Got more soul than a sock with a hole
December 31, 2020 2:10 PM Subscribe
The parents of Daniel Dumile, better known as MF Doom, announced today that he passed away on October 31 of this year.
Naming (and disguising) himself after Doctor Doom, Dumile was recognized by many as one of the most talented hip hop artists of all time. Over the past two decades, he collaborated with a number of other hip hop stars on albums, often going by other names, including Viktor Vaughn, King Geedorah, and MadVillain.
He was 49 years old.
Naming (and disguising) himself after Doctor Doom, Dumile was recognized by many as one of the most talented hip hop artists of all time. Over the past two decades, he collaborated with a number of other hip hop stars on albums, often going by other names, including Viktor Vaughn, King Geedorah, and MadVillain.
He was 49 years old.
Mod note: removed a bad link, hit us at the contact form if you have one for me to fix it with, OP
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 2:22 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 2:22 PM on December 31, 2020
The Special Herbs box set is just a great distillation of DOOM as beatmaker.
posted by box at 2:23 PM on December 31, 2020 [4 favorites]
"Only in America could you find a way to earn a healthy buck.
And still keep your attitude on self-destruct"
posted by box at 2:23 PM on December 31, 2020 [4 favorites]
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posted by Don.Kinsayder at 2:26 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 2:26 PM on December 31, 2020
My god. What a tragedy.
The rest is empty with no brain, but the clever nerd
The best emcee with no chain ya ever heard
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posted by gwint at 2:27 PM on December 31, 2020 [2 favorites]
The rest is empty with no brain, but the clever nerd
The best emcee with no chain ya ever heard
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posted by gwint at 2:27 PM on December 31, 2020 [2 favorites]
Shit.
posted by aspersioncast at 2:34 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by aspersioncast at 2:34 PM on December 31, 2020
Know who's the illest ever like the greatest story told
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posted by Rinku at 2:37 PM on December 31, 2020 [1 favorite]
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posted by Rinku at 2:37 PM on December 31, 2020 [1 favorite]
Dammit. He had a rough life, and it seemed like after (among other things) the death of his brother, homelessness, and deportation from the US he had finally settled into something like a stable life and career. He didn't even get to witness the end of 2020.
posted by ardgedee at 2:41 PM on December 31, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by ardgedee at 2:41 PM on December 31, 2020 [5 favorites]
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posted by The Great Big Mulp at 2:43 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 2:43 PM on December 31, 2020
This hurts my soul.
Daniel Dumile had a rough life. Got signed by Elektra when he was a teenager going by the name of “Zev Love X”, in a group called “KMD” alongside his brother who went by the name of Subroc. KMD’s first album “Mr. Hood” was moderately successful. As they were preparing to release their second album, Subroc was hit by a car while trying to cross the Long Island Expressway, and died. Around the same time, KMD submitted their second album called “Bl*ck B*st*rds”, with cover art selecting a sambo figure being lynched. Elektra did not like that and dropped KMD.
Years pass. An unknown figure wearing a mask and calling himself “MF DOOM” (ALL CAPS when you spell the mans name) appears on a small NYC indie label called “Fondle ‘Em”. He releases a bunch of well-received 12 inches, followed by one of the best underground hip-hop albums ever: “Operation: Doomsday”. By this time, heads knew who this masked man was, and they loved every single morsel of music Metal Fingers released. And he made a LOT of music, under various guises. He did an entire album under an alias (“Vikter Vaughn”, one of the best albums of any genre, ever), as well as entire album with with the super producer Madlib called “Madvillian”.
He spend the entire ‘00 decade releasing numerous projects, collaborating with people both expected and unexpected (Thom Yorke remix, anyone?). Then, in 2010, when he tried to return to the United States after a European tour, he was denied re-entry into the States (Dumile was born in the UK). His output slowed down tremendously throughout the following decade. His son died in 2017. And now, since this year fucking sucks and just had to get worse, his death was announced on New Years Eve 2020 (he actually passed on Oct. 31).
He was the best. My heart is heavy with him gone.
posted by Cornball at 2:49 PM on December 31, 2020 [86 favorites]
Daniel Dumile had a rough life. Got signed by Elektra when he was a teenager going by the name of “Zev Love X”, in a group called “KMD” alongside his brother who went by the name of Subroc. KMD’s first album “Mr. Hood” was moderately successful. As they were preparing to release their second album, Subroc was hit by a car while trying to cross the Long Island Expressway, and died. Around the same time, KMD submitted their second album called “Bl*ck B*st*rds”, with cover art selecting a sambo figure being lynched. Elektra did not like that and dropped KMD.
Years pass. An unknown figure wearing a mask and calling himself “MF DOOM” (ALL CAPS when you spell the mans name) appears on a small NYC indie label called “Fondle ‘Em”. He releases a bunch of well-received 12 inches, followed by one of the best underground hip-hop albums ever: “Operation: Doomsday”. By this time, heads knew who this masked man was, and they loved every single morsel of music Metal Fingers released. And he made a LOT of music, under various guises. He did an entire album under an alias (“Vikter Vaughn”, one of the best albums of any genre, ever), as well as entire album with with the super producer Madlib called “Madvillian”.
He spend the entire ‘00 decade releasing numerous projects, collaborating with people both expected and unexpected (Thom Yorke remix, anyone?). Then, in 2010, when he tried to return to the United States after a European tour, he was denied re-entry into the States (Dumile was born in the UK). His output slowed down tremendously throughout the following decade. His son died in 2017. And now, since this year fucking sucks and just had to get worse, his death was announced on New Years Eve 2020 (he actually passed on Oct. 31).
He was the best. My heart is heavy with him gone.
posted by Cornball at 2:49 PM on December 31, 2020 [86 favorites]
this is rough. can't quite process this one yet.
ALL CAPS FOREVER
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posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 2:51 PM on December 31, 2020 [5 favorites]
ALL CAPS FOREVER
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posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 2:51 PM on December 31, 2020 [5 favorites]
Damn, one of the best rhymers ever. We were lucky to have him.
Do make sure to watch the video posted above. Its the best video i've ever seen breaking down hip hop musical theory and why MF DOOM was so special.
posted by lips at 2:53 PM on December 31, 2020
Do make sure to watch the video posted above. Its the best video i've ever seen breaking down hip hop musical theory and why MF DOOM was so special.
posted by lips at 2:53 PM on December 31, 2020
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posted by later, paladudes at 2:58 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by later, paladudes at 2:58 PM on December 31, 2020
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posted by lalochezia at 3:01 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by lalochezia at 3:01 PM on December 31, 2020
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posted by Anonymous Function at 3:03 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by Anonymous Function at 3:03 PM on December 31, 2020
Oh! this one hurts so much
posted by cyclopticgaze at 3:15 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by cyclopticgaze at 3:15 PM on December 31, 2020
Truly a unique voice and flow. Thanks Cornball for the brief bio -- I had no idea of the details of his life, and they make the story even more heart-rending.
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posted by Saxon Kane at 3:16 PM on December 31, 2020
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posted by Saxon Kane at 3:16 PM on December 31, 2020
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posted by amelliferae at 3:20 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by amelliferae at 3:20 PM on December 31, 2020
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posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 3:27 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 3:27 PM on December 31, 2020
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posted by LobsterMitten at 3:31 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by LobsterMitten at 3:31 PM on December 31, 2020
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posted by papayaninja at 3:37 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by papayaninja at 3:37 PM on December 31, 2020
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posted by Mr. Merkin at 3:41 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by Mr. Merkin at 3:41 PM on December 31, 2020
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posted by May Kasahara at 3:42 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by May Kasahara at 3:42 PM on December 31, 2020
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posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:47 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:47 PM on December 31, 2020
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posted by Alterscape at 4:08 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by Alterscape at 4:08 PM on December 31, 2020
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posted by Trivia Newton John at 4:15 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by Trivia Newton John at 4:15 PM on December 31, 2020
Dammit. He had a rough life, and it seemed like after (among other things) the death of his brother, homelessness, and deportation from the US he had finally settled into something like a stable life and career.
His son also died a few years ago.
posted by atoxyl at 4:35 PM on December 31, 2020 [2 favorites]
His son also died a few years ago.
posted by atoxyl at 4:35 PM on December 31, 2020 [2 favorites]
madvillainy is one of the best hip hop albums of all time. this sucks man
posted by Bwentman at 4:39 PM on December 31, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Bwentman at 4:39 PM on December 31, 2020 [1 favorite]
Capital .
posted by cashman at 4:44 PM on December 31, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by cashman at 4:44 PM on December 31, 2020 [4 favorites]
my intro to MF DOOM was his collaboration with Danger Mouse, The Mouse & The Mask - which I recommend since it's way better than it has any right to be.
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posted by namewithoutwords at 4:45 PM on December 31, 2020 [7 favorites]
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posted by namewithoutwords at 4:45 PM on December 31, 2020 [7 favorites]
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posted by isauteikisa at 5:11 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by isauteikisa at 5:11 PM on December 31, 2020
This is the worst.
posted by soundofsuburbia at 5:21 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by soundofsuburbia at 5:21 PM on December 31, 2020
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posted by monkeymike at 6:04 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by monkeymike at 6:04 PM on December 31, 2020
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posted by oceanjesse at 6:10 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by oceanjesse at 6:10 PM on December 31, 2020
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posted by cotton dress sock at 6:16 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by cotton dress sock at 6:16 PM on December 31, 2020
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posted by Umami Dearest at 6:31 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by Umami Dearest at 6:31 PM on December 31, 2020
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Big big loss, but even his departure is 100% Doom. Managed to keep it secret since October?!?
posted by p3t3 at 7:50 PM on December 31, 2020 [8 favorites]
Big big loss, but even his departure is 100% Doom. Managed to keep it secret since October?!?
posted by p3t3 at 7:50 PM on December 31, 2020 [8 favorites]
Man, Mmm . . . Food was one of a handful of albums that changed my LIFE. This one hurts. A LOT. Thanks for the last minute dick punch on your way out the door, 2020. Get fucked.
And for the Venomous Villian,
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posted by KingEdRa at 9:52 PM on December 31, 2020 [3 favorites]
And for the Venomous Villian,
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posted by KingEdRa at 9:52 PM on December 31, 2020 [3 favorites]
Hopefully this is allowed - if you have the Apple Music, I made a playlist to hopefully serve as a primer to the great MF DOOM and all his various aliases.
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/am-mf-doom-forever/pl.u-11zBvp3Cqxx7P
posted by Cornball at 10:16 PM on December 31, 2020 [2 favorites]
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/am-mf-doom-forever/pl.u-11zBvp3Cqxx7P
posted by Cornball at 10:16 PM on December 31, 2020 [2 favorites]
Every few years, there's a piece of music that points me in a new direction that takes me on a multiyear journey. His Special Herbs did that to me.
RIP
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 10:20 PM on December 31, 2020 [1 favorite]
RIP
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 10:20 PM on December 31, 2020 [1 favorite]
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posted by nestor_makhno at 10:56 PM on December 31, 2020
posted by nestor_makhno at 10:56 PM on December 31, 2020
What a terrible loss and it's somehow appropriate that language is failing me right now - his command of language was incomparable, his wit unparalleled and he brought a sense of joy to his work. So sad.
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:04 PM on December 31, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:04 PM on December 31, 2020 [2 favorites]
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The cadence of MF DOOM’s rapping is forever lodged in my head. Sometimes someone happens to say something in that cadence and immediately my brain pulls up old verses.
posted by Kattullus at 11:47 PM on December 31, 2020 [6 favorites]
The cadence of MF DOOM’s rapping is forever lodged in my head. Sometimes someone happens to say something in that cadence and immediately my brain pulls up old verses.
posted by Kattullus at 11:47 PM on December 31, 2020 [6 favorites]
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posted by Fuzzy Monster at 12:18 AM on January 1, 2021
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 12:18 AM on January 1, 2021
God this sucks. There's an old friend/coworker of mine who, whenever I run into him, usually (70%) of the time thanks me for introducing him to madvillainy more than a decade later. There's been some rumor-milling in the hip hop sphere that maybe this is some kind of twisted promotion but I don't buy it. I mean, I wish it were, but I think it's much sadder than that.
posted by axiom at 2:59 AM on January 1, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by axiom at 2:59 AM on January 1, 2021 [3 favorites]
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posted by Cookiebastard at 8:38 AM on January 1, 2021
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:38 AM on January 1, 2021
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2009 New Yorker profile by Ta-Nehisi Coates
posted by oakroom at 8:48 AM on January 1, 2021 [9 favorites]
2009 New Yorker profile by Ta-Nehisi Coates
posted by oakroom at 8:48 AM on January 1, 2021 [9 favorites]
There's been some rumor-milling in the hip hop sphere that maybe this is some kind of twisted promotion
Well he is the guy who used to send imposters to do his shows... but no, probably not.
posted by atoxyl at 10:49 AM on January 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
Well he is the guy who used to send imposters to do his shows... but no, probably not.
posted by atoxyl at 10:49 AM on January 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
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posted by miles per flower at 11:22 AM on January 1, 2021
posted by miles per flower at 11:22 AM on January 1, 2021
From a 2009 interview with HipHopDX:
DX: Is it hard for you to channel that [KMD] essence with your brother being gone?
DOOM: Anytime you lose a family member there's a grieving period. But it's not really no different, it's just a different realm, just a different form of communication. We’re all gonna go to that realm eventually. As long as you know that you can still know how to communicate with them. They're not gone, you just can't see them with the naked eye. The naked eye only picks up a certain spectrum of light. What else don't we see and what side are we on? Maybe that's the right side and we're gone. Connections never break. Energy can never be created or destroyed. Anything that it changes to is just change. If you know how to tune into it, it's the same thing. So to me, any of my brothers that are on the other side, I can just still tune into them. If I'm thinking about them I'm talking to them. I can hear them, I still laugh around them. It might look weird like I'm laughing in the room by myself, but I'm laughing with [Charles] Bukowski, I'm asking his permission, I'm talking to [J] Dilla, I'm talking to [my brother] Sub. To me, that's how it is. I think we're all headed in that way of overstanding, but to get over the emotional hump is what's important. When people feel like they lost somebody that they love, to know that they're not gone. There's no such thing as out of existence. They're just in another realm. They can hear us and all that from that realm, we just can't see them and hear them with these tools that we have. Or we do have the tools to see them and hear them, we just have to go inside and utilize those tools. Not to get too mushy with the shit.
posted by box at 11:26 AM on January 1, 2021 [10 favorites]
DX: Is it hard for you to channel that [KMD] essence with your brother being gone?
DOOM: Anytime you lose a family member there's a grieving period. But it's not really no different, it's just a different realm, just a different form of communication. We’re all gonna go to that realm eventually. As long as you know that you can still know how to communicate with them. They're not gone, you just can't see them with the naked eye. The naked eye only picks up a certain spectrum of light. What else don't we see and what side are we on? Maybe that's the right side and we're gone. Connections never break. Energy can never be created or destroyed. Anything that it changes to is just change. If you know how to tune into it, it's the same thing. So to me, any of my brothers that are on the other side, I can just still tune into them. If I'm thinking about them I'm talking to them. I can hear them, I still laugh around them. It might look weird like I'm laughing in the room by myself, but I'm laughing with [Charles] Bukowski, I'm asking his permission, I'm talking to [J] Dilla, I'm talking to [my brother] Sub. To me, that's how it is. I think we're all headed in that way of overstanding, but to get over the emotional hump is what's important. When people feel like they lost somebody that they love, to know that they're not gone. There's no such thing as out of existence. They're just in another realm. They can hear us and all that from that realm, we just can't see them and hear them with these tools that we have. Or we do have the tools to see them and hear them, we just have to go inside and utilize those tools. Not to get too mushy with the shit.
posted by box at 11:26 AM on January 1, 2021 [10 favorites]
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posted by dudemanlives at 11:32 AM on January 1, 2021
posted by dudemanlives at 11:32 AM on January 1, 2021
Another long interview, with Jeff "Chairman" Mao for Red Bull Music Academy. If an hour and a half is a little much for you, here's a clip they chose to highlight: How to Deal with Writer's Block.
posted by box at 11:34 AM on January 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by box at 11:34 AM on January 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
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posted by hap_hazard at 12:00 PM on January 1, 2021
posted by hap_hazard at 12:00 PM on January 1, 2021
*
posted by Bob Regular at 12:37 PM on January 1, 2021
posted by Bob Regular at 12:37 PM on January 1, 2021
Oof, now that the news is 24 hours old I guess I can fully believe it now. I had been a little...suspicious? hopeful? that this was just a misunderstanding, considering the announcement was a bit opaque and all the confirmation articles just pointed to the original IG post. Not to mention the man’s love of riddles and obfuscation, and his bone-deep need for privacy. I was hoping he was “transitioning” to a new name or into a life outside the public eye.
What a loss for hip-hop. He was still producing incredible, vital work and would for years to come.
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posted by Ian A.T. at 12:52 PM on January 1, 2021 [3 favorites]
What a loss for hip-hop. He was still producing incredible, vital work and would for years to come.
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posted by Ian A.T. at 12:52 PM on January 1, 2021 [3 favorites]
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posted by lowest east side at 2:56 PM on January 1, 2021
posted by lowest east side at 2:56 PM on January 1, 2021
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posted by UltraMorgnus at 3:44 PM on January 1, 2021
posted by UltraMorgnus at 3:44 PM on January 1, 2021
This one really fucked me up. So many brilliant, talented people out there telling stories about what DOOM meant to them, how his music affected them.
Hope he's with his brother now.
posted by penduluum at 4:03 PM on January 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
Hope he's with his brother now.
posted by penduluum at 4:03 PM on January 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
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posted by SystematicAbuse at 6:02 PM on January 1, 2021
posted by SystematicAbuse at 6:02 PM on January 1, 2021
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posted by CommonSense at 6:27 PM on January 1, 2021
posted by CommonSense at 6:27 PM on January 1, 2021
DOOM was such an impressive and entertaining artist. His rhymes and beats were so damn distinct
and fun to chew on. No one comes close to doing what he did. I always looked forward to what he'd do next. Thankfully, he left behind some of the most creative rap music ever.
Way. Too. Soon.
posted by unwordy at 10:19 PM on January 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
and fun to chew on. No one comes close to doing what he did. I always looked forward to what he'd do next. Thankfully, he left behind some of the most creative rap music ever.
Way. Too. Soon.
posted by unwordy at 10:19 PM on January 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
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posted by The Manwich Horror at 6:52 AM on January 2, 2021
posted by The Manwich Horror at 6:52 AM on January 2, 2021
He leaves good memories, a stellar run of recordings. KMD were great, a promising start to the 90's, but like Organized Konfusion tragic death changed things. The best of the Golden Era lived on in DOOM, it's just that he's old school like that.
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posted by asok at 8:12 AM on January 2, 2021
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posted by asok at 8:12 AM on January 2, 2021
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posted by GoblinHoney at 8:18 AM on January 2, 2021
posted by GoblinHoney at 8:18 AM on January 2, 2021
DOOM was an artist whose work has always been stealthy to my ears, not just his shifting stage identities and such, but also in the music itself. His vocal delivery always sounds humble and unassuming, and his metric/rhythmic flow is usually pretty subtle, and so I often find myself casually listening at first; but then some chain of internal rhyming or brilliant turn of phrase pops out and tells my brain to pay attention better because something is really going on in this music; and then I start listening more closely, and start to realize...holy shit...this is some lyrical virtuosity happening right now; and then I start listening even more closely and the layers start to reveal themselves. Like all great art, DOOM's music rewards repeated listening and close study.
RIP, and thank you thank you thank you for your music.
posted by LooseFilter at 8:40 AM on January 2, 2021
RIP, and thank you thank you thank you for your music.
posted by LooseFilter at 8:40 AM on January 2, 2021
Flying Lotus mentioned the need to celebrate the man, and an (¿unfinished?) collab in progress.
Twitch @ Timeboy all weekend; or check bay to FlyLo's twitter as links change.
posted by rubatan at 3:39 PM on January 2, 2021
Twitch @ Timeboy all weekend; or check bay to FlyLo's twitter as links change.
posted by rubatan at 3:39 PM on January 2, 2021
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posted by little onion at 7:45 AM on January 3, 2021
posted by little onion at 7:45 AM on January 3, 2021
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Operation Doomsday, Mm.. Food, Take me to Your Leader... so many incredible albums and such a unique voice. His lightness and humor mixed with something darker. You could tell he never forgot his brother. What a loss.
posted by TurnKey at 2:21 PM on December 31, 2020 [4 favorites]