With references to George Floyd and Toyin Salau, “Song 33” by rapper, poet, producer and activist Noname is presumably a response to J Cole’s recent, widely lambasted release, on which he criticizes and tone-polices her. Over the mellow Madlib-produced beat, Noname (aka Fatimah Warner) meditates, “Wow, look at him go / He really ’bout to write about me while the world is in smokes? / When …
From Freddie Gibbs and Madlib’s collaborative album, Bandana, “Education” is a star-studded track that harkens back to the golden era of hip-hop. Gibbs, Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) and Black Thought (frontman of The Roots) lend verses, with Bey taking lead and setting the tone. He speaks of justice, the perils of wealth, the private prison system, gun violence and much more. And, as expected …
The third single released from a compilation created by Gangster Doodles (aka Marlon Sassy), Madlib and OHNO’s “Big Whips” is a perfectly produced, head-nodding tune with a David James-directed music video. Both the track and visuals will hit a nostalgic nerve for many. Each song on the album Gangster Music Vol. 1 has an original illustration by Sassy, and the entire record is made up of tracks …
