Madlib is Otis Jackson Jr., an American DJ, music producer, multi-instrumentalist and rapper from Oxnard, United States. Born in 1973, he grows up in Oxnard in a musical family: his father is Otis Jackson, Sr., his mother is Dora Sinesca Jackson, his younger brother is producer and rapper Michael “Oh No” Jackson, and his uncle is jazz trumpeter Jon Faddis.

Career and style

Madlib describes himself as a DJ first, a producer second and an MC last. He begins his music career in Oxnard and becomes known for a broad, sample-based approach that draws on hip hop, jazz and funk. His work is associated with abstract hip hop, boom bap, gangsta rap, instrumental hip hop and West Coast hip hop.

He samples his first song at 11, using a record from his father’s collection. He also cites Miles Davis, Sun Ra and David Axelrod among his main musical influences, and names Large Professor, Marley Marl, Paul C, DJ Pooh and Dr. Dre as hip hop influences.

Collaborations and groups

Madlib is widely known for a series of collaborations that become central to his career. With MF DOOM, he records as Madvillain. With J Dilla, he records as Jaylib. With Freddie Gibbs, he records as MadGibbs.

He is also a member of a large number of projects and groups, including Sound Directions, Monk Hughes & The Outer Realm, Joe McDuphrey Experience, Yesterdays New Quintet, Lootpack, Trouble Knows Me, The Professionals, Likwit Crew, Kamala Walker and The Soul Tribe, Otis Jackson Jr. Trio, The Eddie Prince Fusion Band, The Jazzistics, Yesterday’s Universe All Stars, The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble, Liberation, OJ Simpson, Jahari Massamba Unit, The Crate Diggas Sextet, Morgan Adams Quartet Plus Two and Madvillainz. He is also linked with Jaylib and Madvillain through his collaborations.

Reputation

Madlib is one of the most prolific and critically acclaimed hip-hop producers of the 2000s. His work as a producer and collaborator places him across rap, jazz-influenced hip hop and instrumental music, while his own role also includes DJing, MCing and multi-instrumental performance.