Quasimoto

Of all hip-hop wünderkind Madlib's multiple identities, Quasimoto remains the most compelling -- a Munchkin-voiced dope fiend who'll say and do just about anything. But the real marvel is that his creator finds equally colorful settings for this comic-book creation: first on the 2000 classic The Unseen, and now, upping the ante considerably, The Further Adventures of Lord Quas.

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• Underground Hip-Hop
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Even the inevitable comparisons to Paul's Boutique understate how diffuse these 27 brief but idea-crammed tracks really are. Think instead of a walk with Quas through the projects on a summer evening: Laughter and arguments fade in and out, snatches of old soul, jazz, and hip-hop drift by, and as always, there's that half-humorous, half-disturbing helium voice in your ear -- Madlib himself even chimes in periodically, like a good angel. To speak of the best moments is beside the point; this soundscape must be inhabited and understood as you go.

That's the one nagging thing about The Further Adventures,packed as it is with muddled brilliance: Madlib has already done muddled brilliance. As effective a disguise as Lord Quas is, it's still a disguise. This disc is a lock for year-end best-ofs, and deservedly so. But it's possible to appreciate its greatness and still wish the Wizard of Quas might someday step out completely from behind the curtain.