Words By K1NG

I was planning on writing a detailed review of DOOM’s new album Born Like This, while feeding you lines that could easily be picked apart once transcribed. Instead Mos Def did it for me. While these lines that he is spitting on this video are not off of his new album, they are exactly the kinds one finds upon listening to the new album, whether it’s the first time you throw it on or the 40th. A lot of debate goes on in these here internet boards about whether DOOM is the greatest thing since sliced bread, or the equivalent of a rotten bologna sandwich you could find in an old lunchbox. While the debate will most likely never cease, as an avid DOOM follower, I will try and explain what Mos means in this video when he says “I understand.”

As we all know, sometimes we don’t really feel like facing the reality of what we have to look forward to each day. Some of us work 9-5′s, others go to school while work second jobs to keep the bills paid and the kids fed. Hip-Hop music was born out of this struggle and was originally dance music that was thrown on in order to keep the party jumping while people let go of their inhibitions and just enjoyed the moment. This was lost in part with the advances of technology, taking away the mystique of cutting up a vinyl LP on the spot without pre-producing songs, and the steady rise of lyricism by the MC’s who got their respect in the game. Soon, Hip-Hop became the reflection of our struggles, a direct picture of what we were going through. Today, Hip-Hop is now about self with hopes that listeners will relate or at least be momentarily entertained. So, what does one do when they are tired of their stresses and want to forget about the struggle that has seemingly washed away all of their dreams like sand on a beach?

It would make sense that, in the original essence of the Hip-Hop culture, we would go out to a club and walk it out or go to a house party and Superman some hoes. Unfortunately, some do not enjoy such activities and seek other means to escape. Not all of us stand in judgment of those who can, in fact some of us envy it, wishing we could let go of our foolish pride and do a Stanky Legg every once in a while. Regardless, we need something different. Some watch movies, some read books and some listen to DOOM.

Since DOOM’s re-arrival to the Hip-Hop scene in 1999, we have yet to see the villain outside of his mask. This eccentricity is what keeps him a mystery to all of us. When we see DOOM, instead of seeing another man who looks like he could be on the grind, we see a mysterious character with whom we only have audio recordings of to base our concept of him off of. Instead of rhyming in the first person perspective, the metal-faced villain instead raps from a third person standpoint in a world that is slightly skewed from reality. His rhymes are sometimes beyond comprehension without the luxury of seeing it written down, which also adds to the mysterious persona he has created. When we throw on a DOOM album, we begin a confusing journey into a world that we would all like to understand completely, even if we know we never will. The abundance of rhymes that he uses in these collections of songs always present an opportunity for the listener to peer in on the happenings in his crazy world with multiple characters to narrate.

The music is not necessarily meant as something that you throw on when you feel like relating to an artist or understanding him completely. The best way to describe his style is “abstract” as Mos put it, comparing his works to the likes of Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew and Charles Mingus’ The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady. While it is hard to keep up with, it is also difficult to not every once and a while get caught up in the stories that he tells and finding yourself lost in his world full of deception and anti-heroes with murderous tales like “Bloody Chain” and songs that express the revengeful feelings one has after heartbreak like “Fancy Clown.”

So sure, DOOM isn’t for everybody, but if you want to hop on the bandwagon with us just make sure you fill up your Jansport to the brim, because you got a lot of music to catch up on.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

DOOM Feat. Poison Pen – “Bloody Chain”

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

DOOM Feat. Viktor Vaughn – “Fancy Clown”

Previously Posted — “In Defense of DOOM…” | DOOM – “Batty Boyz”