Madlib shares “REEKYOD” featuring Black Thought and Your Old Droog via his Madlib Invazion label. The producer lays down drums fit for a soldier’s walk, skulking bass lines, operatic horns, a Twilight Zone-sounding key, and a James Brown sample for his first release since the Sound Ancestors album released in 2021. The Roots frontman and the Brooklyn emcee spit lines about their lyrical superiority. Black Thought says,  “This is strictly for the honorees. Madlib is in his bag per usual and YOD is more than a force to be reckoned with. Simply complex, this piece is high art. Triple threat. Instant classique.” Your Old Droog is also excited about the collaboration and hinted at a full album with Madlib in the future. “It’s an honor to be inducted into the heavyweight class of hip hop. To be able to spar with one of the greatest MC’s on a beat by the greatest producer is a dream come true. Look out for the Madlib x YOD album coming soon.”

Madlib is performing live in a few places around the globe this month and will be joined by Freddie Gibbs for all the dates except for his second date in London. 

                                                                                        Madlib Tour Dates 

May 10, 2024 – Boston

May 11, 2024 – NYC 

May 19, 2024 – Chicago 

May 24, 2024 – London 

May 26, 2024 – London (Solo DJ Set)

May 30, 2024 – Barcelona 

El Michels Affair and Black Thought release their Glorious Game album. Leon Michels and Black Thought started working on the album in 2020 during the pandemic. Michels’ band is known for playing live but GG inspired a different approach. The musician decided to use lots of samples of his live playing and some lifted from soul records. Michel’s production spins Black Thought’s movie-worthy tales on an axis of nostalgic sounds that become new again. The vintage flavor courses through the survival creed of “Alone” with peppy drums and jazzy horns and the imported harmonies surrounding the autobiographical story of “The Weather.” Black Thought described GG in a press statement: “To me, these songs are like scenes from a film that is my life. That’s the way it evolved.” The Roots’ emcee’s relentless microphone rarely rests as he just shared his Cheat Codes album with Danger Mouse last year. Glorious Game is on time to make new spring and summer memories and playlists. 

El Michels Affair and Black Thought drop “That Girl” from their upcoming Glorious Game album. The Roots frontman and Leon Michels’ band unify to pay tribute to the emcee’s muse. The falsetto-led doo-wop sample collapses and a numbing beat comes in as the bedrock for Black Thought’s ode to his greatest love. The lyrics mention a caramel-colored woman as his loving inspiration but the description of her captivating the whole world also sounds like hip-hop is his lover. “That Girl” is the second single from their Glorious Game project which comes out in the spring. Black Thought’s Cheat Codes album with Danger Mouse from last year is still streaming heavily.  

Sunday night The Grammys celebrated 50 years of hip-hop with a lineup of some of the most prominent rappers of the genre. Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, Run DMC, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Queen Latifah, Salt-N-Pepa, Rakim, Mr. Scarface, Busta Rhymes, Too Short, Ice-T, Method Man, Lil Baby, GloRilla, LL Cool J and Public Enemy performed the compact tribute on the stage outfitted like 1520 Sedgwick Ave in the Bronx where DJ Kool Herc hosted the earliest hip-hop parties. Black Thought narrated the segment while The Roots provided the music. Questlove curated the evening and he, unfortunately, had to remove many artists because of time constraints.