Retrospective Review: Champion Sound by Jaylib
Do you know what happens when two veteran producers collaborate? We get ‘Champion Sound.'
When Otis “Madlib” Jackson, Jr. and James “J Dilla” Yancey put their creative minds together, the result was nothing short of a raw, unfiltered tribute to hip-hop: Champion Sound. Unveiled two decades ago, the album thrives on a stripped-down essence, proving that a melding of genius minds can offer more than bare rhymes layered atop electrifying tracks. The inception of this collaboration germinated from Madlib’s admiration for Dilla’s beat-making finesse. By 2003, each had carved out a distinguished creative niche, earning their stripes as luminaries in the hip-hop industry. As revealed in Dan Charnas’ biography of Dilla, Dilla Time, Madlib had serendipitously come across one of Dilla’s beat CDs and felt an irresistible urge to lay down an album’s worth of tracks over it.
Among those tracks was “The Message,” a reimagining of the iconic song by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. The tune saw Madlib spitting verses over a laid-back beat previously used by Busta Rhymes in “Show Me What You Got” from his 2000 album Anarchy. Impressed, Stones Throw label owner Peanut Butter Wolf cut a limited vinyl run of 250 copies for promotional purposes, labeling the 7-inch simply as “JAYLIB.” Upon acquiring the record, Dilla’s reaction was anything but passive. Contacting Wolf, he expressed no displeasure but a keen interest in formalizing a collaboration with Madlib. For Dilla, “formal” meant an entire album where each would rap solely over the other’s beats.
His vision crystallized into Champion Sound, an album devoid of unnecessary frills yet teeming with gritty charm. The tracks serve as an auditory sandbox where each artist’s beats amplify the other’s strengths. Dilla wasn’t exaggerating when he said the album featured beats and rhymes so dirty, play it too loud, and you’ll feel a burn where you pissin’.” The album primarily immerses itself in the unrefined aesthetic that both Madlib and Dilla deeply revered. Exceptions like “The Red” and “The Official” offer sophistication. However, a re-release altered “The Red,” replacing the original beat due to licensing issues, thereby diluting its impact.
One could argue that Dilla’s rapping over Madlib’s beats forms the project’s pinnacle if pressed to pick. Dilla’s lyrical skills surpass those of Madlib, who, in turn, crafts angular grooves that meld seamlessly with Dilla’s flow. Notable tracks include the title song, which juxtaposes a Bollywood sample against dancehall vocals, and “Heavy,” which sees Madlib deploying dub-inspired rhythms as Dilla verbally glides atop them.
Among Madlib’s solo efforts featuring Dilla’s beats, “The Mission” stands out. Here, Madlib employs a gritty string sample that crescendos, almost engulfing the vocals. Yet Dilla’s lines still cut through, dismissing the notion that producers shouldn’t rap. Madlib often opts for storytelling, navigating treacherous cityscapes in tracks like “Nowadayz,” “Strip Down,” and “Pillz.” “The Heist” plunges us into a cinematic narrative where Madlib flees authorities after a heist has gone awry.
Madlib’s high-pitched alter ego, Quasimoto, shines on “React,” where Dilla marries his early production sensibilities with Madlib’s quirks, extracting a fleeting guitar solo from a prog rock track and elongating it for the song’s duration. Guest appearances from other rappers add layers of complexity. Frank-N-Dank joins Dilla on the boisterous “McNasty Filth,” while Talib Kweli collaborates with Madlib on “Raw Sh*t,” each artist skillfully navigating a keyboard-driven beat. Guilty Simpson makes a memorable appearance on “Strapped,” his verses brimming with audacious swagger.
A departure from the album’s grittier tones, “Starz” explores romantic sentiments as Dilla flips an obscure 1970s prog rock sample and Madlib pens a love letter in verse. “No Games” features Dilla in a monologue over a beat that would later grace MF DOOM’s “One Beer.” Enduring the test of time, Champion Sound aligns seamlessly with Dilla’s envisioned aesthetics. Though he left us too soon, this raw, unadulterated project is a lasting tribute to his creative spirit, a vivid reminder of the hip-hop he so deeply loved to create.