LOOTPACK
SOUNDPIECES DA ANTIDOTE!
Label: LABELS S STONES THROW
Releasedatum: 13-02-2026
Herkomst: NL
Item-nr: 4837714
EAN: 0659457201944
Levertijd: Verwacht op 13-02
Recensie
Da Antidote! is the debut album by California hip-hop group Lootpack, consisting of Madlib, Wildchild, and DJ Romes, released on June 29, 1999 via Stones Throw Records. It is widely regarded as a cornerstone of late-1990s underground hip-hop and a landmark in Madlib’s career, marking his first full-length production showcase. Lootpack emerged from Oxnard, California, a creative hub that also produced artists like Oh No, MED, and Declaime—all of whom appear as guests on this record.
The sound of Soundpieces: Da Antidote! is defined by dusty samples, jazz and funk fragments, intricate drum programming, and a warm, analog atmosphere. Madlib’s production relies heavily on layered sample collages and vintage drum breaks, complemented by DJ Romes’ scratches and cuts, while Wildchild delivers sharp, rhythmically precise rhymes. Lyrically, the album focuses on classic hip-hop themes: preserving authenticity, battling weak MCs, and celebrating the art of “crate diggin’,” the practice of searching through vinyl bins for rare samples. The track “Crate Diggin’” itself pays direct homage to that tradition and has become one of Lootpack’s signature cuts.
The album contains 21 tracks with a total running time of about 78 minutes. Guest appearances include Dilated Peoples (“Long Awaited”), Oh No, MED, Declaime, Kazi, and Tha Alkaholiks, all associated with the Stones Throw collective. One of the standout tracks, “Episodes,” runs nearly nine minutes and features a posse of Oxnard-area MCs, encapsulating the scene’s collaborative spirit.
Musically, Soundpieces: Da Antidote! represents intelligent, sample-driven West Coast underground rap, intentionally distancing itself from the glossy mainstream sound of the late ’90s. Critics praised Madlib’s imaginative, jazz-infused production and the album’s cohesive atmosphere, though some noted its length and density. Nevertheless, it has come to be recognized as one of the defining Stones Throw releases—a foundation for Madlib’s later experiments as Quasimoto, Madvillain, and Yesterday’s New Quintet.
Ultimately, Soundpieces: Da Antidote! marked the beginning of a new era: it introduced Madlib as a visionary producer, established Stones Throw Records as a home for boundary-pushing hip-hop, and brought the Oxnard underground scene to international attention. To this day, the album remains a benchmark for classic, sample-based production and a testament to hip-hop’s creative independence.
The sound of Soundpieces: Da Antidote! is defined by dusty samples, jazz and funk fragments, intricate drum programming, and a warm, analog atmosphere. Madlib’s production relies heavily on layered sample collages and vintage drum breaks, complemented by DJ Romes’ scratches and cuts, while Wildchild delivers sharp, rhythmically precise rhymes. Lyrically, the album focuses on classic hip-hop themes: preserving authenticity, battling weak MCs, and celebrating the art of “crate diggin’,” the practice of searching through vinyl bins for rare samples. The track “Crate Diggin’” itself pays direct homage to that tradition and has become one of Lootpack’s signature cuts.
The album contains 21 tracks with a total running time of about 78 minutes. Guest appearances include Dilated Peoples (“Long Awaited”), Oh No, MED, Declaime, Kazi, and Tha Alkaholiks, all associated with the Stones Throw collective. One of the standout tracks, “Episodes,” runs nearly nine minutes and features a posse of Oxnard-area MCs, encapsulating the scene’s collaborative spirit.
Musically, Soundpieces: Da Antidote! represents intelligent, sample-driven West Coast underground rap, intentionally distancing itself from the glossy mainstream sound of the late ’90s. Critics praised Madlib’s imaginative, jazz-infused production and the album’s cohesive atmosphere, though some noted its length and density. Nevertheless, it has come to be recognized as one of the defining Stones Throw releases—a foundation for Madlib’s later experiments as Quasimoto, Madvillain, and Yesterday’s New Quintet.
Ultimately, Soundpieces: Da Antidote! marked the beginning of a new era: it introduced Madlib as a visionary producer, established Stones Throw Records as a home for boundary-pushing hip-hop, and brought the Oxnard underground scene to international attention. To this day, the album remains a benchmark for classic, sample-based production and a testament to hip-hop’s creative independence.
