Soundpieces: Da Antidote!

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ALBUM INFORMATION

Total Tracks: 24   Total Length: 73:48

eMusic Review

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Lars Lindahl

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03.09.06
Lootpack, Soundpieces: Da Antidote!
Label: Stones Throw

Lootpack’s only major release, Soundpieces: Da Antidote! delivered a steady flow of classics for LA's Stones Throw Records, among them, early verses from future label stalwarts Quasimoto, MED and Oh No. But perhaps most importantly, the album began the incomparable artistic marriage of producer/rapper Madlib and DJ/label founder Peanut Butter Wolf, a relationship that continues to thrive today.

But Lootpack, comprised of two MCs and a DJ, demand respect for reasons other than mere historical significance. They successfully bridged the precarious gap between experimentation and slapstick shenanigans. Veering away from themes of sex, drugs and politics and towards the kind of knee-slapping put downs that would make The Pharcyde giggle, the lyricism here is relentlessly energetic. Wildchild, in particular, hurls playground snaps ("you'd be a good ass looking girl because your rhymes sound booty ") with hyper-enthusiasm. Madlib, by contrast, raps with a lazily hypnotic drawl — especially on the standout track "Crate Diggin,'" in which he nonchalantly gushes about his record collection of obscurity as if reading off a laundry list.

Ultimately though, the beats elevate Soundpieces beyond standard rap fare. Madlib, who calls himself "The Beat Konducta," produces every track with trademark pizzazz, admirably splitting the material between immediate head-nodders… read more »

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omg

misfitsbmx

long awaited is one the best songs ive ever heard...parts i believe to have been sampled from "strictly for my N.I.G.G.A.Z. by 2pac)

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This is the album that made Madlib

ArmondoMfume

HitYaWitDat is one of the hottest beats of all time!

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For Madlib Fans

stglaw

If you love Madlib as a DJ and a producer, as I do, you'll really like this album. It's got all the crazy, far-out beats and production qualities that Madlib is famous for. Where this disc comes short though is the lyrics. Although the rhymes are clever and often funny, I like to think there's more to rap about than wack MC's and using the word "niggas" every other word. Besides, Madlib, although a great DJ, isn't exactly in a position to be dissing other MC's. Frankly, I think he sucks as an MC. He has no flow whatsoever. Wildchild is a little bit better, but he has no real edge. Listening to Madlib or Wildchild rip on wack MC's doesn't exactly have the same impact as, say Rakim, Kane or KRS One dissing other rappers. Lootpack just sound like a couple of potheads screwing around with a microphone. Maybe that's the point, I don't know. Other than that, this is a really good album musically with a lot of originality and variety.

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nothing short of classic from Madlib and the crew

optimus-prime

if you're an indie/underground head you should already own this album. regardless of what genre you prefer, if hip-hop is your liking, then this album is one to have. still gets plays after countless listens.

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They Say All Media Guide

The Lootpack’s debut album, Soundpieces: Da Antidote!, ushered in a string of excellent releases on Peanut Butter Wolf’s Stones Throw label, and helped serve notice that the West Coast underground scene was becoming one of tremendous creative vitality. Much of the album’s success is due to fantastic production by Madlib, who takes his place as one of the West Coast’s most imaginative trackmasters, underground or otherwise. His style is subtly otherworldly, drawing bits and pieces from countless obscure sources; every listen reveals new, unexpected sounds layered into the mix. With 24 tracks over the course of a full CD, Soundpieces does feel a bit excessive, but most of the tracks are thankfully focused and concise, and a few clock in at around a minute or less. The exception is the multi-sectioned suite “Episodes,” an impressive b-boy bouillabaisse that showcases Madlib’s fragmented genius. The rapping, by Madlib and Wildchild plus a guest roster of West Coast scenesters, is consistently high-quality, and the album is studded with great singles: “Questions,” “Whenimondamic,” the eerie-sounding “The Anthem,” and “Weededed,” the latter an attack on MCs who rely on marijuana to enhance their rhymes (though not on the drug itself). Among the many guests, Dilated Peoples and Lootpack mentors Tha Alkaholiks shine brightest on “Long Awaited” and “Likwit Fusion,” respectively. The Lootpack are vulnerable to the same criticism that’s been leveled at Dilated Peoples, namely that in returning to hip-hop’s basics, they’ve substantially limited their lyrical content by focusing almost entirely on battle rhymes. They’re clever and well-crafted battle rhymes, to be sure, and the group’s microphone technique is impressive, but in 1999, it was hard not to want them to pay attention to something besides wack MCs. That’s especially true given the imagination of Madlib’s subsequent projects (Quasimoto in particular), not to mention his production here. Still, that isn’t enough to keep Soundpieces: Da Antidote! from being a resounding success. – Steve Huey

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