if you're not aware (I know this is The Lesson, but nowadays you just gotta be safe), he's referring to the instrumental version of Madlib's first Quasimoto project, The Unseen.
and yes, it kicks so much ass. even today.
It's been over a decade since The Unseen's release, a record I picked up off pure curiosity. I then went back and bought every single, 12", whatever that was used to promote it. Made all kinds of mixtapes off that stuff (hearing "Discipline '99 Pt. 1" today still makes me think of sitting in traffic during an clear, early morning over the 95/495 Beltway entering Northern Virginia to this day)
while I was a little bummed that the retail version of The Unseen's instrumental collection has an alternate take on "Come On Feet" (the real one is on the 12" I believe), I listened to it, and just was taken aback about how uncompromising Madlib was, and how different his music sounds today.
This is an appreciation post.
Name your favorite, your disliked (if any) tracks... if you actually liked the vocal version or was like "WTF?"
16. "madlib/quas should never ever rap" In response to Reply # 2
------------------------- “The other dude after me didn’t help my case. It was just like…crazy nigga factory going on.” Dre makes no apologies for his own eccentricities. “I was young, and searching, trying to find myself,” he says. “Never did.”-- Andre B
5. "shit is a production clinic" In response to Reply # 0
that era of his sound where it was dusty and staticy but so well pieced together and with a more open/full sound that he rocks now (if that makes sense) was so great, kind of a culmination of what those production techniques had been building to (to me), the lasg big "hey look how fucking great at this beats shit i am" before the transition to the more muffled asthetic of madvillain
________________________________________________________________ whenever you did these things to the least of my brothers you did them to me
6. "Going back to the track I mentioned" In response to Reply # 5
>that era of his sound where it was dusty and staticy but so >well pieced together and with a more open/full sound that he >rocks now (if that makes sense) was so great, kind of a >culmination of what those production techniques had been >building to (to me), the lasg big "hey look how fucking great >at this beats shit i am" before the transition to the more >muffled asthetic of madvillain
"Discipline '99 Pt. 1", the thing that really sells the beat to me is the use of timpani.
I almost felt like you could actually see a band playing that beat with that little touch.
12. "I don't even find the sound of Quas weird at this point" In response to Reply # 0
Actually, he stopped sounding weird to me in 2000 lol. It doesn't even register with me that it's a strange and possibly annoying voice like it does for many/most people.
Anyways, obviously one of my dearest, favorites, trapped on an island MUST have albums of all time, across all genres. Masterful production, perfect use of skits/humorous vocal snippets, and one of the most fully-realized alter-ego characters captured on tape, digital, and/or vinyl. __ I don't like the beat anymore because its just a loop. ALC didn't FLIP IT ENOUGH!
Flip it enough? Flip these. Flip off. Go flip some f*cking burgers.(c)Kno
Allied State of the National Electric Beat Treaty Organization (NEBTO)
13. "Jazz cats is....remarkable" In response to Reply # 0
I think it's my favorite on the album. the subtlety of that collage is exquisite like an ode to Jazz should be I prefer the vocal versions of Astro Travellin', Bad Character, Basic Instinct, Microphone Mathematics, Low Class Conspiracy and a couple others I can't remember
and yes not releasing the instrumental of the Come on feet remix (yes the version with the video was actually the remix) was borderline criminal
the Astro Black beat used to be my favorite but these past couple years I have been a little bothered by that 'kinda cheap' sounding snare. that's one of the things that made me think the biggest influence Jay Dee prolly had on Madlib was on improving his percussions. as we all know he still kept that loose, muffled steez but since he's more than proved he could lay tighter sh!t whenever he chose to put his mind to it
19. "Am I the only one who actually likes Lord Quas?" In response to Reply # 0
I think it's perfect. I really buy into his character and I'm actually very impressed with how well Madlib creates dynamic conversations between the two (especially with the equipment he used to make the unseen.. WOW).
But if the discussion is about the instrumentals, then I'll cosign. I actually think that the unseen, as least on a beats level, is as groundbreaking as Madvillainy. Madlib was showing people how the fuck you use an SP1200 and laughing at you as you try to compete with him. It was certainly an interesting period in the Bad Kid's catalogue.
>I think it's perfect. I really buy into his character and I'm >actually very impressed with how well Madlib creates dynamic >conversations between the two (especially with the equipment >he used to make the unseen.. WOW).
__ I don't like the beat anymore because its just a loop. ALC didn't FLIP IT ENOUGH!
Flip it enough? Flip these. Flip off. Go flip some f*cking burgers.(c)Kno
Allied State of the National Electric Beat Treaty Organization (NEBTO)
21. "ain't gotta tell me twice, LOL" In response to Reply # 19
>I think it's perfect. I really buy into his character and I'm >actually very impressed with how well Madlib creates dynamic >conversations between the two (especially with the equipment >he used to make the unseen.. WOW).
I thought the Quas projects were an appropriate vehicle for Madlib's crazy style.
>But if the discussion is about the instrumentals, then I'll >cosign. I actually think that the unseen, as least on a beats >level, is as groundbreaking as Madvillainy. Madlib was showing >people how the fuck you use an SP1200 and laughing at you as >you try to compete with him. It was certainly an interesting >period in the Bad Kid's catalogue.
Yeah, I felt like that was like Madlib showing off. It was like listening to some mind blowing hard bop jazz sometimes. The second half of "24/7" still catches me off guard.
23. "i didn't realize this album was one of my all-time favorites" In response to Reply # 0
until i looked at my play counts.
i mean if i play something twice as much as any other record, it's gotta be my favorite, right?
probably cuz it fits every mood.
and when listening to the instrumental version, i missed quas. the vox puts it over the top for me. it's just so odd. i thought madlib was just a normal guy, but when i heard this shit i realized he was bugged out. in a good way.
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