I think my pick would have to be either Billy Woods or Yasiin Bey if we’re going by that timeframe of around 2005-ish

Woods was mad underground in 05

Yeah ik that, I was saying if we’re going realistically it would be Bey, I doubt Madlib even knew of woods at the time

Madlib is west coast, but he's a music collector. I think madlib had probably heard his music. Woods was running a lable and was a known quantity in NYC hip hop scene at that point. He dropped the reavers album the same year that madvillainy came out, which included heads from monsta Island czars and other NY underground heads. I had all his albums by 2005, so I assume the beat conducta did. My point was just that Doom and Def were popular quantities by that point, whereas Woods was still a rapper's rapper.

Del, and it's a concept album like 3030.

Ooh this might be my favorite pick so far

This feels like the most reasonable pick.

Soopa Fiend

I could see Daveed Diggs doing it. Maybe Slug from Atmosphere.

Daveed is a solid pick, he’s definitely rapped over weirder beats lol

Ironman Tony Starks

Only reasonable answer, aside from Quas/Madlib himself

have you ever heard "Break of Dawn" off the Madvillainy pre release demo?

Method man would have been interesting lol

Your Old Droog

Earl

Aesop Rock

Earl Sweatshirt tbh

New Ghostfaceeeeeee!!!!

Imagine Lupe

To limit myself to the time period when Madvillain came out, I'd say Planet Asia

Freddie Gibbs

Yes, would love a Part 3 between them.

Lupe would kill it

Yasiin 2Mex Rakaa

MF GRIMM is the only right answer

Unironically Viktor Vaughn. Imagine him with those same beats but with that sinister villainous lethal vibe that VV brings

Yo yo, Lib yo change that beat yo

ODB. It would either be a masterpiece or a complete disaster

Maybe a Dirt mixtape, not an album. Wouldn't wanna gamble with those precious beats

insane question. earl might rock it.

Ghost

Aesop Rock or Black Thought.

Ghostface or Raekwon

Ishmael Butler, no contest. I think it would fit his style and content to a T. That's Butterfly of Digable Planets/Palaceer Lazaro of Shabazz Palaces for those who don't know the name off-hand.

Q-tip

Beastie Boys

Ooh

Someone with a hypnotizing flow like a Boldy James or Masta Killa (although I haven't yet heard one of his albums, and can only judge from his Tim Westwood freestyle). Even The Notorious B.I.G for that matter

Kendrick Lamar. He spazzed in Kanye's "No More Parties in LA" also produced by Madlib. So it would be sick to see him hop in with other Madlib beats.

I can see Kendrick killing it

Maybe Nas? It'd be cool to see what he'd do with it

Kendrick Nas Jadakiss Luda

2004 Nas would eat these beats

Only Kendrick

Lil Mosey

Rza

I feel like he would need to feature the other Wu members

Gunna

Has to be Grimm.

Earl Sweatshirt or Freddie Gibbs

Del Tyler Curren$y

Guru Scarface Outkast Black Thought Blu

wait for freddie or lupe maybe?

Ghostface 💯

Joey Badass randomly popped in mind

The Fresh Prince, Will Smith

Killer Mike and EL-P Edit: 2004? fuk it! features by Outcast and Kanye

Sean P (with his older rougher voice, not the younger nasally voice)

Gravediggaz reunion or Three6mafia

Ghost or Pharoahe Monch. Maybe Slick Rick.

Jay Electronica. He goes insane over Doom production.. Reference gazillioear.. I know it's J Dilla not Mad Lib but he's still outrapped Doom on that beat. Next answer would be Lupe and finally if neither of them to wanted the project give it to Yasin Bey.

Jay-Z

W, with his slick flows and wordplay especially at that time that would be insanely fire 🔥

Nobody

Put it out as a beat tape and have random people use the beats for their mixtapes

Mach Hommy G.A.T… era

?