Pressure drop

>> Madlib and the Lootpack make a run for the border for the release of Under Pressure’s Up North Trip

by SCOTT C

Never let anyone tell you that the world of underground hip hop isn’t ripe with its share of copycats, clones and unimaginative producers. Even the world of independent rap isn’t safe from people who skimp on just about everything so they can try to get a name out there. One name, though, that has been surfacing again and again on the lips of dedicated heads, and whose unique style of production has brought him comparisons to the holy trinity (Pete Rock, Premier and Large Professor), is L.A.’s Madlib.

Born Otis Jackson Jr., Madlib was discovered by Peanut Butter Wolf and quickly signed to Stones Throw Records, doing double duty as a producer and an MC. The formation of Lootpack soon followed, with several now classic singles and their debut LP, The Antidote. Next came the creation of his bugged-out, high-pitched alter ego Quasimoto, whose album The Unseen brought even more attention to the growing production arsenal that Madlib had in store.

Perhaps the latest and greatest acclaim to be thrown his way came upon the release of his Yesterdays New Quintet project, released on Stones Throw last year. It was here that listeners got a chance to delve into the Madlib’s love of jazz and his interpretation of the artform that shapes the backbone of many of his productions. Even more amazing is that this lush instrumental banger featured Madlib playing everything from the drums to the Fender Rhodes keyboard, while naturally blessing the tracks with his signature drum programming.

With all sorts of doors opening up to him these days, it’s no surprise that he’s busy. The Mirror got in touch with Madlib while he was on the road with Lootpack, in anticipation of their set at the launch of the Up North Trip anthology CD.

Mirror: Who are some of the people that have approached you for remixes and collaborations?

Madlib: It started with people like Zion I and J-88, but lately I’ve been doing appearances and remixes all over the board. I rapped with Quasimoto on the Beatless album, and on a Trevor Jackson remix. Oh, and I’m on a King Britt song that’s coming out in a little while. Then, because of my YNQ stuff, I did remixes for Bilal and Zero 7. I also did remixes for people like RES, Glenn Lewis and Jill Scott, but I really don’t know if they’ll ever come out. And on the hip hop tip, man, I’ve been working with a lot of folks. I’m hooking up A-Trak’s group Obscure Disorder with one of my newer beats.

M: I was pleasantly surprised to hear that you’re a big fan of Kaidi Tatham from Bugz in the Attic. You guys share an ability to play all sorts of instruments, but is that whole West London nu-jazz scene something that you’re into?

ML: That shit is real funky. Like that one Afronaught track, “Transcend Me.” I recognized those drums—Weather Report. I’d used them too. It’s a real bugged-out music, but dope. All chopped up. A lot of people who are into that scene have been coming up to me and telling me that they dig YNQ. That’s dope too. I just did a remix for my man DJ Rells, he’s on some nu-jazz shit. Hooked him up lovely, you gotta peep for his 12.”

M: Is Lootpack ready to put out some new stuff? It’s been a while and you know people are hungry.

ML: We’re on a little break right now. Wildchild is working on his solo album, DJ Romes is making his battle records and spinning out, and I’m doing YNQ, Quas and some other shit like that.

Quasi-motivated

M: On scales of one to 10, what would you rate yourself as a producer, as a DJ and as an MC, and why?

ML: Well, I was a DJ first, and that’s how I got into all of this. I’m a wild DJ, though. I don’t necessarily do things with the audience in mind! I go astro-travelling. So I might give myself a five as a DJ. As a producer, I’m better, but I’m not sure how to rate myself, or who to compare myself to. I like rapping the least, so I guess I’d have to put that aspect of my musical character below the DJing.

M: When you do Quasimoto tracks live, how does that work if you’re supposed to be rapping both your verses and his?

ML: I don’t really do Quas songs live. Every once in a while, we’ll bust a cut from the album that doesn’t have Quas featured too prominently. He’s a hard guy to match! I don’t know if you saw it on the Stones Throw Web site, but there’s been an imposter going around acting like Quas at shows. Not me, though!

M: Lastly, what records are you digging for right now that you’re having a hard time tracking down?

ML: When I go buy records—you can ask anyone in my crew—I just buy some shit that looks ill. I don’t even listen to that shit when I’m out there buying it. I like to surprise myself when I get home. But I’m always looking for the classic records I’m missing, some shit on Black Jazz, Sun Ra and all that. I remember Montreal, I was up there with Breakestra when their album came out. I went digging with A-Trak, he took me to some tight spots.

I smell homegrown!

Madlib will have a chance to revisit those spots this weekend, as he and Lootpack’s Wildchild and DJ Romes roll into town to headline, oddly, the launch of a purely Canuck hip hop comp.

While the search for the quintessential compilation of Canadian hip hop basically stops before it begins, the people over at Urban X-Pressions have decided to take a stab at representing our own hip hop from coast to coast on their new compilation, Up North Trip. You remember them from their annual tip of the hat to hip hop culture, showcasing graf writers, b-boys, MCs and DJs from all around the world, and their Montreal-based magazine Under Pressure that’s creeping on to shelves everywhere. But you never knew they were getting’ into the music game, did you? This Saturday, you can catch some of the talent from the brand new CD (which will be included gratis with the new issue #6 of the mag) when they perform at the launch party.

I spoke to co-producer D-Shade (also of Shades of Culture) who, along with the mighty Seaz, made sure that this project and all the artists on it got a chance to be heard.

Mirror: So tell me how all of this came about, man.

D-Shade: We just agreed that Canadian hip hop needed to be recognized more than it had been. The main focus should be spread out all over Canada, because there are great acts everywhere.

M: Where do you think the focus has been?

D: A lot of it has been on Toronto, and it was in Vancouver for a minute, but it seems to centralize in and around Toronto. Swollen Members are one group from Vancouver, but there are so many other groups who deserve to be heard down there. We got in contact with a lot of people I had met while on tour across Canada, and a lot of people that we met through the Under Pressure event in the summer, and through them we were able to get in touch with the people we needed to hear.

M: Who’s on it from Montreal?

D: We got Obscure Disorder for a track, and we got A-Trak to do the intro. You’ve got me and Simahlak doing “Do the Math pt.II,” Northern Lights and John Doe. Oh yeah, Heat is on there too.

Langue low

M: Who’s Heat again?

D: That’s Chuckie. Chuck Ice.

M: Oh yeah. Old school. Speaking of old school, what’s your take on the apparent lull in anglo hip hop in Montreal, as someone who’s been up to their eyes in it forever?

D: I think that a lot of English groups get discouraged from doing anything here. For a while it was only French labels dealing with French acts, as opposed to a label that would deal with both. That’s our strength! That’s what would have us stand out in the two biggest hip hop markets in the world, France and the U.S., and we have it all here. Nobody really stops to think that creating a label with two divisions, one English and one French, can work together for different projects. It even gets worse, because now there are French labels that have one artist and decide they want to start doing shows. Instead of building a healthy roster, they get into promoting that one artist. So yeah, it’s a bit discouraging in some people’s eyes, but you know we don’t stop for anybody. The more we keep on, the further across the world we get as far as contacts and getting our music out there go.

M: The dual division thing is a good idea. Why don’t you do it?

D: Well, if I had the proper capital and backing, I would build something. This compilation is only the intro. Like, the X-Men movie is only the beginning of a long line of X-Men sequels. The groundwork is laid, people know who the characters are from Halifax to Vancouver and everything in between, and when people get a taste and see where you’re coming from, you’ve got to make your next move and show them things in another light. It’s from that point that you build. :

Lootpack, Declaime, D-Shade & Simahlak, Sixtoo, Audio Research All-Stars, Northern Lights and more are at the CD launch at SAT on Saturday, April 13, 9pm, $10