Madvillainy

Interesting experimentation with hip hop, fearless use of the accordion, and all the tracks are fairly short, like he's sampling the creativity of his own brain. But so many ideas flowing that he will make interesting transitions mid track.

How is this not on the main list? I'm assuming it's probably because the curators are white European dudes unfortunately. This is one of the greatest rap albums in history. Madlib's beats are impeccable as always and it features some of DOOM's best raps.

Madvillainy is genuinely pleasant to sit with, DOOM's flow and Madlib's dusty, sample-heavy production make for a great listen even before you've caught everything going on lyrically.

I'll admit I'm not the most versed judge of hip hop, and with English not being my first language, dense wordplay like this takes more than a couple of listens to fully land. What I can say after two is that the flow is excellent and the sample base is genuinely good throughout.

I'll be returning to this one to listen more closely to the lyrics. For now, judged on sound and flow alone, this earns its reputation.

3.5

I know this is hip hop insider darling, but it just doesn't hit for me. I guess I'm just not a hip hop fan.

Favourite songs: All Caps, Fancy Clown, Money Folder, Stakes (Supervillain Theme), Great Day, Figaro, Shadows of Tomorrow, Curls, Raid

Least favourite songs: The Illest Villains, Rainbows, Operation Lifesaver aka Mint Test

3/5

Not even MF DOOM's best project and it's STILL a five star. Madlib creates some utterly insane beats that seem like they'd be impossible to rap over, and yet DOOM handles them with eaze. Fantastic wordplay, great storytelling, and just plain intoxicating, this album isn't even DOOM's best project (IMO) but it deserves all the praise in the world.

Missed out on this, but it really feels like it was so important. Reminds me of the Avalanches in its use of samples, or Todd Rundgren in its ADHD-like refusal to sit still and settle on anything for too long, or maybe more experimental EDM like Boards of Canada or Oneohtrixpointnever. But the lyricism here is what really holds it together and elevates it; sort of like Kanye’s evil twin (debatable). "AllCaps" is so good.

I love this fucking album. The sampling is so atmospheric and the DOOM's flow is so natural.

MF DOOM having a hell of a year in 2004. It was fun to listen to him on something where the production was less gonzo than "Mm..Food," but I also think I liked the gonzo stuff more.

MF Doom! And madlib, of course! A classic of alt hip-hop, with more characters than some movies!
This needs to be heard more widely, if only so folks know how talented Doom was.

Yep a hip hop masterpiece that’s clearly missing from the original list.

This should absolutely be on the list. It is more deserving than half the selections from 2004 at the very least. Shit, even the old fogeys at Rolling Stone put this in their top 500. Get with it Dimery.