Madlib & Freddie Gibbs - Pinata

Madlib has made a name for himself as one of the most inventive performers in US hip hop, earning kudos for collaborations with MF Doom under the moniker Madvillain. The producer’s latest outing sees him hook up with rapper Freddie Gibbs, another gifted artist to have emerged from the seemingly endless conveyor belt of hip hop talent in Los Angeles.

Featuring an array of notable guest stars, including Raekwon and Odd Future duo Domo Genesis and Earl Sweatshirt, Pinata showcases all that’s best in the LA scene, with the eclectic musical mix venturing into vintage funk grooves, moody soundscapes and soulful R&B. The record is also assembled in an imaginative style, with tracks seguing into each other and instrumental snippets peppered throughout. Highlights include the gangsta-funk of ‘Scarface’, the summery groove of ‘Harold’s’ and the two-part ‘High’, which switches from a hypnotic lounge groove into glitch hip-hop. But best of all is ‘Robes’, featuring the aforementioned Domo Genesis and Earl Sweatshirt, which makes terrific use of compression a la J Dilla, resulting a wonderfully hazy and seductive tune.

Innovative and stylish, Pinata is one of the hip hop albums of the year.