Madvillainy sees both DOOM and Madlib at their most inventive. Often rapping in third person, DOOM develops his own character, stringing together clever bars about his villainous deeds and life as a “ruthless mass conqueror.” Yet we get moments of introspection peppered throughout tracks, concerning mental illness, drug addiction and bad habits that keep DOOM in a cycle of perpetual wrongdoings. By the end of the project, the masked man staring back at you on the cover of Madvillainy seems tangible, a real-life villain living in our world.
Digging into the deepest caves and crevices of soul and jazz, Madlib produces the most imaginative beats of his illustrious career on Madvillainy. While working on the project, Madlib travelled to Brazil to hunt for loops he could utilize in samples. Sifting through mom-and-pop record shops in Sao Paulo, Madlib bought multiple crates of soul, jazz, Brazilian and Indian records. His unique sampling and use of audio clips from 1940’s movies like “Frankenstein” gives Madvillainy its inimitable quality of production. “Accordion” remains one of the most recognizable and unique beats in hip-hop history. The hard baselines that grace “Meat Grinder” represents the essence of Madvillainy; a godly and iconic rhyme scheme from DOOM and a multi-sample masterpiece of a beat that gives the project its grimey, ominous tone. With more stunning production on “Raid,” “All Caps,” and “Rhinestone Cowboy,” Madvillainy shows one of the best producers in hip-hop history in rare form.
