Rating:
Genre:
Rap
Release Date: 06/19/2007
It started with
J Dilla (aka
Jay Dee) hearing a mix that
Madlib put together in
the Bomb Shelter of
Dilla's beats with
Madlib rapping over them. He was impressed enough to call up
Stones Throw mastermind
Peanut Butter Wolf directly to get the ball moving on a
Madlib/
J Dilla collaboration.
Jaylib became a quick reality, so the producers started sending each other beats to
rap over. As each were situated in their home towns (
Dilla in Detroit and
Madlib in L.A.), they fleshed out
Champion Sound, which will easily win the award for the Most Blunted Album of the Year; these guys were smoking serious greens while working this one out. As one might expect, the production qualities of an album made by two of
hip-hop's most celebrated producers is rich in texture, innovation, and solid momentum. Where
Madlib is a seasoned MC (look at
Lootpack's
Soundpieces or
Quasimoto's
The Unseen),
Dilla is not. He's not bad, just rougher around the edges, which lends to a disorienting listen in general. The beats are slapped together, whacked samples are abruptly dropped, and the lyrics are steps behind the beat and generally about nothing but b-boy posturing and other nonsense. All of which results in a very unique and strangely rewarding album. While it may require repeated listens to take hold,
Champion Sound is full of a lot more winners than losers. [
Stones Throw issued a deluxe edition in 2007, adding two bonus tracks, as well as a full second disc containing several remixes and the previously vinyl-only set of instrumentals. It retailed for the same price as the original release.]
~Jack LV Isles, All Music Guide
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