Madvillain
| Company type | Musical duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hip hop music |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder | MF Doom, Madlib |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, singles |
| Parent | Stones Throw Records |
Madvillain was a notable American hip hop duo established in 2002, consisting of rapper MF Doom and producer Madlib. Their only album, Madvillainy (2004), garnered widespread critical praise and cultivated a dedicated fanbase, often hailed as a pivotal work within alternative hip hop. Characterized by complex lyricism, succinct song structures, and eclectic sample choices, the album significantly impacted underground hip hop despite minimal mainstream radio exposure. Although speculation about a follow-up album persisted from the late 2000s onward, no new releases appeared post-2010, and MF Doom's passing in 2020 left the project's continuation uncertain.
History
In 2006, Madvillain offered a fresh track and live rendition for the DVD/CD compilation Chrome Children, a collaboration between Stones Throw Records and Adult Swim. Subsequently, Kidrobot unveiled an action figure inspired by Madvillain.
By 2009, Stones Throw officially announced that MF Doom and Madlib were collaborating on a second Madvillain record.
On May 26, 2010, the track "Papermill" was debuted on Adult Swim’s website. Early in 2011, "Avalanche" alongside a remix of Doomstarks' "Victory Laps" were released via a Stones Throw mixtape.
Towards the end of 2011, MF Doom revealed that the sophomore album was nearly finalized, anticipating its release after completing his contributions in early 2012. During a September 2012 appearance on BBC Radio 1, he mentioned only minor tweaks remained and hoped for a year-end launch subject to Stones Throw’s scheduling.
In January 2014, Madlib conveyed in an interview that the album's completion hinged on MF Doom’s approval, stressing that any sequel needed to maintain continuity with their initial work.
MF Doom died on October 31, 2020, casting uncertainty over future Madvillain projects. In 2025, Stones Throw Records issued a digital re-release of the originally leaked version of Madvillainy, titled the Madvillainy Demo Tape.
Album
- Madvillainy
- Release date: March 24, 2004
- Record label: Stones Throw
- Sales achievement: 500,000 copies; certified Gold by the BPI
EPs
- 2005: Madvillain Remixes by Four Tet
- 2005: Madvillain Remixes by Koushik
Remix album
- Madvillainy 2: The Madlib Remix
- Release date: September 15, 2008
- Label: Stones Throw
Instrumental album
- Madvillainy Instrumentals
- Released on: December 1, 2004
- Under label: Stones Throw
Demo album
- Madvillainy Demo Tape
- Initial release: September 15, 2008 (part of Madvillainy 2: The Box); digitally reissued January 31, 2025
- Label: Stones Throw
Singles
- 2003: "Money Folder"
- 2004: "All Caps"
- 2004: "One Beer"
- 2008: "One Beer (Drunk Version)" (featured on Madvillainy 2: The Box)
- 2010: "Papermill"