Dudley Perkins
As a vocal muse for Madlib’s creations, Dudley is unmatched; he’s earned first pick at Madlib’s prized beat collections. Just like Madvillain or Quasimoto, the Dudley/Madlib combination is a facet unto its own – on par with the most illustrious collaboration projects in Madlib’s catalog.
His dynamic sophomore effort, entitled Expressions (2012 A.U.), takes an extended detour in the direction of Parliament’s Mothership Connection. The funk is strong this time around – as is the soul music that brought tears to the eyes of Dudley’s and Madlib’s aunts and uncles back in the golden days. Dudley continues his plaintive, introspective soul-searching – as well as his trademark questions of the future for mankind.
As always, his search for goodness and truth is balanced by a robust and hilarious celebration of the good life – the booty life and the weed life. But expect even funkier dance-floor singles this time – and even more melodious arrangements from Madlib, who again handles all production duties.
Aside from Dudley Perkins’ two releases on Stones Throw, he has continued to work for other labels under the name Declaime, as well as several collaborations with Georgia Anne Muldrow.
Dj Wildchild
“Actually there is about as much point to introducing an artist as well known as Wildchild as there is to publicly introducing a tidal wave or a national epidemic. After all, there aren’t many people who won’t recognize his name, or that of his group Lootpack, and no one-nobody at all-who will be able to place one of their platters on a turntable and merely listen.
Lyrical spontaneity is the spark that fires the music of Lootpack, and this is especially true of the Wildchild. As all stages of time exist openly in music, Wildchild’s lyrics are reliant on the past, aware of today, and curious about the future. Full of drive, clamor, brashness, sadness, and elation of the city, it is hip hop music without any unnecessary trappings.
Wildchild is now a lyricist’s lyricist, but for all his incredible technical ability, his outstanding quality as an MC is the warmth and joy he communicates through moment to moment creation.”
- DJ Cinnamon Underpants, San Francisco, CA, 2002
THE LOOTPACK
The Lootpack were one of several old-school revivalist crews to come out of southern California during the ’90s, and recorded some of the most underappreciated music on the revitalized West Coast underground scene. The group was formed in 1990 in Oxnard, CA (a smaller beach town about a hour outside of Los Angeles), by longtime friends Madlib (producer, MC, b. Otis Jackson Jr.), Wildchild (MC, b. Jack Brown), and DJ Romes (scratching, b. Romeo Jimenez). The trio members had been trying their hand at hip-hop since junior high, and formed an official group while in college.
