Madlib (Mind Altering Demented Lessons In Beats) (born Otis Jackson Jr. on October 24 1973 in Oxnard, California, United States) is a California-based DJ, multi-instrumentalist, rapper, and music producer. Known under a plethora of pseudonyms, he is one of the most prolific and critically acclaimed hip hop producers of the 2000s and has collaborated with myriad hip hop artists, including The Alkaholiks, De La Soul, Ghostface Killah, Talib Kweli, A.G., MF DOOM (as Madvillain) and the late J Dilla (as Jaylib). Madlib describes himself as a "DJ first, producer second, and MC last," and he has done several projects as a DJ, mixer, or remixer. Alongside collaborators J Dilla and MF Doom, Madlib has been a primary influence on an upcoming generation of producers and musicians, many of which prefer an abstract aspect to their work. Artists frequently compared to Madlib include Los Angeles' Flying Lotus, and Philadelphian musician and producer Jneiro Jarel.

From the unlikely beach town of Oxnard, 40 miles north of Los Angeles, the multi-dimensional Madlib quickly rose to prominence as one of the most interesting figures in late-’90s hip-hop. With his childhood buddies in Lootpack, Madlib quickly made a name for himself as a rapper, producer, and DJ. In particular, his expansive style and deft touch for composition made him one of hip-hop’s most sought-after producers. An enthusiastic crate-digger, with a deep reverence for jazz and soul, Madlib