But this.THIS record, is him at the height of his powers. His run from 1999-2005 is still in contention as the greatest period of musical productivity in hip-hop. DOOM subverts the hip-hop ethos with many of his lyrical choices, and his rhyme structures are light years ahead of the AA, BB, CC. The album is like a bombardment of hit after hit after hit. None of these are party anthems that carry on for extended periods of time. DOOM's unmistakable flow and husky delivery are as unique as the iconic vocals of Dylan, Cobaine, and Prince. Madlib's arrangements are as random and eclectic as anything ever before seen. Eclectic artists respect each other, because they know that they are making music for the sake of music's sake (album sales are secondary). Hell, there are actual Frank Zappa samples on this record. THAT, is exactly what is occurring on Madvillainy. It’s not a social statement, but, rather, an artistic one. But, at it's core, the music is arranged in a very unique and brilliant fashion that deviates from traditional structures. At times, its bizarre quality almost seems to alienate fans. It's not as easily accessible to mainstream audiences. Zappa's record is more eccentric and progressive. Think of it as a Frank Zappa record, while Illmatic is more reminiscent of Bob Dylan at the height of his social influence. Instead, Madvillainy is a playful indulgence of bizarre samples and some of the most clever wordplay ever put to record. There is less focus on socioeconomic plight, crime, and the general everyday struggles of urban African-Americans. The former is a fun, humorous, and lighthearted record that lacks much of the social commentary of the mid-90s East Coast scene. And tonally, the albums are polar opposites of each other. Madvillainy has significantly more tracks compared to Illmatic (22 to 10). In a music community where bravado, ego, and arrogance are usually at the forefront, the idea of any artist fawning over another's work is a rare sight. Mos Def, Earl Sweatshirt, and Tyler the Creator obsess over DOOM and this record. But in respect to Madvillainy,few other records released post-2000 are as widely respected by so many generations of artists.
The trio of Dan the Automator, Del the Funkee Homosapien, and DJ Koala is right in the same vein of underground genius. Kudos to the poster who mentioned Deltron 3030. Dre, but this might be the perfect combination of eccentric artists.
The two might not be as commercially viable as Eminem and Dr. The collaboration of MF DOOM (Just remember all caps when you spell the man's name!) and Madlib might be the greatest pairing that hip-hop has ever witnessed. The only other album I would mention, which is due to my personal adoration for the MC and the underground, is Madvillain's Madvillainy. With that being said, Ready to Die and Enter the 36 Chambers are RIGHT behind. It is the Nevermind of the East Coast hip-hop scene. It is perhaps the greatest debut album of all-time. The samples chosen, predominantly by classic jazz, funk, and blues musicians, given the album a timeless feel that contemporary records will never be able to replicate. It is as socially significant and poignant as any album, regardless of musical genre, as there has ever been. In terms of its lyrical quality, it is a snapshot into the world of the Queens Bridge Projects. Nas was only 20 years old when the album was recorded. The use of multiple producers (Large Professor, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, AND Q-Tip) was a ground-breaking concept that had never really been explored before in hip-hop. Illmatic is the densest hip-hop album there has ever been.