The last time Madlib collaborated with Black Thought was four years ago, on the producer’s joint album with Freddie Gibbs, Bandana. “Education” gave listeners a glimpse of what a team-up between such a dynamic duo could bring, although it was mostly Gibbs’ show and Yasiin Bey came along for the ride.
Today, though, Black Thought secures a Madlib joint of his very own in “REEKYOD,” a portmanteau of his first name Tariq, and the initials of their collaborator on the new single, Your Old Droog. It’s a surprisingly low-key affair, with Madlib providing a muted, shuffling beat and Thought doing what he does best. Droog provides a more energetic counterpoint to Thought’s laid-back flow, hanging with one of rap’s premiere lyricists. If this doesn’t get you hype for a potential Madlib-Black Thought project, absolutely nothing will.
Such a project isn’t out of the realm of possibility, either. Black Thought has spent much of the past few years stepping out of his role as The Roots’ frontman, putting out a steady stream of projects with singular producers. Since 2020, he’s released albums primarily produced by Sean C (Streams Of Thought, Vol. 3: Cane & Able), Danger Mouse (Cheat Codes), and El Michels Affair (2023’s Glorious Game). So, a Madlib project wouldn’t go amiss (if you guys are reading this… you know what to do). The press release for “REEKYOD” doesn’t specifically mention what else Madlib’s working on these days, but if he’s got the time, rap fans would almost certainly like to see it.
Madlib and Your Old Droog continue to build and strengthen their work relationship with another new single “REEKYOD.” This is now the second offering we have received from this acclaimed duo in the last few weeks. “DBZ” was their last effort and that lyrical powerhouse of a track included extra bars from Denzel Curry and Method Man. On that single, Denzel was making some noise on it by apparently dissing Kendrick Lamar. “‘Cause using big words don’t make you lyrical / And going backwards in a swimmin’ pool don’t make you spiritual.” While “REEKYOD” does not have any subliminal shots, it does have gritty production and adept lyrics from Droog and Black Thought.
According to Stereogum, Madlib and Droog are gearing up to drop a collaboration album in the near future. For the decorated producer, it will be his third project of the year, following up YHWH is LOVE and Liberation 2. For the Brooklynite, it will be his first record in about a year and a half since YOD Presents: The Shining. According to The Source, Droog shared how thrilled he was to be a part of this song, as well as the project on the way.
Listen To “REEKYOD” By Madlib, Black Thought, Your Old Droog
“It’s an honor to be inducted into the heavyweight class of hip hop. To be able to spar with one of the greatest MC’s on a beat by the greatest producer is a dream come true,” Droog said. “Look out for the Madlib x YOD album coming soon.” We sure will be and be sure to check out “REEKYOD” with the link above.
What are your thoughts on this brand-new single “REEKYOD” by Madlib, Black Thought, and Your Old Droog? Is this the better of their two recent singles, why or why not? Are you excited for their upcoming project? Who had the strongest rapping performance? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Madlib, Your Old Droog, and Black Thought. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Renowned producer Madlib unveils his latest single, “REEKYOD,” featuring the lyrical talents of Black Thought and Your Old Droog. Making its debut on Madlib’s newly minted label, Madlib Invazion, the track showcases the iconic artist’s innovative approach to hip-hop.
Teaming up with acclaimed artist Mathieu Bitton for the single’s artwork, Madlib presents “REEKYOD” as more than just a song; it’s a testament to artistic independence and musical brilliance. The collaboration celebrates the essence of hip-hop, highlighting real rhymes, captivating beats, and the profound connection between emcee and producer.
“This is strictly for the honorees. Madlib is in his bag per usual and YOD is more than a force to be reckoned with. Simply complex, this piece is high art. Triple threat. Instant classique,” says Black Thought.
“It’s an honor to be inducted into the heavyweight class of hip hop,” Droog shares. “To be able to spar with one of the greatest MC’s on a beat by the greatest producer is a dream come true. Look out for the Madlib x YOD album coming soon.”
“REEKYOD” not only delivers an unforgettable listening experience but also serves as a declaration of artistic freedom, reaffirming Madlib’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of the genre. With Black Thought and Your Old Droog adding their distinct styles to the mix, the single stands as a tribute to hip-hop’s enduring legacy and the enduring creativity of its artists.
Madlib is a legend. You’d be hard-pressed to make a list of the greatest hip-hop producers of all time without writing down his name. He’s no slouch in the rapping department, either but he prefers to use the name “Lord Quas,” or “Quasimoto,” when he grabs the mic. Well, he did. Madlib is currently involved in a legal battle that could see him lose the rights to the “Lord Quas” character. This would mean he not only has to relinquish the name, but the yellow cartoon that has served as his de facto logo. The one that fans have come to know and love on beloved albums like Yessir, Whatever and Bandana.
The man suing Madlib is Keith Griego, who created the “Lord Quas” character for the producer’s 1999 single “Microphone Mathematics.” Madlib continued to use the character and the cartoon depiction of him, however, without reportedly compensating Griego properly.
Ethan Jacobs, Griego’s attorney, put out a statement detailing his client’s grievances. “Mr. Griego was gratified to see that Madlib appreciated his Lord Quas character so much,” he wrote. “At the same time, he was hurt that [Madlib] continued to use it without compensation, attribution, or permission.” The artist said his attempts to work out a deal with the producer’s legal reps never went anywhere.
Griego seeks compensation for the two decades in which Madlib used his creation. “Mr. Griego brings this action to seek compensation,” the suit explains. “For Defendants’ intentional copyright infringement and to obtain an injunction against their further infringement of his copyright.” Furthermore, he wants to file an injunction to keep the producer from further “misuse” of the character. He also asserted that the federal trademark obtained by Madlib Invazion, LLC be invalidated due to the fact that it was not permitted upon registeration.
Madlib told Rolling Stone that “Lord Quas” came about during a drug trip. He noted that the specificity of the character, and his musical persona, was what made it difficult to revive him for the comeback album Yessir, Whatever. “It takes time. It has to be on a different level,” he noted. “The shrooms were the stuff that made me do Quasimoto in the first place. Hopefully, I get back on that level.” Madlib announced plans for another “Lord Quas” album in 2016, but nearly a decade has passed and its nowhere to be found. It’s safe to assume Madlib’s legal complications have played a role in the album’s delay.
Your Old Droog has dropped a new track. The New York rapper linked up with core members of Wu-Tang Clan and Raider Klan, and the result is one of the hardest posse cuts of the year. Your Old Droog delivers lyrically, as always, and Method Man proves that he can still skate effortlessly over a track, three decades into his career. Madlib comes through with an instrumental that’s simultaneously soulful and tough, but if we’re being real, Denzel Curry steals the show.
Denzel Curry has never been one to shy away from confrontation. The Florida emcee is known for hard-nosed approach to both flow and rhymes, but he kicks it up a notch here by taking shots at none other than Kendrick Lamar. Curry mocks Lamar for trying to compete with Drake, and proceeds to criticize his perceived spirituality. He also references Lamar’s breakout single, “Swimming Pools (Drank)” (2011). It’s an unexpected development in the ongoing Lamar vs. Drake beef, especially since Curry has little bad to say about the 6 God.
What are your thoughts on this brand-new single, “DBZ,” by Your Old Droog, Denzel Curry, and Method Man? Who do you think had the best verse? Do you think Kendrick Lamar will respond to Denzel Curry’s bars? What do you think of the Madlib beat? We want to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Your Old Droog and the rest of this posse cut lineup. Finally, stay with us for the most informative song posts throughout the week.
Quotable Lyrics:
When I grab the mic, I crush your stamina, you will be damaged ‘Cause using big words don’t make you lyrical And going backwards in a swimmin’ pool don’t make you spiritual So if I bought a brand new whip, they call it (wait a minute) Damn, whatever the next line is, I’m ballin’ I’m the current boss, currency is what I come across
When you think about essential hip-hop records, where does your mind go? For us and many others, underground icons MF Doom and Madlib gave us one of those kinds of albums back in 2004. We are referring to one of the most studied and highly-regarded offerings in the genre’s 50-year history, Madvillainy. We recently put up a densely-detailed feature on the crazy samples, references, and bars from Doom and Madlib. We highly encourage you to check that out if you are a huge fan of the record. But we are back to talking about Madvillainy today because it just became certified gold.
According to a tweet from HipHopDX, the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) updated the sales numbers on Monday, March 25. That led to them discovering that Madvillainy hit the required 500,000 copies to achieve that mark. What is ironic about all of this is that Doom and Madlib’s album turned 20 years old the day before this announcement. If you really think about it, this is a remarkable feat for this album.
With how off the wall and experimental it is and dropping well before the streaming era, hitting gold status is wild. Just for some stats, three of MF’s 10 most popular tracks on Spotify are from Madvillainy. “All Caps” slots in at fifth with over 146 million plays. Next is “Meat Grinder” right after with 99 million plus. Finally, “Fancy Clown,” which sits at eighth has collected over 76.8 million streams.
What are your thoughts on Madvillainy by MF Doom and Madlib going gold? Are you surprised it took this long for a classic record to hit this mark, why or why not? How impressive is this achievement considering when this was released? What tracks are you still bumping from it? Are MF Doom and Madlib the greatest rapper and producer duo ever? Is this the best hip-hop record of all time? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding MF Doom and Madlib. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the world of music.
You wanna read something cool? The news this week has been utterly sh*t, so I think we could all use a pick-me-up. On Monday (March 25), just a day after the 20th anniversary of the release of the late MF DOOM and Madlib‘s joint album Madvillain, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA. That makes it the first Gold album in Stones Throw Records history and
the first Gold album in either artist’s discography. Check out a screenshot from RIAA’s website:
RIAA.com
How To Buy Madvillainy On Vinyl
While the special-edition 20th-anniversary vinyl reissue of Madvillainy is unfortunately sold out, you can still get the normal edition from a bunch of places, including the Stones Throw Records website, MF DOOM’s official online store, and, of course, Amazon (get it from DOOM’s site, though). In some more good news, Madvillainy isn’t the only 2004 collaborative album to get the 20th-anniverary special-edition treatment: As Stones Throw announced last year, the label also reissued Madlib’s joint album with the late Detroit producer J Dilla, Jaylib.
If you’re dedicated (and financially irresponsible) enough, you could probably still find copies of both reissues on the resale market. Either way, Madvillainy is always worth a purchase, as it is largely credited as the album that exposed the underground stalwarts to many of their staunchest fans, which include unlikely names like Playboi Carti. In the wake of DOOM’s death, it was the one reached the highest commercial peak, hitting No. 73 on the Billboard 200.
Today marks the 10th anniversary of Freddie Gibbs and Madlib’s first collaborative studio album,Piñata. It was released on March 18, 2014 via Madlib Invazion. The album was preceded by three EP’s that included lead singles “Thuggin’,” “Shame,” and “Deeper.” Although Piñata saw Freddie Gibbs and Madlib as an unlikely pairing, they skillfully blended Freddie’s gangsta rap edge with Madlib’s vintage underground production. Thematically, the album plays like a “gangster blaxploitation film on wax,” as explained by Gibbs during its initial rollout.
Its stacked list of guest features, established hip-hop legends and then-newcomers, joined Freddie and Madlib, resulting in an all-star lineup. Standout appearances included Danny Brown, Raekwon, Domo Genesis, Earl Sweatshirt, Ab-Soul, Meechy Darko, and Mac Miller. A certified classic, Piñata is widely regarded as Freddie Gibbs’s magnum opus and one of Madlib’s greatest full-length collaborations. Today, we are revisiting Piñata for its 10th anniversary.
Piñata Propelled Freddie Gibbs To Hip Hop’s Forefront
Prior to Piñata, Freddie Gibbs was already a rising name in the hip-hop scene. He appeared on XXL’s Freshman cover in 2010. Gibbs also signed with Jeezy’s CTE label, releasing multiple well-received mixtapes. Freddie soon left CTE to start his own ESGN label following a disagreement with Jeezy that turned public. In 2013, he released his debut album, ESGN.
But even as he shaped his underground legend, vengeance remained on his mind after he and Jeezy fell out. Their beef continued well after Gibbs’ departure, resulting in “Real,” a cutthroat diss track that remains a standout on Piñata. ESGN and Freddie’s earlier mixtapes primarily consisted of trap production, so a full-length collaboration with Madlib seemed like a left-field crossover. In 2014, Gibbs told Rappcats, “It was a challenge rapping over beats with chops and changes as unpredictable as the man who created them.” Luckily, the two gelled their sounds together on Piñata so perfectly that it changed the trajectory of both of their careers.
From the cold-hearted “Thuggin” to the vivid “Deeper” and “Shame,” Piñata saw Freddie embracing his lyrical strengths over a sound that he had not yet explored. Both “Knicks” and “Lakers” recall his journey while “Harold’s” is easily the hardest rap song about chicken wings and fries. Gibbs shines amongst his contemporaries and OG’s throughout the album, especially on its closing posse cut. Ultimately, Piñata propelled Freddie Gibbs to hip-hop’s forefront, putting him in the conversation of best lyricists favored by rap purists and publications alike.
A New Phase in Madlib’s Career
In addition to positioning Freddie Gibbs within the stratosphere of hip hop’s greatest artists, Piñata also marked a new phase in Madlib’s career. By 2014, the legendary producer had already amassed a discography of some of hip hop’s greatest collaborations, including his work with Lootpack, J Dilla, Talib Kweli, Strong Arm Steady, and of course, Madvillainy with MF DOOM. He had also ventured into jazz and other genres with his instrumental tapes and released rap albums under the Quasimoto alias.
By working with Freddie Gibbs, Madlib unlocked a new vein of hip-hop that he had not yet tapped into. His vintage, soulful, and off-kilter production sounded fresher than ever with the help of Gibbs and his guests. Piñata set up Madlib to make sizable contributions to hip hop’s new wave of emerging underground talent. He went on to produce for the likes of Your Old Droog, Wiki, Mach-Hommy, and Westside Gunn. The album also expanded his reach beyond the underground, landing credits on albums from Kanye West, Tyler, The Creator and Anderson .Paak.
Piñata Set The Bar For Freddie Gibbs and Madlib’s Future Works
Ten years later, Piñata has a legacy of its own. It set the bar incredibly high for Freddie Gibbs and Madlib’s future works, especially their subsequent collaborations. Though Freddie’s efforts with The Alchemist naturally garnered comparisons to his projects with Madlib, Pinata is the epitome of his peak creativity. On the other hand, the album joined Madlib’s most legendary collabs like Madvillainy and Champion Sound as an indisputable classic. It also set the stage for his future works with Blu, MED, Oh No, and Black Star. Even more than their future works as individuals, Piñata became the standard for Freddie Gibbs and Madlib’s future collaborations as a duo.
With an even larger following and major label support, they unleashed Bandana in 2019 via RCA. It was a worthy successor to their debut, displaying that Gibbs and Madlib are strongest together. Piñata remains a landmark release in hip hop’s modern era, with Freddie Gibbs and Madlib celebrating its 10th anniversary with “Teñata” shows in Boston, New York, and Chicago. Hopefully, they continue their collaborative winning streak with Montana, the supposed third and final album in a trilogy.
Two of some of the most well-respected names in all of hip-hop, Talib Kweli and Madlib, are here with a “new single” “One For Biz.” We say “new single” because this song was actually released last year for the rapper and producer’s sequel record Liberation 2. Talib Kweli and Madlib made “One For Biz” as a tribute to the late and great Biz Markie. Their way of paying homage to the legend was through Q-Tip’s chorus.
Q put a spin on “Nobody Beats the Biz,” and it has been a popular track off of Liberation 2 ever since. The album got a release on a platform called Luminary, which is a subscription-based podcast network, according to HipHopDX. Talib Kweli, and everyone else here does a great job. Madlib especially gets a nod for his terrific and irresistible piano beat.
Listen To “One For Biz” By Talib Kweli, Madlib, Wildchild, & Q-Tip
After the song’s release, it would go on to receive a music video a couple of months ago, which you can find above. The reason we wanted to cover this cut is because it finally got a mainstream streaming release. Nothing is different about the song, but for fans who were wanting more accessibility to it, you get it now. Be sure to support the standout collaboration.
What are your thoughts on this “brand-new single,” “One For Biz,” by Talib Kweli, Madlib, Wildchild, and Q-Tip? Have you had a chance to listen to Liberation 2? What is your favorite element of the song and why? Who had the best performance on the track? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Talib Kweli, Madlib, Wildchild, and Q-Tip. Finally, stay with us for everything the most informative song posts throughout the week.
Quotable Lyrics:
Otis make the music Dakota’s holding for ransom I’m out of my cocoon like I’m doomed, doing accordion bare feet stomping the ground like Zulu warriors Sound f*** around it’s your favorite MC It’s the original Talib Kweli I’m confident never cocky I promise I’m never running, forever clever and cunning Just here to let you know, you get punched in the face the Bismarck taught me how to rock a show, as long as you know
