album · June 24, 2003

Shades of Blue: Madlib Invades Blue Note

Madlib

Play 30s preview

Blue NoteSee this day

hip-hopjazz fusionjazz

This 2003 album famously saw Madlib remix and reinterpret tracks from the legendary Blue Note Records jazz catalog. It's a seminal release in the hip-hop-jazz fusion landscape.

• The album was initially released under the pseudonym 'Madlibterian' in Japan in 2000 before its wider release in 2003.
• It features heavily processed and recontextualized samples from jazz titans like Donald Byrd, Bobbi Humphrey, and Ronnie Foster.
• The release was a critical success, solidifying Madlib's reputation for innovative beatmaking and his deep knowledge of jazz.

Madlib is a prolific producer and MC from Oxnard, California, known for his distinctive sample-based production, often drawing from jazz and obscure funk records. He has released numerous influential projects across various aliases and collaborations.