Latest news with #Madlib
Hypebeast
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Madlib and Mac Miller Joint Album Release in Doubt Amid Lawsuit
Summary The highly-anticipatedMadlibandMac Millerjoint album may not see a release after all. A countersuit filed by the producer's former manager, Eothen 'Egon' Alapatt, claims that he produced the joint album for Madicine Show — the record label established by Alapatt and Madlib. However, Madlib supposedly 'unlawfully absconded with Madicine Show's property to wit' and established a 'new' company. The 'new' Madlib Invazion label 'promised' to release the joint album andMontanawithFreddie Gibbsand his ESGN company. Both records are 'obligated to deliver' to Sony Music. Alapatt further alleges that Madlib is 'refusing to cooperate' to drop records, and had been releasing projects produced by Alapatt for Madicine Show. He also claims that Madlib released one of Miller's Madicine Show masters forTalib Kweli'sLiberation 2, as well as released one of theLiberation 2masters produced by Alapatt for theBlack StaralbumNo Fear of Time. In November 2024,Madlib sued Alapattfor mismanagement of his record store and their joint venture. He accused the exec of engaging in 'rank self-dealing, concealing information from and repeatedly breaching his duties to Madlib,' as well as 'persistent and pervasive mismanagement' and 'abuse of his role' within the two entities and the producer's 'professional and business affairs.'
Eater
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
Say Hello to the Bay Area's Most Smackable Bars That, Also, Slap
View as Map A few years ago, a wave of bars inspired by the famed Japanese hi-fi style listening lounges started hitting the Bay Area. And while there are still some spots in the region that operate closely to the Japanese model of hi-fi audio in a relaxed social environment that breeds conversation, it's the evolution of this concept that makes for some of the most intriguing and exciting destinations. Unsurprisingly, the Bay Area has taken the original idea of a listening bar and redefined it. Now, we have a vibrant set of establishments that are dedicated to pristine audio environments and cocktails, but have also found alluring ways to weave in food, diverse layouts, and in some cases, the personalities of owners and vinyl selectors. These are the go-to listening bars and restaurants in the Bay. Read More Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy. The first listening bar in the Bay is the truest to the Tokyo 'jazz kissa' lounge experience, where service to the music comes first, and it brings out the best conversations. Since 2019, Bar Shiru has been both a great jumping off point for a night in the heart of Uptown Oakland's entertainment district, and a singular destination for refined, precise, and comfortable vibes (yet unpretentious enough to order at the bar on weekdays). From Madlib's essential beat conductions to Freddie Hubbard's distinct trumpet tonalities, full albums play over the immaculate analog system (headlined by two LM-812 loudspeakers) that's nothing short of a work of art. Meanwhile, the house's signature Moonglow cocktail — an herbaceous and complex martini riff — nods to owners Daniel Garr and Shirin Raza's new speakeasy down the street at Gold Palm, another portal dedicated to sound. Next door to three-Michelin-starred Atelier Crenn, you'll find chef Dominique Crenn's more accessible Bar Crenn. A massive wall of Crenn's records looms over the intimate hi-fi lounge, where seasonal cocktails brush up next to seafood-oriented bites like scallop crudo and oysters in an umami-focused drinks and bites experience. You can flip through the records and add some to the evening's queue, and don't be surprised if you end up talking vinyl with Chef Crenn herself, who's often hanging out and chatting with guests. For the ultimate visit, reserve one of ten spots for the Le Comptoir interactive tasting menu, a Michelin-starred offering served at the bartop. Make a reservation via Tock. The hallmark of a great listening bar is one that's so marvelously conducive to conversation that time just disappears. Moongate Lounge (above Chinatown scion Mister Jiu's) is one of those places. Sitting in red velvet booths, or underneath the glorious color-changing moongate skylight, tunes from Slum Village to Hiatus Kaiyote come thru cleanly, complementing a jujubee infused negroni or the 'Clear and Bright' cocktail with duck fat-washed rye and lapsang tea. Bar honcho Garrett Marks scours Chinatown markets and tea shops for ingredients that he and the excellent staff of mostly female bartenders mix up. Don't sleep on memorable snacks like a crab rangoon dip, Sichuan smoked olives, and one of the best prawn cocktails in town. Reservations are available via Tock. Co-owner Will Herrera used to run the Barbary Coast trail institution Old Ship Saloon, so he knows a thing or two about honoring downtown San Francisco's bar culture. 'We're here for an intentionally social environment, not a nightclub vibe,' he says of the nearly three-year-old Harlan Records, tucked down a cheeky alley. Open most days at 2 p.m. and closing late every day, it's hard to leave Harlan once you're sitting in a leather-bound chair, booth, or bar stool. A classic McIntosh receiver powers part of the system that Herrera says is still evolving. The striking cocktail list and loaded 'Duets' (shot and beer combo) offering are fun to explore in the afternoon, or while hearing curated records from prime local selectors at night. A custom record coffin greets you at Yokai's host station, playing records over a digital and analog system. Chef Marc Zimmerman's listening bar incorporates his signature live fire cooking with top-notch raw seafood, all sourced from NorCal and Japan. Jazz reigns supreme in a hip room very well-designed for masterful sound that fosters conversation (note the Godzilla painting on the far wall). The series of Roku gin and Haku vodka martinis is fantastic, and Yokai just might have the most comprehensive selection of Japanese whiskeys in the city. Like many places south of Gough Street, Phonobar is hard to find if you're not looking for it. There's a diverse range of seating in the low-slung ceiling front room highlighted by a greenhouse windowed alcove. Sipping cocktails and eating vegan bites from Om Sabor, you might not feel like you're in a listening bar until you settle into the cavernous, leather banquette-lined back room, where seating faces a raised DJ booth in the crown jewel atmosphere of the entire space. Here, vinyl selectors (like Rebirth Jazz every third Wednesday) dig into their crates for tunes 'til midnight over premium audio. Sign up for our newsletter. SF's newest addition to the listening bar circuit takes the concept to new heights, fully incorporating the element of food. Chef Parker Brown's Midwest-comfort menu includes a decadent burger with bone marrow and Tomales Farmstead Creamery goat cheese that nods to a pro move order at Chicago's storied Au Cheval, as well as a perfectly fried chicken cutlet with chickories, hazelnut, and zesty honey mustard that's delightfully bitter and sweet; both have many dashing pairings on La Ciccia's Paul Chung-curated wine list. Meanwhile, Brown's partner and co-owner, Caroline, helms the music component led by the first-ever Tub's Audio speakers installed in a U.S. restaurant. Suffice it to say, Side A sounds impeccable, both in the evening when Caroline (DJ Music Please) and illustrious selectors (King Most! Mophono!) are on the decks, as well as in late Mission mornings where house-made donuts and the Coffee Movement's drinks paint a convivial portrait of this spectacular space. Reservations are available on Resy. This San Jose lounge checks in with multiple McIntosh amps powering a sound system led by a sleek hi-fi wall of sound behind the DJ booth. A lively small space that's an oasis amidst clubbier First Street bars, Still O.G. has all of its cocktails on draft — at a reasonable $14 a pop at that! — that's so the noise from shakers doesn't disrupt the function. There's also Asian-leaning bites like chicken tsukune and king trumpet mushroom skewers, crab noodles, and even a smash burger. Peep behind the soundproof velvet curtain in the back to uncover the Alter Ego cocktail and bites speakeasy, a choice destination that recently hosted a bar pop-up night with SF's True Laurel. Reservations for Alter Ego can be found at OpenTable. © 2025 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Link copied to the clipboard. The first listening bar in the Bay is the truest to the Tokyo 'jazz kissa' lounge experience, where service to the music comes first, and it brings out the best conversations. Since 2019, Bar Shiru has been both a great jumping off point for a night in the heart of Uptown Oakland's entertainment district, and a singular destination for refined, precise, and comfortable vibes (yet unpretentious enough to order at the bar on weekdays). From Madlib's essential beat conductions to Freddie Hubbard's distinct trumpet tonalities, full albums play over the immaculate analog system (headlined by two LM-812 loudspeakers) that's nothing short of a work of art. Meanwhile, the house's signature Moonglow cocktail — an herbaceous and complex martini riff — nods to owners Daniel Garr and Shirin Raza's new speakeasy down the street at Gold Palm, another portal dedicated to sound. Open in Google Maps Foursquare Next door to three-Michelin-starred Atelier Crenn, you'll find chef Dominique Crenn's more accessible Bar Crenn. A massive wall of Crenn's records looms over the intimate hi-fi lounge, where seasonal cocktails brush up next to seafood-oriented bites like scallop crudo and oysters in an umami-focused drinks and bites experience. You can flip through the records and add some to the evening's queue, and don't be surprised if you end up talking vinyl with Chef Crenn herself, who's often hanging out and chatting with guests. For the ultimate visit, reserve one of ten spots for the Le Comptoir interactive tasting menu, a Michelin-starred offering served at the bartop. Make a reservation via Tock. Open in Google Maps Foursquare The hallmark of a great listening bar is one that's so marvelously conducive to conversation that time just disappears. Moongate Lounge (above Chinatown scion Mister Jiu's) is one of those places. Sitting in red velvet booths, or underneath the glorious color-changing moongate skylight, tunes from Slum Village to Hiatus Kaiyote come thru cleanly, complementing a jujubee infused negroni or the 'Clear and Bright' cocktail with duck fat-washed rye and lapsang tea. Bar honcho Garrett Marks scours Chinatown markets and tea shops for ingredients that he and the excellent staff of mostly female bartenders mix up. Don't sleep on memorable snacks like a crab rangoon dip, Sichuan smoked olives, and one of the best prawn cocktails in town. Reservations are available via Tock. Open in Google Maps Foursquare Co-owner Will Herrera used to run the Barbary Coast trail institution Old Ship Saloon, so he knows a thing or two about honoring downtown San Francisco's bar culture. 'We're here for an intentionally social environment, not a nightclub vibe,' he says of the nearly three-year-old Harlan Records, tucked down a cheeky alley. Open most days at 2 p.m. and closing late every day, it's hard to leave Harlan once you're sitting in a leather-bound chair, booth, or bar stool. A classic McIntosh receiver powers part of the system that Herrera says is still evolving. The striking cocktail list and loaded 'Duets' (shot and beer combo) offering are fun to explore in the afternoon, or while hearing curated records from prime local selectors at night. Open in Google Maps Foursquare A custom record coffin greets you at Yokai's host station, playing records over a digital and analog system. Chef Marc Zimmerman's listening bar incorporates his signature live fire cooking with top-notch raw seafood, all sourced from NorCal and Japan. Jazz reigns supreme in a hip room very well-designed for masterful sound that fosters conversation (note the Godzilla painting on the far wall). The series of Roku gin and Haku vodka martinis is fantastic, and Yokai just might have the most comprehensive selection of Japanese whiskeys in the city. Book with OpenTable Book with OpenTable Open in Google Maps Foursquare Like many places south of Gough Street, Phonobar is hard to find if you're not looking for it. There's a diverse range of seating in the low-slung ceiling front room highlighted by a greenhouse windowed alcove. Sipping cocktails and eating vegan bites from Om Sabor, you might not feel like you're in a listening bar until you settle into the cavernous, leather banquette-lined back room, where seating faces a raised DJ booth in the crown jewel atmosphere of the entire space. Here, vinyl selectors (like Rebirth Jazz every third Wednesday) dig into their crates for tunes 'til midnight over premium audio. Open in Google Maps Foursquare SF's newest addition to the listening bar circuit takes the concept to new heights, fully incorporating the element of food. Chef Parker Brown's Midwest-comfort menu includes a decadent burger with bone marrow and Tomales Farmstead Creamery goat cheese that nods to a pro move order at Chicago's storied Au Cheval, as well as a perfectly fried chicken cutlet with chickories, hazelnut, and zesty honey mustard that's delightfully bitter and sweet; both have many dashing pairings on La Ciccia's Paul Chung-curated wine list. Meanwhile, Brown's partner and co-owner, Caroline, helms the music component led by the first-ever Tub's Audio speakers installed in a U.S. restaurant. Suffice it to say, Side A sounds impeccable, both in the evening when Caroline (DJ Music Please) and illustrious selectors (King Most! Mophono!) are on the decks, as well as in late Mission mornings where house-made donuts and the Coffee Movement's drinks paint a convivial portrait of this spectacular space. Reservations are available on Resy. This San Jose lounge checks in with multiple McIntosh amps powering a sound system led by a sleek hi-fi wall of sound behind the DJ booth. A lively small space that's an oasis amidst clubbier First Street bars, Still O.G. has all of its cocktails on draft — at a reasonable $14 a pop at that! — that's so the noise from shakers doesn't disrupt the function. There's also Asian-leaning bites like chicken tsukune and king trumpet mushroom skewers, crab noodles, and even a smash burger. Peep behind the soundproof velvet curtain in the back to uncover the Alter Ego cocktail and bites speakeasy, a choice destination that recently hosted a bar pop-up night with SF's True Laurel. Reservations for Alter Ego can be found at OpenTable.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Madlib Teams With Your Old Droog for ‘Droogie Otis' Project, the Hip-Hop Producer's First Since Altadena Fires Claimed His Home Studio (EXCLUSIVE)
With the release of 'Everything Designer,' his third single since the release of 'Movie' in June 2024, Your Old Droog continues to maintain a reputation as one of the most prolific rappers in the music industry. Released under the pseudonym Droogie Otis, the track featuring Boldy James marks the first song from Droog's upcoming album-length collaboration with Madlib (nee Otis Lee Jackson, Jr.), the acclaimed producer for MF Doom, Freddie Gibbs, De La Soul, Kanye West, Erykah Badu and dozens more. It's also the first work from Madlib since he lost his home, studio and legendary record collection in the fires that destroyed much of Altadena, California in Jan. 2025. More from Variety Your Old Droog Premieres 'Movie' Album Follow-Up Single 'Suspects,' Produced by Edan (EXCLUSIVE) Madlib, Producer for Kanye West and Mos Def, Sues Former Manager Over Deceptive Business Practices Your Old Droog Reveals How MF Doom, Madlib and Frank Zappa Led to the Full-Circle Moment of 'Movie' 'I think, just on a personal level, it's a horrible thing,' Droog tells Variety. 'But we keep working. I think when things like that happen, it pushes you to be greater and try to keep going.' With both his and James' verses, the track showcases the kind of lyrical dexterity that's become a cornerstone of Droog's music. 'Remember all them days we stepped out, left to wander / Bumping Jimi Hendrix Red House over yonder,' Droog raps. 'Flunking out of grammar school, fucking up some commas / Slow at math, always going half like Arnold Palmer.' Droog says that the Droogie Otis project fulfills a goal he set for himself at the beginning of his career. 'When I recorded my self-titled debut, my mindset was, I'm in here trying to showcase what I can do from a lyrical standpoint so I could get beats from somebody of the caliber of a Madlib,' he says. 'So I kept turning out projects year after year. Then in the fall of 2021, I get a text from [rapper and producer] Edan, who got a text from [former Stones Throw Records manager] Egon saying that Madlib wanted to get in touch with me and work. So we immediately started working on joints.' Insisting 'it's not rocket science,' Droog says their collaboration quickly bore fruit. 'His beats are pretty great, so they're easy to write to.' But even after releasing a number of tracks produced by Madlib as a solo artist, the rapper says that the idea to create a full album evolved slowly. 'Personally for me, the bar is always 'Madvillain',' he says, referring to Madlib's supergroup team-up album with MF Doom. 'But we've kind of got our own thing. We'd dabble in a lot of different sounds and stuff, but it's almost been just making music for the love of it. 'Eventually you've got to snap out of it and be like, 'Okay, we should probably make some money',' he says. 'But I don't think money is the motive with this … it's just making great art with somebody you consider a brother.' Fusing together the rapper's stage name with Madlib's government name, Droogie Otis was born. Droog says the album doesn't have an official title yet, but it's due out 'this summer.' Part of the uncertainty, Droog says, is because he has been taking his cues from Madlib, who shares a spontaneity that frequently supersedes more traditional release plans and marketing strategies. 'We do it because we love it regardless of what's going on in our lives. There's always been that approach where he's hit me multiple times like, 'Yo, drop this joint,' and the song will come out that week or the following week. The business comes after. We're centered around the art.' In the meantime, Droog continues to develop projects with other collaborators; he says that he's got tracks in the works with Edan, who produced his December 2024 single 'Suspects,' and with rapper-producer Count Bass D. Otherwise, he remains part of the group of colleagues and collaborators helping to raise money and resources so that Madlib can rebuild his record collection and studio. 'We did the tribute shows, I think they're doing one in LA,' he says. 'I know [producer] Pete Rock said he's going to give Otis some records. So we're all coming together.' 'I think when things like [the fires] happen, it pushes you to be greater and try to keep going.' 'Everything Designer' debuts on streaming services March 21. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Oscars 2026: First Blind Predictions Including Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, 'Wicked: For Good' and More What's Coming to Disney+ in March 2025
CairoScene
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Lege-Cy Finds a New Groove on ‘BGD'
Lege-Cy Finds a New Groove on 'BGD' For someone who has been active in the Egyptian scene as long as Lege-Cy has, maintaining a balance between relevance, artistry and experimentation is a difficult act to pull off. Yet, Lege-Cy seems to have cracked the code. Anchored by an unwavering sense of inner grounding, he has consistently proven his ability to reinvent himself while crafting a sound that is unmistakably his own. From his earliest days, Lege-Cy has cultivated a signature sonic identity - distinct yet never bound to a formula, always leaving room for experimentation. His latest offering, 'BGD' - a surprise full-length album drop - further reinforces that Lege-Cy is mastering this balancing act better than ever. 'BGD' is an eight-track project where Lege-Cy's foundational influences shine through more prominently than in his other recent work. Here, he raps his heart out, proving he can when he chooses to - but the real surprise lies in the production. On this album, Lege-Cy taps into his rap purist instincts, embracing boom-bap-driven production, heavy sample use, and an overarching psychedelic, lo-fied atmosphere. Imagine Lege-Cy with Madlib and Alchemist mixtapes on repeat - that influence is heavily embedded in the record. His signature string-driven production remains, but in an entirely different sonic context. The beats are understated, as is Lege-Cy's delivery, carefully walking the fine line between cohesion and monotony. This exploration of sampledelia is introduced from the very first track, 'INTRO', where a nabatshy (emcee) monologue opens the album, calling out random names before his voice distorts and glitches as the beat transitions into the following track, 'SWISSRA'. The production follows a similar structure, while Lege-Cy delivers deeply personal bars, a mix of confidence and despair as he reflects on his past through his signature high-metaphoric lyricism. Tracks like 'EHDA (Freestyle)' see Lege-Cy rapping harder than ever, evoking his Fata El Shaha era. His words cut with razor-sharp precision, unfolding like an introspective stream-of-consciousness conversation with himself. He touches on growing up, possibly starting a family - personal themes that occasionally flirt with the usual rap bravado, but executed with depth, never reduced to empty statements. The album continues to build on these threads through gritty, low-fidelity production techniques paired with carefully curated samples, from spoken-word monologues to vintage advertisements, reinforcing the record's cohesion. Lyrically, it is one of Lege-Cy's most introspective projects to date. He dissects his own psyche through his bars, speaking on his influence, friendships gone sour and the culture of clout-chasing, all while dropping witty one-liners about the music industry. Early in 2024, Lege-Cy released his debut full-length project, 'Placebo' - his most ambitious work yet, an album into which he seemingly poured all his emotions. 'BGD', however, is an entirely different project; a significant shift in pace, one we didn't see coming but didn't know we needed. It's a refreshing sound within the context of Egyptian mainstream hip-hop, further proving that Lege-Cy is in a lane of his own: unconcerned with trends, committed to quality and relentless in his exploration.
