Bandana

Holy shit, what a rap album...

You have to take a second in before you even attempt to gather yourself at you've listened to a great album. You can't quite understand it but you're certain that what you're listening to is quality.

Madlib proves once again he is renowned as a top producer for a reason. The sampling here

is filled with old TV show snippets, crackling golden era Hollywood film stock, sirens turned descending and ascending notes, and other flourishes that make it easy to take it in as a casual listener but still going, "how the hell did someone think to sample THIS?"

Which brings me up to Freddie Gibbs, the guy who can even rap to these beats (along with fellow stars, Anderson Paak, killer Mike, Pusha t, Black Thought, and Yasiin Bey). He shatters expectations of him with more than enough evolving rap flows, knotty and twisting narrations, and creative metaphors that I am frankly shocked he is still looked at as "underground" and doesn't get more radio play. This guy is in another ball league that his rhythm pattern becomes an instrument unto itself. The syncopation of his voice in some songs actually become a part of the tapestry of the beautifully created beat by Madlib.

Will need to listen to more to fully grasp its themes.