“Fraternals…” - On Why I Listen To DOOM
AUDIO By TSSCrew on March 27, 2009 at 4:06 pmWords 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.
DOOM Feat. Poison Pen - “Bloody Chain”
DOOM Feat. Viktor Vaughn - “Fancy Clown”
Previously Posted — “In Defense of DOOM…” | DOOM - “Batty Boyz”
Posted in AUDIO, GENERAL, LOOSIES, MUSIC, VIDEO — Tags: Born Like This, DOOM, Mos Def, Poison Pen, VIDEO, Viktor Vaughn
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53 Comments
Ha, K1ng…
great minds yadda yadda lol
Click the name. I made the adjustment earlier to give that clip it’s due.
I prefer The New Danger over Wack On Both Sides.
OOPS LOL
forgot I was on the Treo..
OK…there we go.
Now the phone’s in sync w/ the laptop.
I prefer The New Danger over Wack On Both Sides.
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:-/
One more outburst like that, I’ll start marking your shit as spam lol
DOOM’s one of the great’s. Hopefully this Mos clip will get cats to look past the mask & check for his music. I’ll admit, I caught on dumb late. I had heard his music before, but it took for me to be in the perfect mindstate (tree’d outta my mind) to truly appreciate his genius.
” It’s like they know what’s ’bout to happen
Just keep ya eye out, like “Aye Aye, Cap’n”
Is he still a fly guy clappin’ if nobody ain’t hear it
And can they testify from inner spirit
In living, the true gods
Givin’ y’all nothing but the lick like two broads
Got more lyrics than the church got “Ooh Lawd”s
And he hold the mic and your attention like two swords
Or even one with two blades on it
Hey you, don’t touch the mic like it’s AIDS on it
It’s like the end to the means
Fucked type of message that sends to the fiends
That’s why he brings his own needles
And get more cheese than Doritos, Cheetos or Fritos..
Slip like Freudian
Your first and last step to playin’ yourself like accordion”
Mr. Doomile is an odd cat to say the least. I used to rock KMD back in the day and when they fell off we kinda wondered why. The the kid with the mask showed up and I thought, “what kinda pretentious, black slacker, def jux BS is this? Masks… mumblin’… weird ass cartoon samples… this boy need to get out the basement and away from whatever suburb he got dropped off in.”
Then I started to listen… Some cats i knew used to quote madvillany like scripture… then my guy mark gave me a copy of it one day. It was kinda nice. but you gotta be in a kurt cobain sorta mood to really get into Doom. Anyway, I started checkin’ for a few more of his joints after that:
Mmm. Food… Operation Doomsday… Y’all know the catalogue.
Dude is like the bastard son of Kool Keith and Ghostface. When he’s on, he’s hella nice mixing esoteric angles and straight punchlines. but he’ll crank out some BS on you in a minute and serve it up like it’s filet mignon.
and i’m sorry, but that Andy Kaufman/Milli-Vanilli mess he pulled a couple years back… that’s like payin to see Michael Jackson and all you get is Randy jackson with an oven mitt and some jheri curls.
@TC, but it’s true though, The New Danger is a much more accomplished and daring musical venture than his debut solo long player. I don’t like that Wack On Both Sides, it typifies that whole freaking Rawkus (distributed via Priority Records era for me). He sounds so lazy and lethargic on that set, and I’m a Mos Def fan too, since Stakes Is High.
As for MF Doom, don’t even get me started.
*hi-five*
and i’m sorry, but that Andy Kaufman/Milli-Vanilli mess he pulled a couple years back… that’s like payin to see Michael Jackson and all you get is Randy jackson with an oven mitt and some jheri curls.
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LMAO
Its commentary like this that keeps me coming back to this blog 3 times a day.
Doom is def one of those guys where you catch something new every time you listen to him.
It’s funny cause I was talking to my boy on live about it last night. Doom doesn’t really vary his flows up but he’s one of those rappers that’ll say something and leave you like “????,” Then you’re looking stuff up on google just to figure some bars out because you’re curious to see how it all fits.
He’s definitely not for everybody but he’s cool with me. Like Canseco said though, those doom doppleganger incidents at his shows awhile back were terrible looks on his part.
I had to remind myself that his album dropped this week. It’s been a minute since I heard new Doom. I’ve given it a couple of spins and I like it. As a matter of fact I’m listening to it now. Good stuff K1NG.
I prefer The New Danger over Wack On Both Sides.
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:-/
One more outburst like that, I’ll start marking your shit as spam lol
^^^
LOL
TC will turn you to Spam like pig knuckles.
Did folks really hate Black on Both Sides? That was one of the most cohesive joints i’ve heard in the last, what 10 years? that dropped in what 99? That joint still gets burn today–the Busta joint didn’t do much for me, but i thought that was a classic album. Not perfect, not above criticism, but I’ll take my chances on that one…
Black on Both Sides is cool, but that’s still not the best album Mos is capable of making. It’s a little too self indulgent @ times (New World Water, that’s right, I’m talking about you).
@ TC: If the Paw makes one more remark about DOOM, revoke his TSS pass!!! lol. Well, it looks as if DOOM is laughing last; I’ve never been interested in album sales but DOOM is killing iTunes right now, not to mention the physical format sales.
the only way i can ever think to explain doom is use what raekwon once said when asked to explain just what the fuck he was talkin bout with all the slanguistics - if you don’t know, then you just dont know, cos cop out or no, basically that’s what it comes down to.
but il attempt it anyways, not that i m really qualified:
i can see what people mean when they dis - the half-slurred mumbly talk-flow, the seemingly nonsensical randomness in his content, the lack of focous on ANY theme at all… but once you listen, and i mean really listen,
you hear that mumble-flow as precise, just relaxed and kinda natural, like someone tellin a real good anecdote.
for proof of how doom really can rip it in a more conventional way just go dl that unreleased KMD LP, Black Bastards
and so far as the content and focous, all it really comes down to is that same as GZA and a few others, he just doesnt whack you over the head with obviousness. you have to dig to get what hes sayin, an once you do your rewarded tenfold, and it keeps happening the more you keep listenin
so far as what BC said bout him dishin up bullish in with the goodness, its really easy to think that, same way its easy for a doom stan to think that same bull is actually dope……but well 99% of the time it is, maybe it isnt crazy logical, but its usually pretty witty or just plain stupid funny.
im far from a official certified “head”. shit, i only heard Road To The Riches for the first time a few weeks ago, and im not tryna shit on anyones musical tastes or whatever cos truth be told i used to hate on dude like no-one else and im quite sure hes not for everyone but all i gotta say is:
LISTEN, then listen some more, and when you think your sure its all hype an stannery, listen some more, cos once you get it, your hooked, plus his beats are the bidness ha
really if you love this hip-hop ish, give him a chance, cos youl probably be missin out on somethin special
god damn my fingers hurt plus i feel a little ashamed at devoting/wasting so much time typin this rant out.blame it on the al-al-coh-o-ol-ol-ol
(nah, just hopped up on antibiotics and weed, bad combo need sleep)
shit, that looks way bigger than i thought.
SMH at meself, dayum
Black Bastards was pretty good actually…
on (hopefully) a final note
i dont think even th most hardcore doom stan could co-sign the imposters at shows. thats some affrontery right thurrrrr
yeah, sweet premium wine coulda been a JAM at any club.
ive been a DOOM fan for quite some time but lost a tad of respect for him after it was uncovered that he had a stage “stunt double” during a show…took the wind out of me with that one…this video popped up on NH yesterday and made me go dust off the DOOM discography
question though…why do DOOMs lyrics sound better coming from Mos…
(and Black On Both Sides was a CLASSIC…My Umi says if you think different, clean your ears out)
Yeah. FuckaDOOMshow.
DOOM!
yeah.
Paw is trippin’. Black on Both Sides is dope and Doom is too!
http://sharebee.com/6360d2f7 Another cut off JMT producer Stoupe’s solo Decalogue, due out next Tuesday on Babygrande. Stoupe ft. Joell “yaowa” Ortiz - That’s Me !
Sweardagod, I was just blasting “Fancy Clown” earlier today.
I can’t believe aggins are frontin’ on Mos’ first LP though. I don’t think Rawkus released anything wack for a good 12 to 18 months straight.
I saw that Stoupe posted last night
I don’t think Rawkus released anything wack for a good 12 to 18 months straight.
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thats not a very large window, only about 3-4 releases…but i hear what youre saying…they dropped:
Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus
Soundbombing 1
Blackstar
Lyricists Lounge 1
High & Mighty - Homefield Advantage
Soundbombing 2
Mos Def - Black On Both Sides
all in a row from 97-99…crazy batting average by any label…it was all downhill after Reflection Eternal’s “Train Of Thought” though
mos never lived up to his potential really, wack on both sides is a bit strong, but really i cant (try to) sit down and listen to any of his albums any more.
how bout mos def added to the list of great guest rhymers/singles artists that never delivered a classic lp?
and so far as rawkus havin a faultless run, outside of one or two exceptions like infernal affairs they never really had an album legacy like that.
singles? yeah, for a few years they held the flag for the indie movement, word to universal magnetic
@kthundo
forgot bout high n mighty! dope album
thought th second soundbombing and blackstar were nothin special tho
and funcrusher plus was genius in a lotta ways, but sofar as somethin i actually listen to? nah
mos never lived up to his potential really
how bout mos def added to the list of great guest rhymers/singles artists that never delivered a classic lp?
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Sizzle
Dudes sayin’ BOBS ain’t classic? wow… y’all been smokin’ that Hedgehog weed or that drinkin that Gucci mane grain…
BOBS is straight classic. It won’t get you rowdy like some of Busta’s best or have you ridin’ like classic Dre or tryin’ to floss like Jig, but you want smart, soulful everyman lyricism with strong rhythmic beats, BOBS is in the pocket solid.
Doom is Dope…been a fan since his first joint…
BOBS is in the pocket solid.
====================
Solid don’t mean classic & Mos is definitely capable of making a classic album.
i cant front, mathematics was my jam and umi says is good live and theres some others on it that are decent enough but really? mos can do better
example: travelling man, universal magnetic, if you can huh you can hear (”musta been tree-top high” = classic) and the remake of jam on it was hilarious
actually in a way he kinda reminds me of method man, his impacts been the same in a lot of ways.
Solid don’t mean classic
====================
exactly.
DOOM = DOPE!
thought the second soundbombing and blackstar were nothin special tho
===============
BLASPHEMY!!!!!
thats worse than Paw hating on BOBS
dunno what to say regards those two, just realy didnt moe me. admitably i had blackstar playin for a few months when i was 16 or so, could not tell you anything bout it now tho. remember the “stop the violence” interpolation on one song thats it.
blasphemy? never knew anyone that praises em. i defo skipped past tracks on em like i skipped church most sundays tho
whoops ^^^ moe=move
Yo, “Born Like This” is kinda crazy.
thats not a very large window, only about 3-4 releases…but i hear what youre saying…they dropped:
Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus
Soundbombing 1
Blackstar
Lyricists Lounge 1
High & Mighty - Homefield Advantage
Soundbombing 2
Mos Def - Black On Both Sides
====================================
You forgot about Internal Affairs
“thought he told em firin’ pins were seperate, find out later when he try an rep it…”
damn right, fresh as daisy seed
bloody chain is my shit!!
Cats don’t understand the complexity of fancy clown. DOOM is rapping as Viktor Vaughn about DOOM…listen at the beginning he says its Viktor. No body even said anything about the Monsta Island Czars joint I know that he only raps on one track but the production is crazy
^^haha.. I actually bought that at Tower Records when it was still open.. It was coo.. Kinda like a SUPER-underground Wu with DOOM playing RZA. This ain’t a comparison quality wise, cuz the album wasn’t much above a 3.. IF that..
Damn man, almost 10 years ago, where has all the time gone?!?! But yeah Black On Both Sides, ok it’s got a few solid tunes on there, but as a whole set, naa, don’t deem it to be all that.
Trying to listen to that album start to finish is like trying to drink a pint of cod liver oil. It’s only edible in the correct proportions, meaning a joint or two is my capsule for the day and my joints is then good.
I also find something very elitist about MF Doom’s doom style, it’s definitely not suitable for pumping loud and proud on your car stereo, home stereo, or love making music when you are with your lady.
I guess it’s walkman rotation music when one is zooted or whatever. So I guess one does have to be sky high in order to grasp it, so basically this is your brain on drugs, glug, glug, glug, oh man that dude talks in voices, you see the way he broke that down son, that’s today’s mathematics, the truth sun shine, yep the truth! Erm what exactly have you been smoking Abdul?
Over hyped, over billed and over lauded, people put this guy on a pedestal just like the media put Julia Roberts on a pedestal, when the fact is if you strip it all away, neither of them are all that.
Cella Dwellas got more lyrical creativity than MF Doom.
@BABY PAW
everythin you just said bout doom, iv heard a few people say bout rakim, who’s probly the g.o.a.t., or least runner-up.
i get what your sayin but it’s really just bout time an place. besides, when me n the lady are gettin “comfortable”, the players set strictly to some gregory issacs/d’angelo type tone, no super-scientifical madness!
an all i gotta say is: cella dwellas - ha!
@Done, sorry my bad, I meant to say Lord Finesse, I was listening to some Realms n Reality which is pretty cutting edge hip hop, erm, well kind of, in that 1996 sort of way. I like imaginative stuff that UG and Phantasm dropped.
Rakim is tried, tested and proven, over the course of time, both in the underground and in the mainstream. I have no hesitation in saying he is probably pound for pound the greatest lyricist, either him or NAS.
If Doom actually made some entertaining hip hop, then maybe he would sway an opinion or two. Get some phat beats, ebb and flow like Big L and drop something entertaining and voila I’m sure there will be major difference there.
I’m not taking anyway from the man’s aura, he has been through some hardships and personal turmoil and obviously this has gone towards forging his image. But that doesn’t change the issue that he needs to make some cohesive hip hop ish, maybe Mos Def does have a point that the closest to Doom is De La Soul, in which case Doom should take a leaf out of their book. At least they usually get the formula right.
Cella Dwellas got more lyrical creativity than MF Doom.
—
Come on BP.. I understand not liking him, but to question his lyrical creativity is just plain dumb. Either you didn’t watch that video with Mos or you just have tunnel vision with DOOM, but his lyrical creativity is lightyears ahead of most cats out.. That’s 90% of the reason he’s so popular.. lol
all yall dumb niccas have hated on DOOM since he got listeners and still look at you…get ova it tha guy is better than 99percent of rappers that ever existed and he’s never on tv never on the radio never shows his face he just comes to shows for a quick buck in a t shirt and sweatpants huge gut hangin out he works with whoever wants or for 2 yrs straight then not at all he has a family makes enough cash drinks smokes never has to make 30 wack ass mixtapes a yr etcetc…he a hero. end of story. oh yeah HEMAKESBEATS2 hahaha
Doom is a cat born in the wrong era. Ironically, so is Mos. It makes sense for them to understand each other. Lyrically they both are unparalleled and slept on. I pray I see the day of a Mos Def and DOOM collaboration.