Review: Madlib - WLIB AM: King of the Wigflip (BBE Music)

When Madlib, The Beat Konducta released 'WLIB AM: King of the Wigflip' in 2008, I remember seeing the vinyl version in the Berwick Street Market area and thinking, I'll get the CD! 

What a mistake that was a it was part of the highly thought of Beat Generation series that featured the disc spinning and beat making talents of Pete Rock, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Spinna, Mr Thing, Jay Dee/Dilla, Will.I.Am(!) and more.

But the Madlib edition is now back on vinyl after many years that features not only Madlib but many of his friends like Guilty Simpson, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Defari, MED, J Rocc (Ed. I best DJ I've ever seen at the time). Prince Po, Karriem Riggins, Talib Kweli and more.

This Madlib's Radio station style as 'WLIB AM' on the dial and I wonder if it's survived the test of time?  If you were into hip-hop/beats/skate as a young dude in early 2000s this was mind blowing and it's great to hear it again.  And whilst it's no 'Madvillainy' (the seminal album he did as Madvillain with Doom) and whilst it was the last of 'Beat Generation' series, it's before the frenzy of the 13 album 'Madlib Medicine Show' mixture of hip-hop, jazz, remix and multi-genre DJ  mixtapes. 

The gatefold sleeve features some previously unseen photos by Brian 'B+' Cross (Ed. did I ever tell you about the time I met him?  Unfortuneately there's no photographic evidence of this) and Madlib's beat making and sample fusing abilities are there for all to hear. 

If I could speak to a younger me, I'd say, "buy the vinyl".

Artist: Madlib  

Title: WLIB AM: King of the Wigflip

Release date: 5th June, 2025

Label :  BBE Music

Catalog Number: BBE540

Format: 2xLP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: The Pro-Teens MF TEEN: Your Concurrence In The Above Is Assumed (College Of Knowledge Records)

Whilst this 'tribute' album was recorded a long time before the LA fire disaster, it has added poignancy as news that Madlib has lost "decades of music" as his home burned down last week.

Especially as the new album, is the Pro-Teens set of 14 iconis tracks of the late MF DOOM (Daniel 'Dumile' Thompson (July 13, 1971 - October 31, 2020) possibly best known as half  of Madvillain with Madlib.

This album is much anticipated after the singles 'Peachfuzz' and 'Kon Queso' (see review HERE) and the super cool video as these guys are some of the finest musicians in Melbourne.  And to prove they are real fans they've not just gone of obvious tracks as they trace DOOM's many aliases and career. 

'A Dead Mouse' is particularly good but it's hard not to tie in the beauty of the track 'DOOMSDAY' with the LA fires: A Madlib fundraiser has been set up [HELP MADLIB AND HIS FAMILY AFTER TRAGIC LOSS | LOVE LIKE WATER INC (Powered by Donorbox)] but he is just one of many that's been devistated.

MF DOOM may have been a short blip for many that were not on the coat tails of a London born rapper that had fans on the underground west coast that went onto make big names for themselves in the industry; Flying Lotus, DJ Premier and Madlib himself - but when you see the iconic mask on prime time PFL's Mike Florio in a cartoon form of mick take, someone up there is saying, "my work is done".  Congrats to LA Rams this week in more ways than one, Jerry Jones has lots to learn; so says the sports 'Sofa King'!

Raise a glass of 'One Beer' to Daniel.

Artist: The Pro-Teens 

Title: MF TEEN: Your Concurrence In The Above Is Assumed

Release date: 17th January, 2025

Label: College Of Knowledge Records

Cat. No: TBC

Format: LP (Black or Orange vinyl) / Digital / Bandcamp