Madvillainy 2 – The Madlib Remix (Stones Throw, 2008)

Anything positive one reads about Madlib (née Otis Jackson, Jr.) is true. The samples he secures for each release are assuredly vital as well as previously unearthed. His prowess seems to have become mythical – perhaps that’s too much, but it’s difficult to find genuine criticism of the man and his work. The Madlib Remix may catch some flack, but its purpose is to hold listeners over until Doom re-surfaces with a slate of nuanced and hilarious rhymes to match Madlib’s samples for the proper follow up to Madvillainy (2004). The Remixes though reapply Doom’s raps from that first offering to new Madlib musical constructions. As in the past, it works. Of course, since the lyrical content is familiar, the music that Doom’s voice was previously set to could be missed if not for the always substantial beats from his partner.

Considering that this isn’t actually a new release, one may assume that no new statement (assuming that there was an old one) is to be made here. And maybe there’s not, but lyrically there’re considerations of the past, present and future – which is kinda funny considering listeners have been waiting for a future release predicated on previous work.