At a certain point, when you get down to it, DOOM really was just a genius. Through and through. I always wonder if he kinda thought of himself as like just another dude, just like, like he felt like anyone could be him and he could be anyone, you know?
The lyricism I heard and read was just unparalleled. Super difficult to do and I don’t know too many who could come up with matching that same style. Whether or not he felt anyone could be him, maybe that was the mask idea he enjoyed having but there definitely couldn’t be anyone that replaced him.
I love this in depth analysis of MF DOOM’s lyrics. I haven’t gotten through all of it but wanted to add my though on his line from “Rhymes like dimes” when he says “it matters not if you’ve got a lot of what it takes to get along” he’s talking about how if you have good lyrics it doesn’t matter if you have a lot of money- this is a reference to an old song by ginger rogers called “in the money” from 1933 and the original lyrics go, “ We're in the money. We're in the money. We've got a lot of what it takes to get along.”
The fact that he would have impersonators perform his own live shows, speaks more to his views on art vs fame, and his character, than anything. It shows that he hates the idea of being an idol, and wanted to destroy the idea of celebrity in the eyes of the audience. And it shows his complete lack of ego and big headedness, despite being a very beloved artist who had people willing to spend their money and time to go see him. No other artist would do that, that I can think of.
If you look at what certain rap idols got up to with their celebrity and power, cough..P.Diddy, maybe he had a point that hero worship can allow bad people to abuse that power.
I knew there was a chance he would not show up, but when that happens to you it is not cool. I drove down 2.5 hours for a show that was supposed to stay at 9. Doors didn't open until 11. But I was still very excited because Mos def was also going to perform. Mos didn't get on until 1:30am he was up for 30 minutes but had a cool shogun type outfit. Then the doom clone came out a lil after 2. Did 2 songs and got booed off stage. He's still my favorite....
It's not the intent and and meaning of DOOM, this is just a person trying to understand and interpreting his lyrics. You will NEVER truly understand the lyrics unless you are the person who wrote them. That said, I think he did a good job, but I would never claim to understand another persons work through a 3rd party, that's just stupid.
@@seapackgaming4316 I kind of figured that goes without saying. What I mean is the video highlights how much intent DOOM puts into his lyrics, regardless of the fact that the video is an interpretation. Seeing someone else's perspective on a piece of art can change how you look at it yourself, sometimes adding possible context from the author's life, or other details you may have missed. It doesn't mean you're treating that perspective as completely factual.
I'm like 12 minutes in and tbe analysis is IMMACULATE. I've been sick of people talking about DOOM without actually delving into his lyrics *cough cough* absurd existence *cough cough*
7:35 another clever layer I figured out in Doomsday about this bar, or a more correct reading of the lyrics “men’s to the end” is that since Doom was from the UK, he’s using some UK slang as a nod to that. “Mens” is a slang for a guy you’re referencing to somebody else, and “end” is slang word for a ghetto. So he’s saying that he’s gonna take us to his troubled upbringing through his music and therefore also referencing the “audio daily double” phrase. There’s literally hundreds of ways to interpret his lyrics so there’s no way anybody could know all the references he’s making but I just wanted to add that
Shakespeare-level genius... i mean... only MF bounced rhymes off Eyjafjallajokull with such nonchalance...just untouchable and i will never get over his passing...
Been listening ever since mmm…food album dropped. Still doesn’t bore me. And let’s not forget about the producer DOOM. Creative with the beats too! . Really was bummed when I read about your passing DOOM. Your many persona will live on for ever. RIP
Fitting "milosevic" into a verse and sampling "bukowski" is legendary on it's own. He feels like the the Dead Kennedys of rap. Doom and Most Def were criminally underappreciated
Great video...... Hot Take: The Mouse and the Mask by DOOM and Danger is one of the best hip hop albums of all time. It often gets overlooked because he had so many good projects coming out in that 2002-2006 span. It also can seem a bit corny and outdated with the Adult Swim cartoon interludes that some folks might not understand. But if you were a somewhat young adult at the time, knew the shows (Family Guy, Futurama, Aqua Teen, Sea Lab, Space Ghost) knew the puns that were being referenced, it was a masterpiece. I still find myself playing that album before Madvillainy or Mmm Food. It's peak DOOM.
Madvillainy and Food are two of the greatest Hiphop records of all time but I find myself listening to Mouse more often. The concept is just so cool and genius and it's just far more catchy and easier to rap along with. Just my opinion. It really is impossible to pick a favorite DOOM album tbh.
This was a joy to watch as an "old head"! Just someone taking the time to pay attention and respect to the lyrical majesty that rap, at its most refined, is. Long live the villain as he rests in peace.
I didn't think I'd watch an hour long video LOL! Very nice. I find it funny in "Let me watch" that this left turn is so hilarious that someone is actually laughing in the studio on the track 😂 The type of almost sub-audible banter that doom puts on tracks can be pretty special too.
Thank you so much for this series. MF DOOM has been an absolute essential artist for me for over 20 years now. I honestly believe there will never be another artist like him. Ever. Your in depth analysis of his lyrical genius has greatly increased my already considerable appreciation of his depth.
Edit : This was so well done its amazing to see the goat get the recognition he deserves there will truly never be another like MFDOOM the only rapper I believed had a similar sound was King Geedorah but of course it was just him under a different name. no one has ever or could ever have the same sound as MFDOOM his genius is unmatched. Rip MFDOOM ,your favorite rappers favorite rapper
Also look into "Light it up like a dutch when the hash melts" - this refers to a Dutchmaster cigar rolled with weed and hash, has nothing to do with the legality of marijuana in the Netherlands.
And to add to that more@@markphillips401 the Dutch will literally burst into flame when you light hash "wrong" bc of the high oily thc in the hash, to go back to his light reference.
Rhymes like dimes is one of the illest rap songs ever produced, no doubt about it. I've heard some people criticize the song and say it sounds like some kiddie sesame street beat or something but I think that's bullshit. The beat is definitely different than most of the classic 90s grungy raw hiphop but I think the sample is great, the flow, the lyrics, the word play, its comical and serious and fun and emotional all at the same time. I still bump this in the whip all the time.
Tally Ho playing cards are what I use, own, and love the most! Originally only available in NYC or specialty stores such as magic shops. The Fan Back specifically is my favorite deck of all time. I’m working on collecting every color ever produced!
I remember when I was introduced to this Album n college fall 2011 I transferred from one school to another cuz of a coaching change and my teammate from queens put me on…then I asked my homeboy who spit if he was hip to em and he thought doom was jus a producer had no idea he rhymed..each one teach one at its finest
This man remembered these small intircate details throughout his life and made rap lyric about them, then made 2-7 difference correlations between every single line, whether it was emitional, historical philopsical, and many more levels of corrlation I'd only have to imagine this mans pure genius. His iq must've been at least 170 truly insane i think the only way to explain this man is the garry kasparov or magnus carlson of music.
I was a lil late on MF DOOM but when l got wind of him he instantly went in my top 5 list.... Rakim The D.O.C. Redman MJG and DOOM... DOOM took Sean Price off my list and turned him and Devin the Dude into honorable mentions🐣™️💯
I discovered MF Doom through Cannibal Ox, another legendary underground group, and after his verse in their collab, I was like I have to check this dude out, that wasn’t even 8 bars. The real ones don’t often need introduction and it fits his persona perfectly 🤷🏾♂️
I remember doom being one of the first rappers I found as a youth that my mom didn’t know about. she did put me on to Wu-tang and that led me too doom via the pandora app. I was hooked like 12-13 and obsessed lol. Good times
Great video and analysis bro. Just a quick correction. His name Dumile is pronounced similar to the way he says it. He pronounces it with an American accent but it pronounced: Doom-e-le but the "ay" at the end is not like "Kanye" but rather pronounced as an "eh" without an extra "y" sound at the end. It's a very common name in some Southern African countries like South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe where his dad is from. Dumile is a weird name for him because it actually means "the famous one" or the "well-known one". Crazy because he never wanted to be known in the industry like that. Hope this makes sense. Great work
7:35 Doomsday’s first verse and just the bars about the jeopardy alone, though it’s quick, has a dozen different ways to interpret it or find a story in it that no one else has yet. And the jeopardy bars, even though it sounds like the start of a new metaphor, also connects to the previous bars about the lame rappers he’s saying he could kidnap. It’s crazy. Before the jeopardy bars, he’s talking from the perspective of the kidnapped lame rapper who’s giving a press release about who did it to him, when he says “um, what is MF?” because before that he’s also playing the part of a journalist at the press release who shouts out loud (like they do in real life) statements regarding what the press release is about, and says “Metal Fist terrorists claim responsibility” which then gets replied to with the what is MF line where he just says MF instead of Metal Fist. So not only is he painting a picture of a humiliated untalented rapper not knowing who MF Doom is because he’s that far above them, but he’s also giving details of himself and his mindset towards the rap game, and about the mainstream rappers at the time.
@@motioninart "The Impossible Kid" would be his most critically acclaimed piece of art. But a good starter song for you would be his verse on a song dedicated to MF DOOM. Song called "Ask Anyone."
@@motioninart Albums: Skelethon, Impossible Kid, Spirit World Field Guide, Integrated Tech Solutions Songs: Dorks, Gauze, Klutz, Daylight/Nightlight, None Shall Pass, Gopher Guts, .. dozens more. No one has more words than Aes.
MF DOOM choose himself in an industry that doesn't care about the artist he didn't lose himself trying to please the industry instead he approached the art the way he wanted to and made money from it
Im hear because chat gpt said this was somebody I wrote like (him and Saul Williams) but I had never heard of them so I’m interested to see the similarity if any.
Correction on his last name's pronunciation. It's Doom-eel-eh, not Doom-il. Not to overlook the incredible effort and passion you put into the video, of course.
@@motioninart you can try I tried just didn't bring the same wordsmith abilities have you seen joker the most recent it's like that he's everywhere and I like it
I'd argue that DOOM is even better. K-Dot earned his place for sure, but DOOM is the Emperor of Rap. Not to shame on the kings that came before with Pac and Biggie. But DOOM encapsulated both of them. The Lyricism of Tupac and the Flow of Biggie. He's the culmination of the kings of Hip Hop and I can't say that anyone has come close to him.
