Madvillainy

This album is so important to me. Back in early high school, I was a "rock is the only REAL music" kid. Electronic music was just dumb bleeps made by computers, and rap wasn't real art. The journey away from that began with Gorillaz Demon Days, which featured MF DOOM on a track. I was intrigued for many reasons, but primarily because it actually seemed like thought was put into his flows and rhymes, unlike the rap I was being exposed to (Flo Rida, Pitbull, and the like). I googled what was his best record, and spun this bad boy. My mind was blown. I didn't even really LIKE it yet, it was so far outside my usual taste. But I couldn't deny that there was true thought and artistry put into every dense rhyme, double entedre, and off-kilter beat in here. It started me down a journey of wider musical horizons that never would have been possible otherwise. RIP MF DOOM

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.

MF DOOM, just remember all caps when you spell the man's name.

RIP MF Doom. An excellent addition to the list, very fitting to include one of the most important rappers of the modern era, with excellent production backing him up.

The second-time-around to this duo comes at the same time as a similar visit to bebop. Appropriate, but comic book colors are something easier to describe. Madvillain sidesteps the pitfalls of DOOM's supervillain shtick by jumping forward a few generations. That is, there's no linear narrative, just panels as form, a kind of post-post-anti-shtick. Character still totally there. And dipping back into jazz, as the sampler does deftly, Madvillainy is more bebop than name-dropped Sun Ra, words and songs following each other less than nesting inside one another. The album's legendary: It's easy enough to pick out the well-known lines. But pay attention to the arrival deeper and deeper over the course of the listen.

Hands down one of the best albums of all time. When this popped up I was a little confused. SURELY this was on the actual 1,001 list already? It HAD to be! If there was room for 273 mediocre post-punk albums by Scottish 1-hit-wonders, then there must be room for Madvillain?!? Oh well. Now it's here, thanks to another real one who put in the work.

Always have to give it up for MF Doom

Iconic album 00s cover. Surprised this wasn't on the main list to be honest. Overall this is the type of hip-hop I'm into: esoteric sampling, dense lyrics, odd song structures.

L'album est juste malade pour être franc. On s'arrête pour écouter de temps en temps et ca juste pas de sens. 5

No clue if this "deserves" a 10 based on how I've rated past albums. This album has plenty of flaws, oddball moments, intermissions, and all sorts of stuff that make it a singular listening experience. But I always come back to it. And for that reason, I think it earns its score. 10/10

This album has gotten a lot of love on various lists but I don't get it. The beats and lyrics are pretty run of the mill to me.

Hated some songs, like 'Rainbows'. Could tolerate some others. This is not an album for me

It's alright for what it is, but not a type of music I enjoy much. 2 stars.

Not into rap music at all

hell yeah, love this album

DOOM fan going a long way back (thanks to my brother, as is the case with almost all my hip hop exposure), but I'd actually only heard bits and pieces of this. The density and intricacy of lyrics makes it a tough nut to crack without repeated listening as usual but great regardless.

It said I didn't listen to this, but I did! It's average rap but mixed with sorta Tarantino soundtrack tunes. Wasn't really my thing but could've been way worse. 3/5.

I even had to check. I could have sworn that this album was on the 1001 list. Not that I was ever a big fan, but I'm very surprised that it's not there, given all the relevance and reverence it has achieved since it was released

5/10. Some of the ways they mixed sounds reminded me a more of The Avalanches' album from the main list than most hip-hop. And, like with that album, I thought this one was memorable and worthy and a good submission and whatnot, but not that enjoyable for me to listen to, personally.

Not bad at all!

It's always hit and miss with rap/hiphop acts, but in this case I thought was pretty cool! Especially because of the creative beats and samples and sophisticated raps, this turned out pretty nice!

This album is very deserving of being on the list. MF DOOM is always a great listen and his collaboration with Madlib is no different. The beats are fantastic with a heavy jazz and experimental influence. The comic book like narrative works well and I was so intrigued with the album that I immediately started it over for a second listen.

This was my first choice of albums to add to the user list but somebody else beat me to it. How one of the ingenious and creative rap albums of all time didn’t make it in the original list I will not know but this album is amazing. The production mixed with MF DOOMs lyrics make this album like a rap version of kind of blue. It’s so well done and innovative that nothing compares to it. RIP DOOM 9.3/10

Is this where I write about that Deep Purple live album instead? Top 5 hip hop album of all time, no debate. 5/5

Surprisingly good. Not my go-to genre, so I go into an album like this with a bit of prejudice because I think I'm not going to like it. Happy to be wrong. Never heard of them or MF DOOM (RIP). Thanks for introducing me! 4/5

Solid. I felt cool listening to it

Living off borrowed time…

Doritos Cheetos and fritos

One of the rap albums that was missing on the original list. What's not to like about MF Doom music.

How was this not on the original list

Absolutely deserves to be on the list and is one album along with stuff like daft punks discovery whose exclusion undermines the credibility of the list in general. It had cultural impact, is a unique hip hop album in basically every aspect, and objectively rocks. I don’t even personally love this album but I can acknowledge how good it is.

The book list has several UK rappers of low quality. I wondered how they could possibly ignore the great MF DOOM (all caps when you spell his name) I'm glad that someone corrected that mistake. Its nice to see one of my all-time favorite rappers and seeing him get some love.

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

One of the most innovative hip-hop albums of all time. Madlib’s production is remarkable, the supervillain concept is really fun and perfectly executed, and Doom’s rhyme schemes, delivery and lyrics are second to none. Possibly the biggest snub from the original 1001 albums list

A necessary correction to the original list

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.

JUST REMEMBER ALL CAPS WHEN YOU SPELL THE MAN'S NAME. RIP DOOM.

Another of the journey of discovery things. First thought was that this MF has obviously heard MF DOOM, but doing a bit of reading up, it actually is MF DOOM. What a delight! This is better than MM FOOD but still has that sight tryhardism with the comic book, B movie schtick.

This was one of the albums I wanted to put forward as my own suggestion and sure enough it was one of the first albums suggested anyway.... Quite simply a work of twisted genius- it should be on the main list and I'm sure eventually will be. I love the lyricism and patter of the rap - it just flows and is so dense it takes a few pays to start to sink in. The production spot on- constantly changing. How on Earth did he manage to pull all this together? Did I say this was Genius? A Mad Genius.

There’s the DOOM. That was amazing. Silky and silly flow with unique and wacky beats. I can see how this launched hip-hop into the new millennium. It’s simply a shame that it didn’t get enough love when it dropped. DOOM was a consummate wordsmith. I don’t think I will ever tire of checking out the lyric sheet of this album. Rest in Power.

I said on the other MF Doom album that hip hop was done poorly. This is another example. This is so fucking good. I love the jazz sampling and the lo-fi beats. This album vibes hard. My personal rating: 5/5 My rating relative to the list: 5/5 Should this have been included on the original list? Strong yes.

Yesterday, I had *Mm.. Food* to review, and today, this is *Madvillainy*'s turn! What are the odds, right? My little pinky tells me this can't be a coincidence. Either this generator is set to make the two MF DOOM entries in the users' list follow one another, or someone is closely following my progression... Like, maybe, an overarching presence behind a comic book villain's mask, ready to let a sardonic laugh come out of his mouth. Am I getting paranoid here? You tell me. Oddly enough, I might have less things to say about this album than *Mm.. Food*. There are even days where I prefer the latter's livelier and more extravagant moods to the far stranger ones of *Madvillainy*, to be honest. Yet *Madvillainy* exudes with a very special aura that makes it precious. And a lot of it comes from the perfect symmetry between Madlib's minimal, ascetic production and the very arcane lyrics of the American rapper -- here served with an economical yet masterful flow suggesting both mathematical precision and unbridled creativity. No hooks. No choruses. Just a mad stream of consciousness that jumps from one relatively short track to the next, like a flipper ball tossed around by an army of tiny bumpers, never letting gravity do its normal work. The album is not 100% perfect by any means (and neither is *Mm.. Food*, by the way). A couple of cuts not putting Doom's talents to the forefront (like "Eye", sung by an obscure vocalist on the second side) could have been left on the cutting room's floor without changing the whole deal. But when MF Doom shines on this one, it's just dazzling. Apart from a rare straightforward song such as "Strange Ways", free association indeed reigns supreme in this feast of alliterations and hemp-soaked hallucinations. And the imagery here is dense like the cloud of marijuana smoke that followed Doom wherever he went, in keeping with the equally hypnotic curves of the music. The constant play-on-words, the non-sequiturs, the surrealistic touches... I'm pretty fluent in English, but I have to admit that trying to follow those lyrics even gets frustrating at times for a guy like me, who's not a native speaker. But it's*never* boring. And it still feels fresh today. Just like Madlib's best cuts on a purely musical level ("Accordion", "Meat Grinder", "Raid"...)... And when the two men are at the absolute top of their game at the exact same moment, you simply get the stuff of hip hop legend. It's "Figaro", a two-minute miracle turning Doom into a sort of Mozart of the rap mic, conveying the same sort of seemingly effortless talent as the old Austrian composer -- actually requiring gargantuan skills. Or it's *ALL CAPS" and its anthemic nature without ever a sing-along or a hook in it. No, *Madvillainy* is not a 100% perfect rap album. But it's probably the best "imperfect" rap album of all times -- instinctual and inexhaustible, difficult and accessible, high-brow and laid-back, simple yet complex, everything all at once and everything a hip hop head has ever dreamed of -- without necessarily remembering the dream the next morning. A mystery hiding in an enigma, just like the best comic book villains out there. 4.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 5. 9.5/10 for more general purposes (5+4.5) Number of albums from the original list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 465 Albums from the original list I *might* include in mine later on: 288 Albums from the original list I won't include in mine: 336 ---- Number of albums from the users list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 22 (including this one) Albums from the users list I *might* select for mine later on: 34 Albums from the users list I won't select for mine: 64 --- Émile, j'ai donc lu tes deux dernières réponses. Je mets la mienne ci-dessous bientôt. 🙂

This should’ve been on the original list for sure.

A *glaring* omission from the original list. I remember buying this when it came out in 2004 and thinking after the first listen that it was a classic record. You could tell it was something special and my mind hasn’t changed on it in the 21 years since. Madlib and DOOM were already in a class of their own. Together, Madvillian is unstoppable. One of the greatest hip hop albums of all time, easy.

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

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 was honestly surprised this wasn’t on 1001 I mean, if MBDTF could be on here, then this sure needs to be! and this is a million times better! one of my alltime favorite rap albums :)

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.

This is one of those albums that I think requires you to pay a bit more attention than many of the albums on this list. The music is great and it's easy to enjoy, and MF DOOM's rapping is solid throughout, but I feel like it's one of those albums that I get more out of the more I listen to it. It's not exactly the record to throw on if you want a dance party, but if you want a hip-hop album to really dissect because it runs deep, this shit is always right here for you 5/5

This is one of the best rappers of all time operating at his creative peak. Paired with a producer who is able to seamlessly enhance his iconic style, you get one of the best hip-hop albums of all time. Lyrics, production, flow, songwriting. All perfection. There ain't a damn thing wrong with this album. Fantastic shit start to finish. Love this. 5/5

Really should have been on the list already 4

Something you appreciate rather than really groove out to.

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Accordion, Meat grinder, Figaro, Strange ways, All caps

Not much additional to say about this one. The beats are great, the lyrical skill is clear, and the length is solid. Needs more study, I think. Favorite tracks: "All Caps", "Raid", "Accordion"

I really liked this.

Yeah this was a really solid listen. New to me but I could totally listen again. It was definitely the kind of rap I can get on board with it. Just cool

Not my favorite Doom, but my first Doom. Awesome.

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.

He was a very creative and a unique rapper. I just discovered him recently and listened to his mmmm food album quite a bit. A very talented rapper gone too young.

Awesome album

Even though it is not precisely one of my favorites of all time, I can recognize something important when I see it.

This would be more with less jokiness. This and Wu Tang-Clan’s Kung Fu narratives at times seem like prog rock alternative world building – and just tediously Manichean. Otherwise, this is quite good, with intriguingly offbeat and surprisingly different beds and beats (more hip-hop records should sample accordions). That there is an instrumental version of this record speaks volumes about where the strength lies here, though the controlled, talky flows often work well (and also sound original). “Raid” and “Curls” are among the standouts, but the whole mosaic works well. One’s down with many of the samples, including Bill Evans, Sun Ra and Joe Tex. As a “touchstone of lofi hip-hop” not sure how editors miss this, which could reasonably supplant a half-dozen of the hip-hop albums on list proper.

I never really got into MF DOOM, I’m glad I got this over the weekend so I had a chance to really dig into it. OK, so lyrically he’s maybe the best ever. He’s got a huge vocab and he seems to effortlessly make all kinds of ridiculous things rhyme. But that’s where he ends for me. I find his flow, his tone and the production on this boring. Very monotone, no hooks and messy beats. Glad I had the chance to listen - I kind of get it now - but I’ve not been converted to a fan (probably just not stoned enough these days tbf).

Been meaning to listen to this one for a while, and it (mostly) didn’t disappoint. Madlib’s bars flow over MF DOOM’s tapestry-like beats, the airtight production meaning not a single note, sample, or beat goes unnoticed. My main complaint here is that I wanted more out of each track – there are some amazing melodies here that get going only to end abruptly right when the flow was hitting. Coupled with the fact there are some 20-30 second expositional samples on a good amount of the songs, it’s almost like the heavy-hitting portions end before they’ve even begun.

Very clever rhyming tongue-twisting word-play. Not altogether my thing, but kudos to the rhyming and assonance.

It was pretty good. The beats were good. The lyrics were alright. I was somewhat familiar with his music. I would listen to parts again.

I am happy to have listened to what I hear is the greatest rap album of all time. Thank you.

Another theatrical hip hop album. This one is characterised by an Avalanches style mix of samples forming sound collages evocative of a classic superhero movie. It was good, but wore a little thin by the end. Rating: 2.5 Playlist track: Rhinestone Cowboy Date listened: 19/09/24

Good. Nothing special, but good

Musically, this was pretty fantastic. Quirky and twisted in the best way, with some really creative uses of sampling. Fave Songs: Meat Grinder, Accordion, Eye, Raid, America's Most Blunted, Supervillain Theme, Shadows of Tomorrow

It's got a bit of throwback to it, but ultimately, there's not so much in it. Is the intent to sample anything where "villain" is mentioned?

Alternative hip-hop, jazz rap, experimental hip-hop, psychedelic rap, abstract hip-hop. Ni fu ni fa.

Profane and profound.

Real nice

Solid share, very interesting listen. Didn't super enjoy it but full credit for going some interesting places.

Hip-hop actual sin muchas florituras. Ritmos predecibles y estilo ya visto anteriormente. Escuchable, sin más.

I'm sure that one day MF DOOM will finally click for me, but that day isn't today. This shit is so funny to me. It's literally 40 minutes of MF DOOM rapping: "Uh, I'm a lyrical miracle, I love eating green eggs and ham" and then it transitions to an old sample of a guy going: "Oh man, MF DOOM is so fucking evil, we have to stop him". I get it from a "hip hop album not taking itself seriously" angle. It definitely succeeds at that. It's dumb fun, production's on point, and "All Caps" is a genuine 10/10 song. I absolutely, positively do not see it from a "greatest album of all time" angle. Maybe one day. But yeah, this is a glaring omission.

I've heard a lot of good things about Madvillainy but it doesn't all really work for me. Like in isolation there are some good and interesting beats, MF DOOM is a gifted lyricist with a captivating voice and good flow, but I feel like the production tries too hard to be different and it doesn't come together as well as it could, or as well as some of the best hip hop albums did. The sampling and styling is distracting, just when I get into a zone of focusing on the story through the music there's umpteen interruptions for skits or excerpts and they just don't work for me, it fragments the experience and it's worse for it all imo. A solid 3, I appreciate some of the skill, but the DJing ruins its potential for me.

Seems more like a long radio bit or theatrical performance... more message than music. All in all, somewhat distracting for me and nothing really kept me engaged.

I coped with the MF Doom album but this one was too much, or too little, or whatever.

I can get why someone would like this and put this on the list… but it isn’t for me. It wore me out.

Has it’s moments

I don’t like hip hop but this wasn’t horrible hip hop.

hi

Meh

I know there's a lot of love for MF Doom out there, but not from me. This is so not my bag, man. Not for me. I hate the skits, I hate the DJ-ing... ugh. Nope!

Rubbish