In Search of Stoney Jackson

Audio Mixer: Madlib.
Recording information: Strong Arm Studios, Los Angeles, CA.
This L.A. hip-hop collective has maintained a sterling reputation in the West Coast conscious rap underground since the mid-'90s; this, their second official studio release, features a front-to-back production job by crate-digging legend Madlib. Consequently, the beats are consistently fascinating and funky as hell, even when the lyrics slide by without making much impression. Most of the rappers (including guests like Talib Kweli, Planet Asia, and Sick Jacken) limit themselves to discussing their weed consumption and sexual mastery, with occasional digressions into violence or mere metaphor-flexing braggadocio. That's fine, though, because again, the production is fantastic. The tracks shift from old-school funk to weird hiss-and-pop interludes with incomprehensible vocal snippets on top to collages that are so unique, it's hard to imagine how Madlib even conceived of putting them together. From a purely instrumental standpoint, this album is the equal of the Beastie Boys' Paul's Boutique, but without the recognizable hooks -- every sound here is ultra-obscure and the more entertaining for it. ~ Phil Freeman