On borrowed-time rhymes, gassed by the silver screen
They act like their monkey-ass can heal back like Wolverine
Mellow out what y’all bellow out, you got yellow mouth
What happened to the type of spit that used to help a fellow out?

– Viktor Vaughn (Vaudeville Villain)

I can’t recall the exact moment that I caught wind of Doom, what I do remember is wanting to record my verses over Metal Fingers: Special Herbs Vol.1 & 2; later I’d hear Madvillany and that pretty much solidified him in my top 10 emcee list. Fast forward, I found myself watching a bunch of hiphop archives right before and during COVID-19. Old documentaries, interviews and studio sessions of producers and musicians are great sources of edutainment for me. Being the best at what you do doesn’t happen in a vacuum, you need examples; those that have done what you are trying to do. Furthermore, once you find that person or those people it’s less about looking or sounding like them and more about understanding their choices; understanding how they think. During an old Madlib interview, I heard Doom explain the mask I haven’t been the same since.

Aside from him being a skilled lyricist and producer, the mask is what drew me to his work. To me, DOOM represents the detour from the Hollywood circus; a commitment to the sacred art of rap (oration). After reading an Inquirer article about Doom making an album in Philly, I was jolted with excitement to learn he’d recorded in Philly and had to learn more. According to author S.H. Fernando Jr.’s new book The Chronicles of DOOM: Unraveling Rap’s Masked Iconoclast, Fernando details Doom’s introduction to the DIY, punk/rock scene in Philly through a painter and engineer by the names of King Honey and Heat Sensor. This inseparable bond between Philly and the rest of the world is well known among art and music historians. This connection between Doom and Space 1026 is another confirmation that Philly is responsible for blooming many of the world’s best artists, makers and trailblazers.

As an artist I appreciate the crossing of paths, the stories; details of how works of art are formed. If your a DOOM fan or just an overall hip-hop head and enjoy learning about the creation of music, art and the mindset of a crazy and twisted villain like DOOM, I highly recommend you check out Fernando’s book.

I enjoyed writing this piece and I look forward to continuing to create and cover emerging art, music and trailblazers. Thanks for investing a few moments of your day to be here and read. If you gained any value from this article, a coffee or cup of tea would help me stay up at all hours of the day and night to write and continue creating new content. Appreciate you beloved.

Be Well, Always.