Send "Madlib " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Prefixmag |
 The legacy of the late J Dilla is far-reaching, from inspired beats/visions to inane tributes, spin-offs and shout-outs. The new installment of Madlib's Beat Konducta series wavers between both ends of that spectrum, thankfully leaning more heavily toward understated musical influence than verbal love-fest, still never going as far as copping Dilla's style. Under the auspices of a "tribute" to Dilla, the 42 tracks that cover Beat Konducta 5 & 6: The Dil Withers and Dil Cosby Suite feature some of Madlib's most inspired crate-digging and beat maneuvers in the already impeccable series. He gets assistance from producer J Rocc, who, along with Madlib, was one of Jay Dee's closest confidants in his time in L.A. leading up to his death in 2006. Even before Dilla's untimely passing, he and Madlib were inextricably linked. Before the pair made 2003's excellent Jaylib together, they were already considered in hip-hop circles as leaders of a new generation of independent producers, both equally in their own right. 2006 saw the release of seminal beat CDs from both producers: Madlib's Movie Scenes, the first full-length under the Beat Konducta pseudonym, and Dilla's masterpiece, Donuts, released on his 32nd birthday, three days before he died....full text |
| Boomkat |
| Madlib's loving double part vinyl tribute to fallen comrade J Dilla is thankfully compiled onto one CD for all the heads too lazy to get up and flip the record or those that don't get down with the analogue. The whole set, reaching some 42 tracks, is executed in the usual Beat Konducta style, meaning fractional song sketches sometimes only seconds in length ranging to a couple of minutes, but as it's dedicated to Dilla there's a palpable sense of melancholy and strong soulful vibes threaded through the whole thing. Obviously reserving some of his finest samples and favourite cuts for this set, Madlib has crafted a loving tribute that's clearly no easy cash in on his friend's name, but a heartfelt tribute to one of the greatest beatsmiths that ever graced the planet. Massively Recommended....full text |
| Imposemagazine |
| If you love Madlib’s hip-hop creations best out of his vast discography, chances are that you keep tabs on his Beat Konducta series. An aural appetizer of moods and rhythms, these albums seem to truly capture a genius at work. Volumes 5 and 6 find Madlib reminiscing over the “Coltrane of Beats,” J Dilla. Three years after his death, Dilla’s Donuts album still speaks to family, friends, and fans in a deeply personal way. The same can be said for these new Beat Konducta volumes, released on vinyl respectively as Dil Cosby Suite and Dil Withers Suite. Assisted by J. Rocc, Madlib has created a poignant tribute full of loose-limbed soul and cinematic funk. The Cosby Suite is expectedly jazzy and a lot like one of Heathcliff Huxtable’s trademark sweaters: overgrown and colorful, a hand-me-down that you can’t wait to get your hands on. In contrast, the Withers Suite thumps a lot harder and is full of party-rocking moments. “Blast (Computer Rock)” incorporates theme music from a Sega Genesis video game while “Never Front (Ears Up)” milks B-Boy swagger through a string of various MC one-liners. Occasionally an ear-shattering scream pops up on Withers, the kind hip-hop lovers make when they can’t believe what they’re hearing. We’ve all had that experience at least once with Dilla’s production, and Madlib provides plenty of his own throughout these 42 tracks. It goes without saying that you will not find a more eloquent eulogy for James Yancey than this one....full text |
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