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CRUSH ON YOU
Released Jul 31, 2023
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Quick Facts
Born
1973
1973
From
United States of America
United States of America
Journey
Otis Lee Jackson Jr., better known as Madlib, is an American DJ, producer, rapper, and multi-instrumentalist whose adventurous approach to sampling has made him one of hip-hop’s most distinctive and influential creative figures. Raised in Oxnard, California, he emerged professionally through Lootpack, the group he formed with Wildchild and DJ Romes. Lootpack’s 1999 album Soundpieces: Da Antidote! helped establish him within the independent hip-hop scene and began his long association with Stones Throw Records.
Madlib has developed numerous musical identities throughout his career, including Quasimoto, Beat Konducta, Yesterdays New Quintet, and DJ Rels. These aliases have allowed him to explore different musical worlds, from experimental hip-hop and electronic music to jazz and instrumental production. Quasimoto’s The Unseen became one of his best-known early solo projects, while Yesterdays New Quintet provided a foundation for his extensive exploration of jazz.
His most celebrated collaborations include Madvillainy with MF DOOM, Champion Sound with J Dilla, and Piñata and Bandana with Freddie Gibbs. He also created Shades of Blue after gaining access to recordings from the Blue Note archive, reinterpreting classic jazz material through his production style. His later solo work includes Sound Ancestors, a project assembled with Four Tet from hundreds of recordings Madlib supplied over several years.
Madlib’s musical background extends beyond sampling and beat-making. He is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist who has worked across hip-hop, jazz, soul, funk, reggae, electronic music, and other traditions. His father, Otis Jackson Sr., was a soul singer, while his family also included jazz musicians, giving him an early connection to a broad musical environment.
Across more than three decades, Madlib has demonstrated that hip-hop production can operate as composition, experimentation, archival research, and cultural exploration. His extensive catalog and unconventional creative methods have secured his place among the most influential producers and experimental musicians in modern hip-hop.