Madlib
Shades Of Blue 2LP (blue vinyl)

 In early 2000, Blue Note invited Madlib to re-imagine its catalog. He put out both a compilation ("Untinted") and this album of reworks and sample-based productions. The result is a perfect blend of Madlib's hip-hop chops and YNQ's jazz thing, definitely one of Madlib's best albums from any alias. Madlib's left-heavy brain is in full effect as the pieces he chooses to sample or re-create are not the ordinary Blue Note bacon and eggs (even the "Song For My Father" is counter-intuitive in its non-hip-hop-ness). I love how he flips "Andrew Hill Break" and tackles something so epic as re-creating "Stepping Into Tomorrow."

NEW / Released in 2003 / Reissue 2024

Tracklist:

A1 Introduction

A2 Slim's Return

A3 Distant Land

A4 Mystic Bounce

B1 Stormy

B2 Blue Note Interlude

B3 Please Set Me At Ease

B4 Funky Blue Note

B5 Alfred Lion Interlude

C1 Stepping Into Tomorrow

C2 Andrew Hill Break

C3 Montara

D1 Song For My Father

D2 Footprints

D3 Peace/Dolphin Dance

D4 Outro