Description
In November 2002, the first demo sequence of Madvillainy was leaked online, featuring early vocal cuts from Madlib's Bomb Shelter studio. Although it may have been unfinished, fans quickly recognized this hip-hop album as truly unique. As a result, DOOM re-recorded vocals - referencing the leak on "Rhinestone Cowboy" - while Madlib added new beats and adjusted the sequence. While album leaks could be detrimental to an artist's momentum in the early 2000s, these demos only heightened fans' excitement; when Madvillainy was officially released in 2004, it was hailed as "One of the most highly anticipated underground rap albums in history," according to Pitchfork. Today, Madvillainy is widely recognized as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time.