Who had the album of the year in 2019? Well, if you ask Freddie Gibbs, he'll still be telling you it's Bandana. And it's hard to argue that. The follow-up to Pinata found Freddie Gibbs and Madlib leaning deeper into each other's world with Gibbs boasting his pen game while Madlib delved into the world of the trap without losing his signature sound.
Not only did they release the album of the year but even NPR would argue that the duo delivered the Tiny Desk of the Year with backing from the El Michels Affair. Now, the rapper-producer duo has reconnected with the El Michels Affair to revamp Bandana tracks with an even deeper fusion of hip-hop and jazz. With Madlib handling the production right next to Gibbs, the rapper's vocal range stretches even further with the gruff, bluesy tone in his voice getting amplified.
"Every experience that you have musically, you take it and you use it to make yourself a better artist," Gibbs explained. "I feel like these sessions with the band and, you know, even going to the Tiny Desk, this thing right here that we're doing right now is shaping me to be a way better artist."
"With Freddie Gibbs and Madlib diving deeper into the world of jazz, El Michels Affair deliver a refreshing take on songs like "Freestyle Shit," "Palmolive," and "Gatdamn." Hopefully, once the pandemic ends, we'll see Freddie and Madlib hit the road with the El Michels Affair for a joint tour. The Diamond Mine Sessions is in partnership with Amazon Music.
