Madlib's first interview since 2006 !!

"Interviews are my least favorite thing to do," says Madlib. So getting on the cover of LA Weekly must have been a major bummer!

The three-page article writes-up the prolific (I counted 12 aliases), blunt-smoking (Lucas Valley OG) hip hop artist best known as Madlib. At times you get lost in the fanboy references which makes the article semi-intelligible, but you do get inside of Madlib's mind to examine his drive, creativity  and can-do attitude (he taught himself the Fender Rhodes, upright bass and vibraphone!)

" 'The equipment doesn't matter, it's the vibe you put into it. If music sounds good, music sounds good,' he says, so secure in his gifts that there is only objectivity. It's a brilliance that defies intellectualization: There is no formula, and attempting to divine causal relationships is futile..."

Jaylib Madlib's connection with J Dilla is oft mentioned, but to hear him speak about that makes you want to study the beat tapes more closely:

"Dilla was a John Coltrane–type dude. He was always on a higher level than me. He inspired my music to become looser and more soulful. If you look at our beat tapes, you can see when I went in his direction, and when he went in mine."

Champion Sound There's no way to classify Madlib's sound. He's recorded under at least 12 nom de plumes and, by the sounds of it, he's got more to come. The rumor is that he's got beats on Kanye West's next album!

" 'I do it for myself and for like-minded people. Half the time I don't know why I make what I do.' He flashes a Loki-like smirk. 'I'd do this if no one was listening. I'm stuck. I've got the curse.' "

  Madlib-headlock by talpas

Read the full article here at LA Weekly.