On Jan. 29, Madlib released his latest beat album “Sound Ancestors.” This is the hip-hop producer, DJ, multi-instrumentalist and de facto archivist’s first solo released beat album since 2014. However, on this project, he collaborated with Kieran Hebden, an electronic producer also known as “Four Tet.” Over the past few years, Madlib has been consistently working, creating award winning albums with rappers like Freddie Gibbs and Oh No, among others. His ability to take and flip countless records in his archive from classic pieces into new and inventive ideas that display what his ears hear is exactly what makes him one of the top producers in the industry. That ability is ever present in his latest release, truly solidifying his place at the top.
“Sound Ancestors” is a 41-minute, 16-track album. Most of the tracks are between two and four minutes long. Each track has its own feeling to it, but the unifying sound of Madlib’s work makes for a coherent project. The fade into the album via the first track “There Is No Time – Prelude” sets up a cinematic and eerie feel, which truly draws you into the following track “The Call.” The first beat on the album already pounds hard with a strong drum loop and a groovy bassline. You wouldn’t normally mix groove with a hard and rough beat like this one, but Madlib knows how to chef up something fierce that goes beyond normal music boundaries. The rest of the album continues to showcase Madlib’s sampling skills and his love for interesting vocal samples.
A great example of Madlib’s vocal sample use and interesting placement is my favorite track on the album: “Two for 2 – For Dilla.” He dedicates this track to the late and great J Dilla, a famous producer, whose work was very influential in the industry. Their previous collaborations, like the album “Champion Sound,” are classic. On “Two for 2,” he takes vocals, breaks them apart and arranges them on the beat. This gives the song a vibrant effect, keeping your head bopping and your mind guessing. At the end of the track, he lays down a beautiful soul sample that ties it all together and makes for a track very reminiscent of Dilla’s work.
This album is a fresh return to classic hip-hop beat tapes. If you’re looking for music to study to or even rap over, “Sound Ancestors” is the album for you. I have had this album on repeat and I hope these layered instrumentals secure a similar space in your brain for weeks on end.
