Madlib has built his career with sample-heavy productions. In an interview on BBC Radio One, Madlib addressed digging in the crates for records with another sample-based producer, J Dilla.
“I’ve seen him on his last days,” said Madlib of the late producer. “Digging for records and finding everything we wanted to find. He had to go out and sit in the car ’cause he was too sick. When he would come back he would find these records that we wanted. Then he would go out and sit out for a while. That’s how deep he was in the music. Even when he was sick, he still had it.”
Madlib also spoke about the official sequel to his heralded project with MF DOOM, Madvillany. “Right now it’s up to DOOM,” said Madlib. “He’s not obligated to do it, he just does it when he feels it. I know how he feels, you have to do it when you feel it. You can’t just do anything at anytime when somebody tells you to do it. You have to do it on your terms. We’ve recorded about 10, 12 songs but usually we record about 20 and pick the best one. So we got to wait until we get to that mark.”
Madlib has been a mainstay of Stones Throw Records, an independent music label, for years. Madlib scored “Our Vinyl Weighs A Ton (This Is Stones Throw Records),” a documentary about the label. In recent years, Madlib has collaborated with Freddie Gibbs and Roc Marciano, among others.
J Dilla passed away in 2006 from a blood disease, and left behind a storied legacy as a producer and an emcee. A Detroit icon, and was a member of the group Slum Village.
J Dilla was known for his production for Common, Busta Rhymes, and a slew of other acts.
