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Album Details

• Artist: Madvillian
• Album: Madvillainy
• Label: Stones Throw
• Year of Release: 2004
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2004-07-08

It seems like people frown on concept rock albums. Why is it then, that we almost see more Hip Hop concepts albums that regular ones? Madvillainy is the collaboration between two of hip hop's up-and-comers MF Doom and Madlib. What we get is a super-villain of an album. The theme, if you haven't guessed, is villains of all shapes and sizes. It seems like a continuation of MF Doom's side project, Viktor Vaughn and his 2003 album Vaudville Villain. The samples were mined in order to flesh out that concept and are cleverly delivered between tracks. I have to admit that I didn't like Madvilliany upon first listen. I had to give it a chance as well as a few listens but damn, does it get catchy once you have given it a chance. The album has a dark overtone that is not immediately accessible but once you get into MF Doom's smooth and matter-of-fact rhymes you are hooked. What would a hip hop concept album be without guest artists and Madvillian is no different with Lord Quas ("Americas Most Blunted", "Shadows of Tomorrow"), Medaphoar (the impressive "Raid"), Wildchild (the faster "Hardcore Hustle"), Stacy Epps (on the rather boring "Eye") and MF Doom's alter ego Viktor Vaughn ("Fancy Clown"). But I would have to say that Madvillain might have come off OK without any guests. Madlib and MF Doom do a bang-up job with Peanut Butter Wolf as executive producer.

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