ego Quasimoto in a dorm room or coffee shop (ahem, imagine you weren't born post 2000). Going further back, a lot first learned of 'The Beatkonducta' with the legendary Hip Hop trio, Lootpack. Regardless of where you learned of him or how you came across any of the ever growing catalog of creations, it is a safe bet there is almost ALWAYS going to be something you never knew was another 'Madlib Invazion'. 

That said, over the last few years I've happily dug around for the often overlooked, or dare I say, forgotten (dude is P-R-O-L-I-F-I-C, no diss) Jazz catalog Madlib has managed to pump out. 'Rugged Tranquility' is my attempt at finding some of the deeper cuts in the abyss, all the while celebrating 20 years of Otis Jackson Jr's Jazz masterpieces. - PK

https://www.instagram.com/princeklassen/
https://www.mixcloud.com/princeklassen/

TRACKLIST

Yesterdays New Quintet - Rugged Tranquility
The Jahari Massamba Unit feat Karriem Riggins - Umoja (Unity)
Malik Flavors - Storm
Jackson Conti - Barumba
Young Jazz Rebels - Black Freedom
Monk Hughes & The Outer Realm - A Piece For Brother Weldon
Sound Directions - Forty Days
The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble - One For The Monica Lingas Band
Generation Match - Electronic Dimensions
The Jahari Massamba Unit - Pretty Eyes
Yesterdays New Quintet - That Girl
Joe McDuphrey Experience - Flower Of Life
Ahmad Miller - Little Angel

Tribute to MADLIB's JAZZ ALIASES — Selected by Prince Klassen

Dream Trio

Angel's Egg

Livin' Proof's BUDGIE – serving up jazz, hip-hop, soul, beats & more from his sprawling record collection, once a month from our LA studio. 
Find the full tracklist and related episodes on NTS: https://www.nts.live/shows/budgie/episodes/budgie-23rd-august-2024

Budgie 230824

couth café.

Stream:
https://lnk.dmsmusic.co/kowhaiimynaw_meltingsyrup

Stream

Kowhaii x Mynaw - Melting Syrup

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6nb36WsKUp5rWr3t0W5K5c?si=f61ee46765ce4dbe

My Smooth Guitar

Unsurprisingly, this one’s exactly what the title promises — something chill.

The rhythm comes from a dirty record pop, the kind of imperfection that gives a track its heartbeat. It was inspired by the sampling of H.R. Is A Dirty Guitar by The Howard Roberts Quartet — a prized record in my collection — specifically the track Dirty Old Bossa Nova, which A Tribe Called Quest famously flipped into Jam.

At the time, I was spending more nights lounging on the down low than going out to get down, and my creative output reflected that. This track is the sound of that slower pace — smooth, dusty, unhurried.

When I made tracks like this, I never quite knew what to do with them afterwards. Which is probably why few people have heard them until now. I had hundreds of these quiet sketches. Something Chill just happens to be one that survived.

Lost Dubs 015 - Something Chill (2010)

dont go

'Moonlight' is the follow up to it's predecessor 'Origin' (2015). Sit back, chillax and let the good vibes roll. This 19-track instrumental album will be sure to transcend you to a whole new dimension of sound. Instant classic.

13 Clever Austin - Higher Plains

Clever Austin