Everyone loves Madlib. I do. You do. He is the producer/beat-making genius behind such projects as Madvillain, Quasimoto and Yesterday’s New Quintet.
Now I was not too familiar with YNQ until recently when I heard Madlib’s Sound Directions The Funky Side Of Life which began as an offshoot of YNQ. It is Madlib’s first full length collaboration with session musicians (including wicked UK drummer Malcom Cotto) and is a collection of “vintage soul grooves, electronic freewheeling funk, and fusion-oriented jazz breaks” that are all given the Madlib treatment. His grimy abstract hip-hop beats still mess through the tracks but aren’t necessarily their central focus. By incorporating live instrumentation (including drums, bass, horns, rhodes, and guitar) Madlib pays homage to the old school jazz that has influenced him and lets us come along for the glorious (and certainly funky) ride.
Madlib presents Sound Directions The Funky Side Of Life is out now on Stones Throw Records.
MP3 | Sound Directions – Dice Game The Funky Side Of Life
MP3 | Sound Directions – On The Hill The Funky Side Of Life
I love hearing horns. A little jazz flavor can do so much for music.
Whoomp there it is. I posted some sort of vague “update” on my situation, along with a truckload of tunes.
I love this album like I love still having my British citizenship. Zing!
Madlib is awesome great post!