Broken Beat/Nu Jazz/Nu Soul charts

Review: LA singer-songwriter and producer Georgia Muldrow teams up with prolific beatmaker Madlib for a deeply exciting and experimental soul affair, 'Seeds'. The admixture of Muldrow's singing - which often switches from left, right and phased panning, and is almost never tainted by overt FX beyond that - and Madlib's chopped-up, ultra-loose production produces a sort of cacophony. It reminds us of a contemporary hip-hop version of Sun Ra Arkestra's faux-haphazard sound. Our favourite is 'The Few', on which Muldrow's close 'husfriend' Declaime offers additional production - navigating close relationships is central to the album, but Muldrow brings the chaos all together with careful consideration, vocal delivery and pensive lyrics.

Review: If you like Madlib then you will like this - a new and exclusive 28-track collection of the legendary hip-hop icon's best collaborations. Featuring are the likes of A.G., Guilty Simpson, MED, Oh No and Strong Arm Steady, with Karriem Riggins appearing for a Supreme Team session. There is also a special track taken from the Jaylib-era that was meant to be on a second album which never ended up being released. To finish it off, plenty of Loop Digga instrumentals, as well as some textbook interludes and outerludes also help colour this one and make it such a vivid listen.

Review: Madlib's The Mind Fusion Collection V2 is an essential compilation that showcases the eclectic genius of this prolific producer. Known for his unparalleled versatility, Madlib seamlessly blends a variety of genres, from hip-hop and jazz to funk and soul and this collection offers a deep dive into his innovative soundscapes, featuring rare grooves, obscure samples and masterful beats. Each track is a testament to Madlib's ability to fuse different musical elements into a cohesive, captivating whole. The Mind Fusion Collection V2 is a must-have for fans and newcomers alike and shows off the boundless creativity of one of the scene's most influential figures.

Review: Otis Jackson Jr. aka. Madlib is one of hip-hop's most inspirational producers. With self-produced classic releases under heteronyms like Quasimoto, Madvillain, Jaylib (with the great J Dilla), not to mention Bad Neighbor with Blu and MED, he proves he is in his own lane and is among the best at loop-digging. Madlib once more refuses to disappoint and now delivers a fresh set of heavy bangers on his new release Flying High Instrumentals. LMD (LMNO, MED, and Declaime) provided a solid performance on the vocal version of Flying High with stellar bars throughout; it's only right that BYH provides the beats to vibe to from the sensei himself, Madlib the Bad Kid.

Review: These are two serious legends right here: Madlib the extraordinary beatmaker behind countless seminal albums and collabs and Guilty Simpson the man who has voiced just as many classic records of his own. This limited edition gold vinyl double album version of Before The Verdict: Madlib Medicine Show #1 is considered a prelude to this pair's collaborative album O.J. and has a mix of original cuts as well as remixes from Simpson's own solo debut album Ode to the Ghetto. It's as real and raw as rap gets and features two brief guest appearances from J Dilla and MED.

Review: Talib Kweli and Madlib, two hip-hop heavyweights, have reunited for the highly anticipated Liberation 2, an expansive album exploring themes of revolution, love, and pan-Africanism, all set against Madlib's jazz-infused productions. Featuring collaborations with Q-Tip, Westside Gunn, and Mac Miller, the album is a global call for unity. Its thought-provoking lyrics and raw soundscapes showcase Kweli's enduring influence and Madlib's production prowess, paying homage to the genre's roots while pushing its boundaries. This album has been on many people's list as a potential hip-hop album of the year and we won't be at all surprised if that's where it ends up.

Review: Madlib's back catalogue is one of the most revered in hip-hop and it would be quite interesting to hear a load of jazz cats rework it in their own style. But this essential album from Blue Note is sort of the opposite - the legendary US producer gets access to the vast Blue Note vaults and from that culls his own library and sound and samples and cooks up fresh takes on plenty of classics. As such you will recognise his beats under melodies from the likes of Donald Byrd and Bobbi Humphrey, Ronnie Foster and Bobby Hutcherson. The whole thing has been remastered as part of the Classic Vinyl Edition series so has never sounded better.

Review: Madlib and Karriem Riggins are Jahari Massamba Unit. What started out as a friendship became a collaboration between two guides that push the boundaries of modern music. 'Yhwh Is Love' is their latest full length that has many excited about their joining. 'Stomping Gamay' for example, shows off their flare of fusing a new direction by linking the past. We have yet to hear of a Jamaican jazz fusion labeled genre but this would be the bookmark for the example. 'Massamba Afundance' includes a more Latin flare to things including some light Rumba influences. There is certainly a Big Band flavor attack on many of these programs. The result of the union Jahari Massamba Unit is plenty of upbeat measures in taking fusion and urban music to a higher level. This LP is sure to transcend cultural backgrounds.