Madlib was born Otis Jackson Jr in Oakland, CA, to musician parents Otis and Senesca Jackson. He was raised in Oxnard, and currently works in Los Angeles. He began making music with the rap group Lootpack in the early 1990s. After an independently released EP, Lootpack caught the attention of Peanut Butter Wolf, founder of the Stones Throw Records label. They released two singles and a full-length album on the Stones Throw imprint in 1999. Madlib also worked with rap group Tha Alkaholiks for several albums.

Madlib’s first release under the guise of Quasimoto, titled The Unseen, was in 2000. The album was met with critical acclaim and named by Spin Magazine as one of the top albums of the year. The distinctive high-pitched voice of Quasimoto is attained by rapping over slowed-down beats, which are then sped up to normal speed during the recording process.

In 2001, Madlib took a turn away from traditional Hip Hop music, releasing his first Yesterdays New Quintet LP, Angles Without Edges. Yesterdays New Quintet is a Jazz-based, Hip Hop and Electronic-influenced quintet made up of four ficticious characters : Ahmad Miller, Monk Hughes, Malik Flavors, Joe McDuphrey, and Madlib under his real name, Otis Jackson Jr. Madlib has continued to record other albums under the different guises of YNQ members, including 2002’s tribute to Stevie Wonder, Stevie, 2004’s tribute to Weldon Irvine, A Tribute to Brother Weldon, and other singles and EPs released only on vinyl.

Madlib describes himself as a "DJ first, producer second, and MC last," and he has done several projects as a DJ, mixer, or remixer. The first, released in 2002, was a collection of old dub reggae tracks, and was titled Blunted in the Bomb Shelter. The second, released in 2003, was a remix of Blue Note Records. This album features original Blue Note recordings, some remixed and resampled, and some replayed by Madlib, as well as rapping by M.E.D. aka Medaphoar.

2003 heralded the first of two collaboration projects. Working with Detroit producer Jay Dee aka J Dilla, the duo known as Jaylib released the Champion Sound LP. Far more successful was Madlib’s collaboration with hip-hop producer and rapper MF DOOM, known together as Madvillain. The 2004 Madvillainy album was highly anticipated, and well-recieved, topping many critic’s year-end lists.

The 2005 Quasimoto album, The Further Adventures of Lord Quas was accepted well and continued the Quasimoto tradition of using Melvin Van Peebles samples as the basis for a lot of tracks.

Madlib Discography :

As Producer (and/or MC) :
Hood 2 No Good - Throw ’Em Up 12" single 1992 (Phat Wrekards)
Alkaholiks - Mary Jane from "21 and Over" LP 1993 (Loud)
Alkaholiks - WLIX from "Coast II Coast" CD/LP 1995 (Loud)
Lootpack - Psyche Move 12" EP and CD 1995 (CDP Records)
Lootpack - The Anthem 12" EP 1998
Lootpack - Questions 12" single 1999
Lootpack - Whenimondamic 12" single 1999
Alkaholiks - Killin It from "Likwidation" CD/LP 1999 (Loud)
Lootpack - Anthem Remix 7" single (Groove Attack - Promotional)
Lootpack - Soundpieces : Da Antidote CD/LP 1999
Lootpack - Soundpieces : Da Instrumentals LP 1999
Declaime - IllMindMuzik 12" EP 1999 (Goodvibe)
Lootpack - Bone Marrow from Strength Magazine’s "Subtext" CD/LP 1999 (London/Full Frequency)
Madlib Invazion - Strength Magazine’s "Subtext" CD/LP 1999 (London/Full Frequency)
Quasimoto - Hittin Hooks 7" single 1999
Quasimoto - Microphone Mathematics 12" single 1999
427 - Business Deals/What Is It 12" single 2000 (ABB Records)
Quasimoto - Come On Feet 12" 2000
Lootpack - Weededed 12" single 2000
Quasimoto - The Unseen CD/LP 2000
Quasimoto - Unseen Instrumentals CD/LP 2000
Cali Agents - "How The West Was Won" CD/LP 2000 (Ground Control)
Quasimoto - Basic Instinct 12" 2000
Kazi - Down for the Kaz 12" single 2000
Madlib - Madlib Invazion 7" single 2000
Epitome - Earthquake 12" single 2000
Yesterdays New Quintet - Elle’s Theme 12" EP 2001
Yesterdays New Quintet - The Bomb Shelter EP 7" single 2001
Madlib - 6 Variations of In the Rain 12" single 2001
Yesterdays New Quintet - Uno Esta 12" EP 2001
Yesterdays New Quintet - Rocket Love 7" single 2001 (Stones Throw Fan Club 45 #1 - Promotional)
Medaphoar - In Rhymes We Trust 12" single 2001
Yesterdays New Quintet - Angles Without Edges CD/LP 2001
Declaime - Andsoitisaid (8 songs) LP 2001 (Groove Attack)
The Loopdigga - The Beat Conductor - 2/7" EP 2001
LMNO - Headlock 12" single 2001 (Battle Axe)
Yesterdays New Quintet - Heaven Must Be Like This from "Rewind" 12" single and CD/LP 2002 (Ubiquity)
Quasimoto - Astronaut 12" EP 2002 (Antidote Records)
Madlib - LAX To JFK from Peanut Butter Wolf’s "Fusion Beats" CD and 12" EP 2002 (Brown Sugar/Cold Fusion, Japan)
Quasimoto - Green Power (Original Version) & Madlib - LAX to JFK from v/a Stones Throw 12" EP 2002
Dudley Perkins - Flowers 7" single 2002
Peanut Butter Wolf & Madlib - Rawcore from v/a "Constant Elevation" CD/LP 2002 (Astralwerks)
Lootpack - On Point 7" single 2002
Wildchild - Knicknack 2002 12" single 2002
Medaphoar - Place Your Bet 7" single 2002
Medaphoar - Bang Ya Head 12" single 2002
Joe McDuhprey Experience - Experience 12" EP 2002
Yesterdays New Quintet - Deja Vu (Weldon Irvine remix) from "Rewind 2" CD/LP 2002 (Ubiquity)
Yesterdays New Quintet - The Meaning of Love 7" single 2002
Wildchild - Heartbeat (Remix) 12" single 2003
Ahmad Miller - Ahmad’s First 12" EP 2003
Madlib - Theme For Fergus 7" single (Stones Throw Fan Club 45 #4 - Promotional)
Yesterdays New Quintet - Suite for Weldon 12" EP 2003
Wildchild - Secondary Protocol (6 songs) CD/LP 2003
Wildchild - Secondary Instrumentals (6 songs) LP 2003 / CD 2003 (Promo)
Jaylib - The Red/The Official 12" single 2003
Madlib - Shades of Blue CD/LP 2003 (Blue Note)
Yesterdays New Quintet - Nuclear War (Sun Ra Remix) from v/a "Dedication : The Myth Lives On" CD/LP and 7" single 2003 (Kindred Spirits)
Planet Asia - Breakin’ Shit Down from "Still In Training" CD/LP 2003 (Liquor Barrell)
Dudley Perkins - A Lil’ Light CD/LP 2003
Dudley Perkins - A Lil’ Light Instrumentals LP 2003 / CD 2003 (Promo)
Dudley Perkins - Money 12" single 2003
Declaime - Life b/w Enjoy Your Stay 12" single 2003 (Hum Drums)
Sound Directions - Skyscrapers 7" single (Stones Throw Fan Club 45 #5 - Promotional)
Jaylib - Champion Sound/Strip Club 12" single 2003
Jaylib - Champion Sound CD/LP 2003
Jaylib - Champion Sound Instrumentals LP 2003
Jaylib - Ice b/w Raw Addict 12" single 2003
Madvillain - Money Folder b/w America’s Most Blunted 12" single 2003
Madlib - Slim’s Return 12" single 2003 (Blue Note)
DJ Rels - Diggin In Brownswood (uncredited co-producer) 12" single 2003
Diverse - Ain’t Right from "One A.M." CD/LP (Chocolate Industries)
Medaphoar - Now U Know 12" single 2003
Dudley Perkins - Washedbrainsyndrome 12" single 2004
Vast Aire - Look Mom No Hands, Could Be You, Life’s Ill from "Look Mom No Hands" CD/LP 2004 (Chocolate Industries)
Madvillain - Curls & All Caps 12" single 2004
Madvillain - Madvillainy CD/LP 2004
Madvillain - Madvillainy Instrumentals LP 2004
Madvillain - One Beer 7" single 2004
Yesterdays New Quintet - Stevie CD/LP 2004
DJ Rels - Song For My Lady (co-produced, uncredited) from Broken Soul 12" single 2004
Aceyalone - KO Player from v/a "True Notes Vol. 1" CD 2004 (Okayplayer)
Malik Flavors - Ugly Beauty 12" EP 2004
Jaylib - McNasty Filth/Pillz 12"/CD single 2004
Declaime - Signs from "Preemtive Hype Vol. 2" 12" EP 2004 (Hiphopsite - Promo)
Prince Po - Too Much, The Slickness, Bump Bump from "The Slickness" CD/LP 2004 (Lex)
Diverse - Beyond, Beyond from "Just Biz" 12" single 2004 (Chocolate Industries)
Monk Hughes & The Outer Realm - Tribute To Brother Weldon CD/LP 2004
DJ Rels - Theme For A Broken Soul (co-produced, uncredited) CD/LP 2004
Wildchild - Vinyl Talk, The Jackal, Fallen Soldiers, All Night from "The Jackal" 12" EP (Industry)
De La Soul - Shopping Bags 12" single 2004 (Sanctuary)
De La Soul - Shopping Bags, Come On Down from "Grind Date" CD/LP 2004 (Sanctuary)
Oh No - The Disrupt (5 Songs) CD/LP 2004
Joe McDuphrey Experience - Entrando pela Janela from "Keepintime 12-inch #2" 12" EP 2004 (Mochilla)
Living Legends - Blast Your Radio 12" single 2004 and from "Classic" CD/LP 2005 (Up Above)
v/a - 5 tracks from Stones Throw 100 CD/12" EP 2004
Quasimoto - Broad Factor 12" single 2004
Declaime - Signs, Enjoy Your Stay, and Life from "Conversations with Dudley" CD/LP 2004 (Up Above)
Declaime - Signs from "Dearest Desiree" 12" single 2004 (Up Above)
Lawless Element - High 12" single 2005 (Raw Material Records)
Oh No - The Disrupt Instrumentals (5 Songs) LP 2005
Quasimoto - Bus Ride 12" single 2005
MED - Can’t Hold On from "Push" 12" single 2005
Quasimoto - The Further Adventures of Lord Quas CD/LP 2005
MED - Push Comes To Shove (9 Songs) CD/LP 2005

As MC, not Producer :
Peanut Butter Wolf - Styles, Crews, Flows, Beats 12" single 1998
DJ Design - Sparkdala 12" single 2000
Beatless feat Quasimoto - Dominant b/w Rock On 12" single 2000 and "Life Mirrors" CD/LP 2001(Ubiquity)
Nobody Beats The Beats - The Beat Diggin’ Song CD/LP 2002 (Sonny B Rec.)
King Britt feat. Quasimoto - Spaces from "Transcend" 12" single and "Adventures In Lo Fi" CD/LP 2002 (BBE)

Madlib Remixes :
Peanut Butter Wolf - Definition of Ill 12" single 1999
Madlib Remixes 12" EP 2000 (no labels)
Foreign Legion - Nowhere to Hide 12" single 2000 (Insiduos)
Beastie Boys - Shake Your Rump from "Beastie Boys Video Anthology" DVD 2000 (Grand Royal)
Zion I - Critical 12" single 2000 (Ground Control)
J-88 - Get It Together, Things You Do from "Best Kept Secret" CD/LP 2001 (Groove Attack)
Scapegoat Wax - Alison 12" single 2001 (Grand Royal)
Jill Scott - A Long Walk (circa 2001) from Madlib on Worldwide CD 2004 (Promo)
Bilal - Soul Sista 12" & CD single 2002 (Interscope)
Zero 7 - Distractions 12" & CD single 2002 (Ultimate Dilemma)
Jazzanova - L.O.V.E. and You and I 12" single 2002 (JCR)
Daedelus - Playing Parties (The Stars Remix) from "The Quiet Party" 12" & CD EP 2002 (Plug Research)
Prozack Turner - Bang It 12" single 2003 (Dreamworks-Promo) and "Death, Taxes & Prozack" CD 2004 (Outofwork)
Bobby Humphrey/Madlib - Young Warrior from "Blue Note Revisited" CD/LP 2004 (Blue Note)
Jay Z - Threat from "S. Carter : The Re-Mix" CD 2004 (Rocafella)
Jay Z - Threat from "Jay Z : Remix" 12" EP 2004 (bootleg)
Madlib Remixes 2 CD/LP 2004 (no label)
Donald Byrd/Madlib - Steppin Again 7" single 2004 (Blue Note)