Madvillain (MF Doom & Madlib): Madvillainy (2LP) [STONES THROW]

*Madvillainy* is the sole studio album by the American hip hop duo Madvillain, composed of British-American rapper MF Doom and American producer Madlib. Released on March 23, 2004, through Stones Throw Records, the album is notable for its innovative production and complex lyricism.

Recorded between 2002 and 2004, much of the album’s instrumentation was crafted by Madlib during a stay in Brazil, where he used minimal equipment including a Boss SP-303 sampler, a turntable, and a tape deck. The album's release was delayed when an unfinished demo was stolen and leaked online about fourteen months before its official debut. Frustrated by the leak, the duo paused work on the album, only resuming after completing other solo projects.

Although *Madvillainy* did not achieve major commercial success, it became one of Stones Throw Records' best-selling albums. It reached number 179 on the US Billboard 200 and garnered attention from media outlets outside the hip hop sphere, such as The New Yorker. The album received widespread critical acclaim for its production by Madlib and MF Doom’s distinctive lyricism, earning it recognition as Doom's magnum opus. It is frequently cited as one of the greatest hip hop albums ever, appearing on numerous "greatest albums of all time" lists, including number 411 on NME's *The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time*, number 365 on Rolling Stone's *500 Greatest Albums of All Time*, and number 18 on Rolling Stone's *200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time*.