Guilty Simpson + Madlib = OJ Simpson

• May 19, 2010

IN THE STORE
GUILTY SIMPSON - OJ SIMPSON
Album produced by Madlib

Guilty Simpson + Madlib = OJ Simpson.  Out now. 
CD & LP ship with bonus 45 "Friends Only"

OJ Simpson. That’s the name of the album. No bloody gloves. No Ford Broncos. These are some 12 hard-hitting hip-hop tracks featuring Guilty’s inimitable baritone, and an equal number of Madlib’s signature album-as-soundtrack/radio/sideshow arrangements, where the beat & sequence is as important as the rap. This, with a couple no-nonsense guest appearances, some cuts by J.Rocc, and a whole bunch of attitude, makes up one of our favorite projects in a while.

The charisma that Detroit’s heavy hitting MC Guilty Simpson and the Los Angeles based Beat Konducta Madlib share testifies to a musical kinship that is rare in today’s rapper-as-an-accessory marketplace. Going back to Guilty’s first appearance on wax (Jaylib’s “Strapped”–2003), Guilty over a Madlib beat to us is like hearing Guru over Premier circa Daily Operation, or CL over Pete around the time of “Straighten It Out.” Some times, a rapper and a producer just work well together.

MP3: Guilty Simpson x Madlib - Cali Hills

PITCHFORK.COM REVIEW 8/10 “Zombie funk”