All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Like both artists' most transcendent work, Madvillainy retains its mystery and wonder after dozens of listens.

100

Dusted Magazine

While every Ivy League dog kennel worker with a paycheck from Blender or Revolver may write dissertations about how Outkast re-invented pop music (and if we follow that logic) then Madvillain simply destroys the boundaries.

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100

Alternative Press

All invention and no indulgence. [Jun 2004, p.110]

Pitchfork

Madvillainy is inexhaustibly brilliant, with layer-upon-layer of carefully considered yet immediate hip-hop, forward-thinking but always close to its roots.... Good luck finding a better hip-hop album this year, mainstream, undie, or otherwise.

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Village Voice (Consumer Guide)

A glorious phantasmagoria of flow.

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Q Magazine

One utterly badass album. [Jul 2004, p.116]

Tiny Mix Tapes

A dizzying synergy of heavy brains and chemistry, culminating in blissfully fun, irreverent, and engaging brand of record-making magic.

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Mojo

The wily creativity on display here is astonishing. [Jun 2004, p.114]

Dot Music

A definite tour de force for indie hip hop.

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Delusions of Adequacy

It’s easily one of the best pieces of work of both participants’ careers and a mark of the incredible talent both possess.

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All Music Guide

Madvillainy's strength lies in its mix between seemingly obtuse beats, samples, MCing, and some straight-up hip-hop bumping.

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PopMatters

The problem with Madvillainy, if it can even be termed a problem, is that Doom and Madlib just have too many ideas.

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Splendid

Madvillainy isn't really an inaccessible record. It may take a couple of spins for you to get involved, but once you've passed that initial adaptation, it stays with you.

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Austin Chronicle

Not only does it capture the unstructured verse of a masked maniac within a sheer net of plausibility, it parades his inner dementia among instrumental adornments of the highest order.

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Filter

Raw, crunchy beats and ugly, monster flows delivered in a punk album format. [#9, p.110]

Urb

Boatloads of fresh, clunky beats land ashore with narrative tongue trickery. [Apr 2004, p.86]

ShakingThrough.net

Madlib creatively melds electronic and jazzy elements, entertaining voiceovers akin to the kind heard on Batman or Superman cartoons, and snippets of Sun Ra to fashion a wildly diverse yet coherently executed tableaux of brainy, original noise-art.

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Village Voice

An outlandishly imaginative collaboration.

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Stylus Magazine

By trimming excess fat (read: R’n’B choruses), Madvilliany keeps a sense of spontaneity, cutting off unexpectedly and never allowing anything to get stale.

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Blender

A torrid album that marries old-school rap aesthetics to punk-rock concision. [May 2004, p.127]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 137 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

mac b gave it a10:
Incredible originality and flow - nothing else like it in this genre. Doom is the master of low-fi indie hip-hop and this collection is a 7-course meal of listening pleasure. If you've come here for pop rap or auto-tune, look elsewhere - you are not worthy.

Jeremy E gave it a1:
In reality, this album deserves a 7, but the score is way too high right now, so I'm giving it a 1 to drop the score a little. This is one of the most overrated albums ever. The production is good, but DOOM spends most of the album talking about NONSENSE! It bugs me when people rate this so highly, because it means that they will agree with anything that seems abstract or not mainstream. People have to realize that the most important part of a rap album is the lyrics. And the lyrics to this album or completely pointless. Other than Fancy Clown, there isn't a single song on the album that has a coherent message (anyone who disagrees, feel free to prove me wrong). It doesn't matter if DOOM knows how to rhyme. He doesn't put his talent to good use. Do you guys really think that: "More cheese than Doritos Cheetos or Fritos" is a brilliant line? Final Verdict: This album isn't worth the full listen. Just pick up these songs: Raid, Fancy Clown, and Supervillain Theme (instrumental). They're really the only ones worth listening to, the rest is crap.

This Is Awful Music This Music Sucks gave it a0:
This was the worst thing I ever listened to.

TJ gave it a10:
I've referred to this as my favorite album of all time in many, many occasions, and I still fully back that comment. Every single track is mindblowing.

cathal f. gave it a10:
Awesome album, makes some of the most original hip hop albums look unoriginal!

Taeros gave it a0:
What detached drivel! I saw the high ratings and I thought wow! - finally rap/hip-hop that must have substance---wrong!!! The usual meandering, meaningless rhymes. Really! Elementary schoolyard stuff. Just because you have two words that rhyme does not mean that you should use them together, much less think that they make for a cogent, clear thought. Stupid!! And not in the good way!

Wes M. gave it a10:
I admit, this took a LOT of listens for me to get into, and I only finally got into after listening to the excellent Mouse and the Mask -- reinvigorated my interest in hip-hop -- highly recommended!

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