Music Monday - Madlib for Carhartt

Legendary Hip Hop producer Madlib brought his Medicine Show to Europe earlier this month along with tour mates, J Rocc and Freddie Gibbs and even hooking up with his famed partner in rhyme, the metal faced DOOM for the London leg of the tour.

The tour breezed through Frankfurt, Berlin, London, Paris, Moscow and St Petersburg treating concert-goers to a plethora of different hip hop styles. From J. Rocc and his classic hip hop styling to Freddie Gibbs and his braggadocious gangsta rap and of course the ringmaster Madlib and his unique and quirky sampling style.

 The whole tour was sponsored by European streetwear heavyweights Carhartt who have a penchant for working with some of the best and brightest creative people the world over and Madlib is no exception.

Madlib was born into a musical family, with both his parents being accomplished session musicians in Los Angeles. He first came to prominence in the mid 90's with his production for LA based hip hop group Tha Alkaholiks and then with his own hip hop group Lootpack.

Towards the end of the 90's, Madlibs music caught the ear of DJ and Stones Throw Records founder Peanut Butter Wolf who promptly signed him to a record contract. Over the past decade, Madlib has been incredibly prolific with both his production for other artists like Guilty Simpson, Strong Arm Steady and MF DOOM, and also with his own instrumental projects which have been heavily influenced by jazz and world music.

In 2004, Madlib teamed up with underground hip hop legend MF DOOM to create the supergroup Madvillain. They released the full length album, Madvillainy to massive critical acclaim and it is widely regarded as one of the best hip hop albums of all time.

 To commemorate his European tour Madlib produced  a radio show for Carhartt which you can listen to below. The mix features exclusive, unheard and unreleased music mixed with all sorts of weird stuff, classic Madlib really! I would tell you to check out his back catalogue, but with Madlib that is as mammoth a task as say....climbing Everest!