Madlib

Pusha T Reveals What Went Down With His Madlib-Produced Album

by
Pusha T 2022 'It's Almost Dry' listening session
Getty Image

Just a couple of days ago, Pusha T released his long-awaited fourth album It’s Almost Dry. It’s a 12-track effort filled with his trademark cocaine bars backed by appearances from Kanye West, Jay-Z, Pharrell, Kid Cudi, Lil Uzi Vert, Nigo, Labrinth, and Malice. The project was also heavily produced by Kanye West and Pharrell with additional help from Labrinth, 88-Keys, BoogzDaBeast, and more. So far, It’s Almost Dry has been met with favorable reviews from listeners as it appears that Pusha has elevated his game since his 2018 album Daytona.

The arrival of It’s Almost Dry has also made some question the whereabouts of Pusha’s Madlib-produced album which he’s teased on a few occasions. During the inaugural episode of Amp’s It’s Almost Dry Radio with Idea Generation’s Noah Callahan-Bever and his longtime manager Steven Victor, Pusha gave an honest answer about that project.

“I was definitely going to work with Madlib,” he said according to Complex. “I got some beats and they were actually chops from him. I just think he’s really dope at finding ill sounds and ill chops, and things of that nature.” He added, “But at the same time, it was feeling like a beat tape situation. I felt like to step it up I had to be produced — to step it up from Daytona.”

Pusha continued, “When you think about Daytona, it’s just beats and hard raps. I wasn’t produced. The structure of Kanye West you know, taking these things out or whatever the case may be. Honestly, it was just that. It’s Almost Dry is an exercise, definitely on the Pharrell side, in being produced.”

Maybe Pusha and Madlib can get on the same page at some point in the future, especially since Pusha said it was a “bucket list thing” for him to craft an album with Madlib.

It’s Almost Dry is out now via GOOD Music and Def Jam. You can stream it here.

Lil Uzi Vert is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Black Star Share The Madlib-Produced Single ‘Mineral Mountain’ Featuring Black Thought

by
Black Star New Album
Getty Image

Last week, Talib Kweli and Yasiin Bey announced that their seminal hip-hop supergroup, Black Star, would be returning with their first new album since 1998’s cult classic, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star. Dubbed No Fear Of Time and due out on May 3rd, the new album sees Madlib stepping in as the producer and now, the lead single, “Mineral Mountain” featuring Black Thought, has just premiered via Kweli and Bey’s Luminary Podcasts show that they co-host with Dave Chappelle, The Midnight Miracle.

If this seems like an unusual way to premiere a single, it’s because it’s in line with the unique way in which No Fear Of Time is being released. The album will be out exclusively on the Luminary network, which is also where Kweli hosts the Uproxx-produced People’s Party With Talib Kweli.

As for the new track, you’ll have to hop on Luminary to hear it in full, but an Instagram user has uploaded a couple of previews. On the first one, Bey unleashes a verbal assault over punishing drums and distorted strings from Madlib:

The second clip sees the trio joining forces over intergalactic effects and those same silky drums from Madlib:

Kweli has said that the ethos behind making the music for No Fear Of Time is no different than the first time around when Black Star dropped a classic, but that for the new album, the recording locations were more fluid. “This entire album, we have not set foot in one recording studio,” Kweli said in a statement. “It’s all been done in hotel rooms and backstage at Dave Chappelle shows.”

No Fear Of Time comes out 05/03 via Luminary. Get details here.

Go-To Producers Are Crafting These Rappers’ Signature Sound

by
Take a look at these lauded pairings of rappers and producers, and the impactful music they created together that will inspire generations to come. Continue reading…

Fly Anakin Announces His Debut Album With The Madlib-Produced Single, ‘No Dough’

by

Last year, Richmond, Virginia rapper Fly Anakin delivered three projects. He kicked things off with the EP Smokebreak alongside Pink Siifu. Then followed a deluxe edition of his 2020 release FlySiifu’s, which also featured work with Pink Siifu. Finally, he released the seven-track EP Pixote. With a new year ahead of him, Anakin is back in action with new music and an exciting announcement.

On March 11, Anakin will release his debut album Frank and today he shared its first single, “No Dough,” which finds him rapping for a little under two minutes about the importance of keeping a steady income, all with production from Madlib. Frank, which Anakin joked is his “fourth debut album,” will arrive with 17 songs and contributions from Henny L.O., Pink Siifu, Billz Egypt, Nickelus F, and Big Kahuna OG.

You can view the artwork for Frank above and its tracklist below.

01. “Love Song” (Come Back)
02. “Dontbeafraid” Feat. Henny L.O.
03. “Sean Price”
04. “Underdog Theme”
05. “Kenneth Cole Collections” (Skit)
06. “WaxPoetic”
07. “Black Be The Source” Feat. Pink Siifu and Billz Egypt
08. “Ghost” Feat. Nickelus F
09. “Class Clown (Interlude)”
10. “Bread (Skit)”
11. “No Dough”
12. “Grammy Snubnose”
13. “Bad Business (Killswitch)”
14. “Poisonous Primates”
15. “Fly Away (Skit)”
16. “Telepathic” Feat. Big Kahuna OG
17. “Bag Man”

Frank is out 3/11 via Lex Records. You can pre-order it on Bandcamp here.