Madlib will headline a mammoth house party at the Forum on Saturday June 17.
Set to ignite the heart of Melbourne this June, RISING Festival has today announced the addition of one of the most celebrated, prolific and eclectic artists in US underground rap, Madlib.
In his first Australian appearance since 2012 the legendary DJ, producer and hop hop icon, whose collaborators include everyone from the late MF Doom and J Dilla to Freddie Gibbs, Erykah Baduh and Talib Kweli will close the festival’s contemporary music program.
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Madlib’s RISING set also marks the visionary’s first show on our shores since the 2021 release of his Sound Ancestors LP, a collaboration edited arranged and produced by fellow production genius Four Tet, which drew universal acclaim.
Born Otis Jackson Jr. Madlib emerged in the early 1990s, establishing a close-knit collective known as CDP in his Oxnard-based “Crate Diggas Palace” studio. In 1993, he made his commercial debut producing for Tha Alkaholiks, followed by releasing his own music with Lootpack.
His debut solo project, The Unseen, released in 2000 under the pseudonym Quasimoto, garnered critical acclaim and was recognized by Spin as one of the top albums of the year. Breaking musical boundaries and delving into various genres, he explored jazz-inspired, hip-hop, and electronic sounds through his alter-egos in Yesterdays New Quintet, a quintet of fictional musicians, and in 2003, remixed tracks from Blue Note Records’ archive and released the album Shades of Blue, which showcased interpretations by members the project.
In 2010, Madlib introduced his own imprint, Madlib Invazion, and embarked on a music series titled Madlib Medicine Show, spanning over two years and encompassing 13 album releases and several EPs.
Through his career Madlib has risen to become one of hip hop’s most prolific and sought after producers and throughout his journey his talent has caught the attention of heavyweights across the scene from De La Soul and Kanye West to Snoop Dogg. Earlier this year he also revealed he would finish and release his collaboration with the late, great MC and producer Mac Miller, with a posthumous EP given the blessing by Miller’s estate.
Sprawling over three of Melbourne’s iconic music venues, The Forum Theatre, Melbourne Recital Centre and Max Watt’s, Madlib joins a genre-bending program of the most innovative acts from across the globe, including Cornelius, Ruth Radelet, Desire Marea, Ethel Cain, Thundercat, Ichiko Aoba, Uncle Kutcha Edwards, Liv.e, and a closing night party programmed by digital radio pioneers NTS that includes EYE, Melati ESP, Mindy Meng Wang and Otologic.
The full RISING WRAP PARTY line-up at The Forum will be announced soon. Tickets on sale now.
