After Madlib began working with Stones Throw Records, he was convinced to release Quasimoto, first as a featured MC on Peanut Butter Wolf's "Styles Crews Flows Beats" 1998. Finally, Madlib put out Quasimoto's debut solo album - The Unseen - in 2000. This album received much praise from both underground hip-hop press and mainstream media, making it onto Spin Magazine's top albums of the year list.
After a subsequent journey through jazz production and collaborations with MF DOOM & J Dilla, Madlib called on Quasimoto again for his second album, The Further Adventures of Lord Quas (2005). Stones Throw describes the album, "playing like something like a smoked-out comedy/crime Blaxploitation flick," and with further critical acclaim, it continued to build Madlib's reputation as one of the most creative and fearlessly skewed creators in hip-hop.
In 2013, a third Quasimoto album was released, Yessir Whatever. This album is compiled of "12 tracks recorded over 12 years," half of which were rare and out of print vinyl releases, and others being previously unreleased.
Asked by Rolling Stone magazine if there would ever be more Quasimoto, Madlib stated, "Yes, but I still haven't finished. It takes time. It has to be on a different level. The shrooms were the stuff that made me do Quasimoto in the first place. Hopefully, I get back on that level where I can finish it."
The visual aspect of Quasimoto - a small, animated figure, usually yellow, with a brick in his hand - has been developed over the years by illustrator Jeff Jank, who is Madlib and Stones Throw's long-time art director. Quasimoto was originally not meant to be seen, but by the second album, the visual character himself was referred to in the album's lyrics.
Astronaut
Quasimoto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And walked further than the moon ain't we? (ain't we?)
Ten to one of you found a dude
Straightened you as good as me, wouldn't be no more angel to me anyway (anyway)
(Ain't gon' pull no train on you)
(Yea' man that shit was wildin')
(No freight train anyway)
(Maybe one or two after the surprise eve)
(First as four as they'll know anyway)
(And it ain't how it look like rain tonight anyway) (Come on, come On)
(Yo ass ain't goin' nowhere)
(Look girlfriend don't move me)
She lyin' I'm tellin' ya who you gonna believe her or me?
You ain't no astronaut but we've been out there in orbit
And walked further than the moon ain't we? (ain't we?)
Who wants to be full of regrets with no father time caps, life don't get no re-stamps
(Ten to one of you)
Found a dude, (Found a dude)
That could straighten you as good as me
Wouldn't be no more angel to me, anyway (Anyway, anyway)
Yeah we've been out there in orbit and walked further than the Moon ain't we? Ain't We?
Just between you and me
You and me, you and me, you and me, you and me, you (Just between you and me)
(Listen for the whispers!?)
(Here's the other World, space is the place, space is the place)
The song "Astronaut" by Quasimoto showcases a conversation between Quasimoto (the alter ego of rapper Madlib) and a woman. The woman initially challenges Quasimoto's assertion that they have been "out there in orbit" and "walked further than the moon." Quasimoto responds with a rhetorical question, "Ten to one of you found a dude, straightened you as good as me, wouldn't be no more angel to me anyway." Here, Quasimoto is suggesting that he has had a more profound impact on the woman's life than any other man and that the woman should trust his words as truth.
As the song progresses, the conversation between Quasimoto and the woman heats up, with the woman accusing Quasimoto of lying and Quasimoto responding in kind. The chorus repeats several times, emphasizing the idea that the two have been on a journey together, whether or not the woman admits it. The outro features a series of fragmented phrases, perhaps suggesting that the conversation has devolved into chaos or that the two are communicating on a different plane altogether.
Line by Line Meaning
(You ain't no astronaut)
Even though you're not an astronaut, we've been in space and ventured further than the moon.
And walked further than the moon ain't we? (ain't we?)
We've traveled beyond the moon and back, haven't we?
Ten to one of you found a dude
Most likely, you've found a man who may have satisfied you sexually.
Straightened you as good as me, wouldn't be no more angel to me anyway (anyway)
However, he can't straighten you as perfectly as me, but it wouldn't matter to me anyways.
(Ain't gon' pull no train on you)
I'm not going to share you with others sexually.
(Yea' man that shit was wildin')
Yeah, man that idea was crazy.
(No freight train anyway)
We're not going to participate in an orgy.
(Maybe one or two after the surprise eve)
However, we may involve one or two extra people after the unexpected event.
(He's first cause it's his party)
He's in charge because it's his gathering.
(First as four as they'll know anyway)
We're the first ones here, as far as they know.
(And it ain't how it look like rain tonight anyway) (Come on, come On)
It doesn't seem likely that it'll rain tonight. Let's go.
(Yo ass ain't goin' nowhere)
You're not leaving.
(Look girlfriend don't move me)
I'm not influenced by your female companionship.
She lyin' I'm tellin' ya who you gonna believe her or me?
She's lying, so who are you going to believe: her or me?
Who wants to be full of regrets with no father time caps, life don't get no re-stamps
Nobody wants to regret not living life to the fullest because time is limited and can't be redone.
(Ten to one of you)
The probability is high that at least one of you has found someone else who can satisfy you sexually.
Found a dude, (Found a dude)
You have found another man who can satisfy you.
(Wouldn't be no more angel to me, anyway) (Anyway, anyway)
It wouldn't matter to me anyways, because you're not an angel.
Yeah we've been out there in orbit and walked further than the Moon ain't we? Ain't We?
Yes, we've been out in space and traveled further than the moon, haven't we?
Just between you and me
This is just a conversation between us.
You and me, you and me, you and me, you and me, you (Just between you and me)
Just us, nobody else.
(Listen for the whispers!?)
Can you hear the secrets being whispered?
(Here's the other World, space is the place, space is the place)
Let me introduce you to another world, where space is where we belong.
Lyrics © EMPIRE PUBLISHING
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