#6 - Ryan & Steve

Madvillain

Madvillainy

2004

“One of America’s two most powerful villains of the next decade is turned loose to strike terror into the hearts of men.” So here it is - our greatest hip hop album of the decade. I have always related well to MF Doom because of his nerdy love for pulp comic books, super heroes, and - most importantly - super villains. Doom’s records never lack the utilization of super hero cartoon voiceovers and Madvillainy is no exception. The other half of Madvillain, Mad Lib, is one of my favorite producers often melding electronic and jazzy elements creating fresh beats with residual time travel particulate. The synergy between these two indie hip hop behemoths is unprecedented as Madlib’s imaginative style with his various personalities (including the jazzy Yesterday’s New Quintet and the completely drugged out Quasimoto) fuses with the masked MC’s own production along with his narrative tongue trickery.

This record breaks down the boundaries of hip hop making it one of the most unconventional rap albums I have ever heard. It cuts out lame R&B choruses, dispatches typical hip hop skits, maintains a sense of spontaneity, and (heaven forbid!) it stays under the 45 minute mark. One of the most striking things about Madvillainy is the fact that the track lengths make it look like a punk album. The songs are short and sweet and never allow anything to get stale as they cut off and transition unexpectedly. Ultimately, when you go to listen to this record, try to avoid expecting a hip hop album because Madvillain has crafted something wholly unique and set apart from convention. -R.C.

Believe the hype. Madvillainy is a tour de force of a record in which Madlib’s beats and MF Doom’s lyrics come together like a princess who’s just found Prince Charming. I have never been a big fan of Doom’s flow; I often find it somewhat boring due to his monotonous tone. But on this album his lyrics are so good he could have tracheal cancer and would still sound great. The best underground rap album I’ve ever heard! - Phil