DOOM-y Days

I have been all about DOOM in recent days - listening to old stuff, new stuff, remixes, and everything else in between.  Nothing but respect for the man.

DOOM is a man of many names - DOOM, MF Doom, Madvillain, Zev Love X, Metal Fingers, King Geedorah, Viktor Vaughn, Danger Doom (w/ Danger Mouse), the Supervillian, and Daniel Dumile.  Quite a mouthful.  Unlike some artists, however, DOOM's name changes don't seem like a publicity stunt (cough cough Diddy) or a legal issue (cough cough Santigold).  Instead, they seem like a legitimate representation of an artistic reinvention.  A change in style.

These changes aren't drastic, nor are they necessarily immediately obvious.  They're more an evolution, or an opportunity for DOOM to step out of character and perform as someone else without drawing immediate comparisons previous efforts.

His most recent reinvention is Born Like This.  DOOM's label, Lex, called the album his best ever "encapsulating but surpassing all of his previous work".  A lofty claim, but an apparently valid one.  On the album, DOOM seems more focused than ever, his rhymes tightly concentrated and lyrically dense.  Maybe "DOOM" shouldn't be viewed as yet another nom d'record, but instead as the sum of all of the artist's parts.  DOOM jumps on beats quicker here, employs fewer guests, raps more himself, and generally makes the most rappy rap album he's ever made.

There are some poor choices - "Batty Boys" is a deplorable track and "Ballskin" is a bad name for a lead publicity track.  There are some good choices too, though - the entire album clocks in at just 41 minutes and is potently chock full of DOOM.  Born Like This is a challenge to other emcees to match his lyrical skills without succumbing to pop tricks and fancy hooks.  It's raw, fresh, and welcome.

From Born Like This:

DOOM - Cellz (YSI) (filesavr)

DOOM - Microwave Mayo (YSI) (filesavr)

From Madvillainy (Four Tet Remixes):

Madvillain - Accordian (Four Tet Remix) (YSI) (filesavr)

Check back this afternoon for Afternoon Video, featuring Mos Def talking about DOOM and some old school MF Doom cuts.