As we know by now, the very ambitious project on the part of Stones Throw, which was to celebrate and album of the best artist of the respective month in the calendar year 2010, failed, eventually. We’re still waiting for the Medicine Show Nr. 12, the one that was to be released in September as Nr. 9 – a cooperation-album by Madlib together with Frank Nitt – will finally be available these days. Delay or no delay, there is a general problem that comes along with the album. A just about fairly talented mic-controller from Motor City chooses exactly those beat-sketches from the Beat Konducta’s overwhelming archive in Los Angeles, which remind him most of the ones by his late friend James Yancey. It was easy enough to bask in his shadow, back in the days of Welcome 2 Detroit and Champion Sound. No matter whether club-track or soul-track – somehow, there was this magical bond between producer and MC that’s often to be found when people meet on the same level, spend some time together, have a friendship besides their work and share the production-process. There are manifold examples of this special connection throughout Hip-Hop-history, two of which were mentioned earlier. And exactly this is the problem: Madlib is not to meet on this level. Though there might be reasons enough as to why this is the case, they are not to be discussed in this context. What’s left to mention are Nitt’s often infantile lyrics, which he recites without the necessary variations. Too often, they are about Money, Pimpin’, Strippin’ and Feel It, while seeming out of place when strolling on top of Madlib’s (also only little ambitioned) Bouncer. Even the better (Oh No) or the excellent (MED) MCs can’t change much about that in their guest-roles. Bummer.
Kamasi Washington
Fearless Movement
XL Recordings