MF Doom "MM..FOOD" (20th Anniversary Edition)

In celebration of the album’s 20th anniversary, MM..FOOD has been repackaged with all new artwork by Sam Rodriguez! Originally released in 2004, MF DOOM's MM..FOOD is hailed as a classic hip-hop album full of inventive production, remarkable wordplay, and unique themes. Celebrated for its seamless blend of humor, wit, and social commentary, the album ushers listeners into a bizarre world of food-related metaphors, painting a bitterly comedic portrait of a life tainted by vice, violence, and jealousy. It was a brilliant and novel concept that gave DOOM plenty of room to explore the album’s subjects. Throughout MM..FOOD, DOOM embeds complex ideas within seemingly simple narratives. Album opener “Beef Rapp” is a multi-pronged metaphor reminding listeners of the dangers involved in the glorification of conflict, especially within the rap game. “Hoe Cakes” borrows its name from the sweet, hot water cornmeal patties, which he uses as a symbol to rhyme about indulgence and excess. Continuing the motif, DOOM uses the Madlib-produced “One Beer” to fold layers of depth about escapism and ego, while the popular “Rapp Snitch Knishes” critiques the self-incrimination and contradictory behaviors of some rappers. Overall, MM..FOOD is both a social commentary and a piece of social satire, showcasing MF DOOM’s ability to blend serious themes with his unique, playful lyrical style. The digital version of the 20th Anniversary Edition features 11 bonus tracks including 3 remixes, 1 alternate edit, and 7 rare and insightful clips of MF DOOM being interviewed by Kevin Beacham, just days before the original album release in 2004. R.I.P., MF DOOM.

K.M.D. "Mr. Hood" (May 14, 1991)

According to Zevlove X lead rapper for K.M.D., the group's message is "to uplift." His partner-in-rhyme, Onyx ("The Birthstone Kid") extends the sentiment saying, "the main message of K.M.D. is to uplift the conscience of all Nubian people." To K.M.D., Nubian doesn't only refer to the Muslim slaves stolen from Africa in the 1600s, it's a scattered nation of oppressed peoples including "Latinos, Japanese, Sicilians, Indians and American Blacks." K.M.D. lay down the tenets of their manifest on Mr. Hood, their debut album on Elektra Entertainment. The raps and rants and rhymes of K.M.D. rattle the roots of cultural stereotypes. Like the parable of the Bible or the fables of Aesop, K.M.D. use a disarming simplicity as a way of communicating high spiritual truths. Amidst the brutally eclectic sampling, cutting, and beatbox prowess of DJ Subroc, one hears echoes of childhood: strains of playground music and deconstructions of whitebread educational narration. "The way we relay the messages," says Onyx, "makes people want to strain the brain as a mental exercise to figure out what we're talking about." Songs like "Crackpot," "Who Me?", "The Humrush" and "Banana Peel Blues" hit back hard at the disinformational barrage washing over post-war America. Bio continues below...

K.M.D. hail from Long Beach, New York, where Long Island has been dubbed Strong Island by the rap community. Zevlove X was technically born in Brighton, England, and moved to New York when he was a year old. His brother, Subroc, was born two years later. "We're real close, he's my best friend type of thing," says Zevlove X. "Anything a kid did, we did together." In 1986, while still in their teens, Zevlove X and Subroc began to make the first cassette demos that would become the cornerstone of the K.M.D. sound. While Zev was writing and rapping his first rhymes, Subroc would cut hair for people in the neighborhood. He used a barter system and would often let his customers pay him in old albums, a practice which resulted in Subroc's extraordinary record collection. "The records were worthless to them," he says, "but valuable to me." Subroc has immortalized this experience on "The Barber's Mission," his solo track on the K.M.D. album. Zev and Subroc were introduced to the Five Pillars of Faith of Islam by their mother. Onyx, a Long Beach native, had been raised Baptist and "used to sing in church choirs until my conversion to Islam." He'd known Zev and Subroc but didn't really start hanging around with them until 1987. Zev had a developing rep producing demos for other artists and surfaced as a rapper on 3rd Bass's hit "Gas Face." By the time KMD recorded their rebuttal track, "Gas Face Refill," Onyx was a solid part of the crew. Cont'd...

Produced by K.M.D., Mr. Hood raises the consciousness of a Rap Nation by several notches. "Crackpot' finds the roots of drug abuse in the crabgrass of middle class suburbia, "Figure of Speech" and "Bumrush" are tour-de-forces of Zevlove X's tongue-twisting lyrical intricacies and Subroc's sonic wizardry, "Who Me?" and "Banana Peel Blues" smash racist cliches with shards of vinyl. "Hard With No Hoe" is a double-helix of interconnected puns and tricky meanings. "If you're a farmer," says Zevlove X "and you don't have the proper tools to run the farm, life is hard." Life may be hard but on Mr. Hood K.M.D. access the proper tools. "It's a Kauz in a Much Damaged... fill-in-the-blank," says Zevlove X. "Wherever we are, wherever there's negativity, we are positive kauz in that place." - Press Kit. Rest in Peace, Subroc and Zevlove X (MF DOOM). Revisit the Mr. Hood LP today.

Altered Crates "DOOM STARR" (Mash-Up EP)

Here is the latest mash-up project from Atlanta-based producer Altered Crates blending beats by DJ Premier and vocals from the late great, MF DOOM. The project is appropriately titled, DOOM STARR. The 6-track EP casts the phenomenal production of DJ Premier and inimitable style of MF DOOM in a new light... imagine the possibilities? DOOM is an underground legend to be celebrated and it was a terrible tragedy that we lost him too soon. I don't know how long this project--like those that came before it--will last on the internet, but if it goes down, hit me up and I'll try to update it with a fresh link. You can also download the project for free HERE, which I highly recommend. Props to the good homie Matt out in Baltimore for giving me the headsup on this EP...

Did I Ever Tell You The One About... MF DOOM (Podcast)

Season 2 of Did I Ever Tell You The One About... takes an in-depth and personal look at the life and career of rapper MF DOOM going back to his early days as Zev Love X and his first group KMD, to his return as the enigmatic, emcee with the signature mask. MF DOOM or simply DOOM, was a British-American rapper and record producer. Known best for his intricate wordplay, signature metal mask, and "supervillain" stage persona, Dumile became a major figure of underground hip hop and alternative hip hop in the 2000s. He remained an influential figure in the landscape until his untimely death on October 31, 2020. Set to release one-year after his passing, this 14 episode season features stories from family, friends and a who’s who of hip-hop legends… all told in immersive sound design with DOOM’s music providing the soundtrack. This is a phenomenal podcast, and while I usually share things episode by episode, I felt - as I did with the Season 1 with Big Daddy Kane - it's better share now that the season is complete. That said, dig into 14 episodes dedicated to the life of one of our culture's most talented, most creative MCs of all-time, MF DOOM. R.I.P., DOOM!

A MF'in DOOM Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! I couldn't fathom what to share this year on Christmas, and then I was reminded that we learned of MF DOOM's death on December 31st last year. He'd passed away 2 months prior. I know there's a Cookin' Soul "Doom Xmas!" and remixes, but I thought I'd take it to Adult Swim on Christmas Eve, 2006. I found the video on YouTube, along with the following message: "These are the Christmas with Doom bumps that aired on Adult Swim on Christmas Eve 2006. Adult Swim has brought MF DOOM, a rapper, to host the block that year for Christmas. This was pretty interesting and funny. I vaguely remember watching some of the stuff this night when I was younger, most notably Pee Wee's Christmas." Do you remember when this aired? A little something different this year, dig into the archives for past posts and more Christmas-inspired music/promo. Merry Christmas! Rest In Peace to the late MF DOOM, one of the greatest MCs! Stay blessed, y'all!

AbcntMnded "MF DOOM Tribute" (Mix)

LA's AbcntMnded pays tribute to the late great MF DOOM with his latest mix. At roughly an hour, he digs into the stacks and pulls out some deeper cuts, samples and more to honor the uniqueness of one of our culture's most impressive MCs. Inspiring to many, imitated by some, and bested by nobody.... dig through a mix done by someone with intimate knowledge of MF DOOM's catalog, where even the dope artwork is done by AbcntMnded himself, which proves this is truly a labor of love. To provide context, ABCNT is a Los Angeles based, sociopolitical activist/anarchist, the product of mid-nineties expressionism and new-millennium activism, who describes himself as “[a] real west coast hip-hop fanatic, with a kind of militant attitude towards consciousness.” And how does he execute his expression and voice? Through avenues in politically charged street art and music. Listen below...

David Begun "Lofi Villain" (Album Stream)

I've been sitting with this project all day... much respect to David Begun for his latest offering, Lofi Villain. In his own words, "I wanted to use MF DOOM's lyrics but re-create an entirely different vibe and feeling from his music and in doing so hopefully pay tribute to the legend. Using a variety of lofi/chillhop beats from various producers as the bed to lay the Super Villain's unique variety of lyrics, I hoped to achieve that and create "Lofi Villain." A 20 track tribute to your favorite rapper's favorite rapper to open the windows and listen to at 2 in the morning." Well done, sir! Listen below and dig into the full archives for other great projects from David Begun. Rest In Peace, MF DOOM!

Czarface & MF DOOM "Super What?" (Album Stream)

"Superhero? Supervillain? Super WHAT? CZARFACE & MF DOOM's newest team-up record is, much like the Avengers' arch-enemy Thanos...inevitable (and all-powerful!). The icon MF DOOM unleashes his wizardry and wordplay throughout the record, while CZARFACE (bolstered by the legendary Wu-Tang Clan's Inspectah Deck and Esoteric) slash through each of the Czar-Keys' produced tracks as the team raises the bar on their previous LP, Czarface meets Metalface (2018). Featuring golden-age superhero DMC (of RUN-DMC) and Hieroglyphics' leader Del the Funky Homosapien, with art by longtime CZARFACE co-creator Lamour Supreme, this album will bring all the thrills of a cosmic summer blockbuster. Recorded and slated for an early 2020 release, and paused while COVID raged, this collaboration of masked men is finally finding its way to you on vinyl." - Silver Age. Dig in...

KMD "Black Bastards" (Article from May 11, 1994)

Time Warner-owned labels seem to be dropping as many rappers as they sign these days. Latest to get the boot is KMD, cut in April by Elektra after the group submitted cover art for its "Black Bastards" album. The cover, drawn by member Zev Love X, shows a white man in blackface being lynched. Described as a commentary on "whites misappropriating black culture," the drawing, according to a spokesman for KMD, "represented the hanging of stereotypes. It was a parody of the game 'Hangman' -- you get it wrong enough times and you die." Jackie Martinez, head of KMD's Hit U Off Management, says the group, which included a small "Sambo" caricature on the cover of its debut album, "Mr. Hood," was addressing "what (black) people were once portrayed as, nothing more than that. The artwork is just the opposite of what people interpreted it to be." Apparently, that explanation didn't wash with Elektra executives, who also rejected KMD's offer to change the cover. According to a statement by the label, "the imagery has exacerbated existing concerns within Elektra, and a decision has been made that it is best that the record be taken in its intended form elsewhere. We do not wish to tamper with KMD's statement by asking them to change it." "That they were dropped is totally ridiculous," says Martinez. "Time Warner apparently did not want to deal with another Ice-T incident," she said. A furor arose in 1992 over Ice-T's "Cop Killer" follow-up, "Home Invasion," leading to a boycott of Time Warner companies and stock divestment by several law enforcement unions. "They just want to avoid any kind of controversy. In order to not have it come to that, the quickest way is to just drop the artists. At this point, KMD is not signed to anyone." Lynching images are hardly new to rap album covers, much less to rap lyrics. The cover for the 1992 Public Enemy single, "Hazy Shade of Criminal," featured the infamous news photo of the August 1930 lynching of two black men in Marion, Ind.; Kool G Rap and DJ Polo's "Live and Let Die" featured Rottweilers and two hooded black men about to pull chairs from under two noosed-up whites. - Washington Post (May 11, 1994). Below are scans from KMD's special, deluxe edition release of Black Bastards with tons of additional information about the album, the controversial cover art, group members and a lot more. R.I.P. Subroc and MF DOOM. Props to Pete Nice and Dante Ross.

MF Doom & Madlib "Madvillainy" (March 23, 2004)

Madvillainy was an underground smash (by MF Doom and Madlib as Madvillain): twelve of its twenty-two tracks were shorter than two minutes and none of the songs had traditional hooks or choruses, but it was so singularly unique and memorable both lyrically and production-wise that it became one of the most critically lauded hip-hop records of the decade, indie or mainstream. It sold over 150,000 copies, modest by mainstream music's platinum-or-bust standards, but successful enough to keep Stones Throw not just solvent but thriving. And if the old saying about the Velvet Underground was true for the rock world--that they only sold a fraction of the records that the popular bands did, but everyone who bought a copy started a band of their own--the echoes of Madvillainy would be heard everywhere by the end of the 2000s. Chain-toking stream-of-consciousness MCs and bedroom beatmakers fiddling with a Dr. Sample put out underground sensations of their own, from electronic/future-jazz musician Flying Lotus to the LA rap collective Odd Future. Even Thom Yorke of Radiohead singled out Madvillainy track "Raid" as a personal favorite on an iTunes Celebrity Playlist he put together in early 2007. - Bring That Beat Back, 2020. I agree with Nate Patrin, it was an underground smash! One of a handful of albums that consistently sold at Fat Beats, and it certainly flew off the shelves whenever we were bumpin' it through the speakers. Revisit this classic LP below and of course, Rest In Peace, MF Doom. Hit the archives for a lot more.

MF Doom and Madlib, Madvillainy... via Stones Throw Records.

Sketchbook Radio "Dilla x DOOM" (Tribute Mix)

DJ's Kutmah and SertOne released this 2 hour mix from Sketchbook Radio... a Dilla and DOOM tribute show that features Dillavillainy (Doom x Dilla), alongside unreleased Rah Digga, Busta Rhymes, Slum Village, Madlib, Jaylib, Miguel Atwood Ferguson and lots more. To give proper credit, Kutmah handles hour one and Sertone holds it down on hour two. All in all, a very fine tribute mix for two of the late greats, who made invaluable contributions to music, and especially hip-hop culture. You can dig back to 2017 for this J Dilla Tribute that Kutmah also did on Sketchbook Radio. Enjoy the mix below...

DJ Eclipse & DJ Riz "MF DOOM Tribute" (Mix, 1/3/21)

DJ Eclipse and DJ Riz paid tribute to the late great MF DOOM on their Sirius radio show, Rap Is Outta Control. When I thought about all the DJs that would come out of the shadows to post their mixes in support of MF DOOM, there were only a few that I was certain had represented from day 1, and among them was certainly DJ Eclipse. Sure, you can dig into the archives for a lot of DOOM-related content, but for now, you'll definitely want to dig into this 2-hour tribute mix, which was recorded live on January 3, 2021. MF DOOM's memory will live on forever, click play and you'll hear all the reasons why. Props to Lucas for the updated link on MixCloud; the link I had was removed. RIP!

Rest In Peace, MF Doom!

2020 couldn't end without one final gutt-punch, huh? The news is reporting that "Rapper MF Doom, known for his masked "super villain" persona, died back on Oct. 31, his wife Jasmine Dumile revealed on social media Thursday. He was 49. Dumile posted an Instagram message to her husband, real name Daniel Dumile, with the New Year's Eve revelation stating that the elusive rapper had "transitioned October 31, 2020." The influential rapper was the force behind beloved hip-hop albums "Mm..Food" and his collaboration with Madlib, "Madvillainy." "The greatest husband, father, teacher, student, business partner, lover and friend I could ever ask for. Thank you for all the things you have shown, taught and given to me, our children and our family. Thank you for teaching me how to forgive beings and give another chance, not to be so quick to judge and write off," Jasmine Dumile wrote on the official MF Doom Instagram account. "Thank you for showing how not to be afraid to love and be the best person I could ever be. My world will never be the same without you." Rolling Stone confirmed the rapper's death with MF Doom's representative Richie Abbott. No information on the cause of death was available." This one hurts. I have no words right now. Prayers to his loved ones. You'll also want to revisit this profile from Ta-Nehisi Coates on MF Doom in the New Yorker (2009).

What Had Happened Was "3rd Bass & MF Doom Episode" (Podcast)

In this 'loosies' episode of the What Had Happened Was podcast,  Prince Paul tells the story of working with three legendary hip-hop acts - 3rd Bass, MF Doom and MC Paul Barman - and gives us a look inside each of their creative processes. Along the way, Prince Paul and Open Mike Eagle discuss 3rd Bass’s beef with MC Hammer, a potential full length collab with DOOM and the story of what the beats from Paul Barman’s ‘It’s Very Stimulating’ were originally intended for. Enjoy below...

DJ Doobie Howser "Songs In The Key Of Trife" (Part 1 & 2)

Songs in The Key of Trife is a mixtape series from DJ Doobie Howser running through selections from MF Doom's potent catalog, as well as lots of original source material. I was slow to listen/post Part 1, so here are both mixes that DJ Doobie Howser has released thus far. There's no tracklist, but trust that these mixes run through the known and less familiar records in Doom's discography, so if you like MF Doom (some don't!), you'll enjoy these mixes! DJ Doobie Howser labels it "A mix between Superfly Snuka and a superhoe." Sold! Great name, by the way... pure genius! Listen below...

Take It Personal Podcast "MF Doom Tribute"

"Episode 63 is our very long, but very necessary MF DOOM tribute. It clocks in at 6+ hours and features over 130 classics and collabos. It also features 7 special guests who stopped by to share stories as well as navigate you through our DOOM tribute. We're going to remember these times for years to come. What we listened to or watched during the infamous quarantine. There have been some amazing hip-hop moments because of it, specifically Club Quarantine with D-Nice and most recently the DJ Premier vs. RZA live battle. We hope this masterpiece will be up there with them. Special shouts to Prime Mister Pete Nice, Kurious Jorge, Bobbito aka Kool Bob Love, Lord Sear, Jake One, Slug and MC Serch for being a part of this." - Philaflava, Take It Personal Podcast.

MF Doom "Operation Doomsday" (1999 + HBD!)

In the early 90′s, KMD dropped one of the most slept on hip-hop classics of all time with Mr. Hood. The crew planned a follow up to that album with “Black Bastards”, but their label decided against it because of controversial album artwork that showed a character painted in blackface hanging from a tree. That was the last we heard from the group, (until their lost material was released last year) and their luck only get worse, as their DJ, Subroc, who was also brother to group member Zev Love X, died after being hit by a car. KMD’s other member, Onyx, left the group, and thus the crew was disbanded. Enter MF Doom. Similar to the original Marvel Comics’ Dr. Doom, after tragedy struck him, Zev Love X abandoned the person he was, and put on the Metal Face of Doom. Soon after the Monster Island crew was born, which included Doom, as well as another M.F.er, the rumored wheelchair bound, Metal Fingers Grimm... Via Bobbito’s Fondle ‘Em label, Doom started to release 12″ after 12″ of tracks that were the furthest thing from conventional hip-hop imaginable, but somehow still very inviting. Doom’s style wasn’t like the off key, off beat, annoying sound of your typical Company Flow clone, but instead a strange selection of beautiful melodic samples, laced with drums in the most unique way possible. Where hooks should have been, they weren’t. Sloppy samples weren’t chopped up with the same precision of the DJ Premiers or The Beatnuts that we were used to. Outdated 80’s drum tracks were in the place of progressive beats of today. Unrehearsed rhymes were lazily spit, and sometimes even got buried under some bad mixing...

...But you know what? It sounded dope. While many underground heads have anticipated his album, some might be disappointed to only find five new tracks, most of which are overshadowed by the previously released material. Nevertheless, with the new Fantastic Four skits in between, it all comes together nicely, and for the other 99% of the hip-hop audience, it’s an all new listening experience. Standing out among the new tracks is the too groovy “Rhymes Like Dimes”, which features Doom freestyling over the music from one of your dad’s dated pornos. “?” is a phat duet with Kurious featuring the familiar soundtrack that haunts the album’s skits. Otherwise, the classics are all here, with somewhat improved mix downs, still sounding fresh. “Tick, Tick” spotlights MF Grimm , as he slows it down and speeds it up in a schizophrenic manner. “Red & Gold” is a throwback to the early days of hip-hop love ballads, with an incredibly fat sample behind it. “Operation: Greenbacks” and “Dead Bent” are on a similar vibe with the lingering instrumental style that gives Doom’s beats their appeal. And the popular introductory track, “Hey!”, brings back the Scooby Doo loop that made it famous. Unfortunately, only few will recognize this as quality hip-hop. The same people who can’t recognize the freshness of groups like The Lootpack or Co Flow, will most likely hate this album and quickly cast this away as some wack underground shit. If you consider yourself one of these kinds of people, you are better to leave this one alone. If you think you can open your mind to some innovative, unconventional hip-hop, then check for these Metal-ing kids. - HipHopSite (April 20th, 1999). Today is MF Doom's Born Day, revisit his classic album up above.

The House List Podcast "MF Doom Episode"

The 100th episode of Peter Agoston's House List podcast: "I wanted to do something extra special for the heads on this one - so who better than DOOM. Culled from a handful of conversations recorded onto cassette, MF DOOM and I discuss the then unreleased and to me, unheard, 'MM FOOD' album. This was originally recorded in May 2003 for an expansive cover-story I wrote on DOOM for Elemental Magazine. After listening to these again, there is no doubt in my mind how talented, intuitive and inventive DOOM is. It of course goes without saying, but I do feel like these chats I had with him shed much more light on how he willed some of the best hip-hop music of the last 20 years out of sheer desire to create, if even sometimes under a state of duress. A master collage-artist, poet, author, satirist, DJ, producer, performer. I truly hope this episode (like them all) will serve as a living document to his great accomplishments in music and art. I am appreciative of the time we had recording these and the few musical collaborations we did some 20 years ago now.Thank you to all the listeners as this is fully listener supported." Listen to the interview below...

DJ Food Stamp "MF Doom: Supervillain Blends" (Mixtape, 2007)

In 2007, Oregon's DJ Food Stamp and UGHH collaborated on and presented this mixtape called Supervillain Blends. The concept took the production of MF Doom and seamlessly blended vocals from artists like OutKast, MC Lyte, People Under The Stairs, Method Man, KRS-One, 3rd Bass, Mobb Deep, Pep Love, Eminem, Cocoa Brovaz, Jeru The Damaja, Charizma, The Game, Defari, Common, East Flatbush Project, Perceptionists, Lord Finesse, and more. DJ Food Stamp is a very technical and skilled DJ. I covered this mix for one of my first sites, and it's still worth revisiting today. Listen below... (Updated, 2020: new audio link added below. If it goes down again, lemme know).

BeatPete "Illest Villains" (The Madvillain Mixtape)

Adding another treat to your Doom collection with “Illest Villains”, a 1-hour Madvillain mixtape by Berlin-based DJ, digger and all-around good dude BeatPete. The mix includes tracks from the Madvillainy LP and Madvillainy 2 – The Madlib Remix, as well as sample origins by the likes of Bill Evans, Howard Lucraft, Foster Sylvers, Maria Bethânia, Osmar Milito, Matthew Larkin Cassell and Gentle Giant. - via TheFindMag, thanks for putting me up on this one! Dig into this Doom mix below...