Further Adventures

The hype surrounding Quasimoto’s 2000 debut album, The Unseen, rendered Madlib (aka Lord Quas, aka Otis Jackson Jr., aka DJ Rels, aka Monk Hughes) a forever stoned, 24-hour beat-head unable to function outside of his private basement studio. The albums’ curious, multi-personality design had much of the hip-hop press wondering if Madlib was okay; the rock press, however, loved it. Was this another case of the alternative press turning a hip-hop act into a novelty, or were folks really grasping what Madlib was trying to do while standing on stage dressed as a six-foot-tall yellowish, furry, snouted creature? 

Eventually word surfaced that, while working on multiple serious projects, Madlib pieced together his Quasimoto concept on the side, never planning to release it. The story goes that Stones Throw owner/Madlib landlord Peanut Butter Wolf talked Jackson into taking a chance and releasing what was at the time perhaps the most daring hip-hop album to see widespread distribution. In the years since, Madlib has become arguably the most creative and prolific figure in underground hip-hop. And Lord Quas? He’s done a nice job of dividing hip-hop fans with his lunacy, and, believe it or not, he’s back for more mischief with his unimaginable sophomore album, The Further Adventures of Lord Quas.

Spread out over 26 tracks, Adventures plays out more like a Captain Beefheart or Frank Zappa project than your typical rap release. Using more samples than any standard 10 rap albums combined, Madlib has created an ambitious sound menagerie that can hardly keep its focus long enough to ever hit the two-minute mark. Mixing oddball samples, vocal experiments, various sound-bites and other unidentifiable sources with beats and an occasional rap, Jackson doesn’t tell a story, but further sculpts the world he shares with his high-pitched alter-ego Lord Quas.

So what exactly is Quas like, you ask? First off, he is the bad character. Much like Madlib, Quas is a big fan of the greens. In fact, similar to The Unseen, Adventures often feels like a testament to the raw creative madness that can be brought on by a little bit or, in Jackson’s case, a boatload of reefer. Rather than exploring themes, Madlib focuses on style and attitude, spending the glut of his time developing the personality of his all-too-bored studio partner Quasimoto.

Equal parts funny and confusing, Adventures is not for the everyday rap (or rock) listener. In fact, Adventures isn’t for the everyday mind. With repeat listens, the beats start setting in and the subtle themes and jokes become lovably novel. Believe it or not, the vocal effects, bothersome as they may first seem, might even start to make sense. Quas is not here to be easy; Madlib makes that very clear from beginning to end with only the single, “Rappcats Pt.3,” coming off as accessible.

Oftentimes feeling more like a hip-hop version of a Cheech and Chong film, Adventures retains a high entertainment value throughout, that is, if you realize before pressing play that you are in store for a wholly madcap listening encounter. Jackson already has a number of first-rate hip-hop and jazz albums under his belt; to some, Adventures is just another peep into Madlib, hip-hop’s current classic character, and his studio shadow, Lord Quas, the bad character.   7.5/10

Written by G. William Locke