Madlib - WLIB AM: King of the Wigflip

US hip-hop producer Otis Jackson Jr. (more commonly known as Madlib) showcases his abstract style on WLIB AM: King of the Wigflip, the last album in BBE's Beat Generation series. The self-styled Beat Konducta's contribution marks a fitting end to this succession of producer-driven discs which began with J Dilla, the late rapper-producer who was Jackson's closest contemporary. Yet setting aside this symbolic significance, accidental or not, and King of the Wigflip stands as a strong effort, melding crunchy funk and old-school soul samples with found vocals and illustrious guest spots from the likes of Talib Kweli and Prince Po. The overall vibe is obtuse humour with a darker edge, reminiscent of …Is Dead-era De La Soul. But there’s a certain 21st-Century edge to proceedings that allows Madlib to claim a place of his own alongside Prince Paul, that band's guru, and Jay Dee himself, in the pantheon of hip-hop’s great producers. [Gillian Watson]