Album of the Week: MF Doom

The humor and talent of the late masked rapper and producer MF DOOM (Daniel Dumile) shines throughout Mm..Food, newly reissued for its 20th anniversary. DOOM’s punchline-heavy rhymes and sample-based production, sourced from music, movies, cartoons and TV shows, finds inspiration in the world of deliciousness on his fifth solo album: opener “Beef Rapp” references battling MCs; “Fillet-O-Rapper” is a minute-long commercial for soul food that segues into the equally brief “Gumbo,” where instructions for building the flavors in the Louisiana stew serves as a metaphor for rap. The British-American rapper’s sampling style is reminiscent of the early form and cheekiness from U.S. producers such as Prince Paul, Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, Double Dee and Steinski, as well as UK duo Coldcut.  The hook from Whodini’s 1984 rap classic “Friends” is layered with a repeating ‘80s sax line in “Deep Fried Frenz.”

A slew of bonus tracks on the digital deluxe version provide insight into an artist who kept much hidden away, and who died at age 49 in October 2020 from angioedema, a rare reaction to his blood pressure medication. There are remixes from his friends Madlib, Ant and Jake One, as well as several previously unreleased interview clips where he discusses the making of the album, his evolution, and advice for fighting writer’s block. DOOM’s loss is deeply felt knowing his vision for the future remains miles ahead even when listening two decades later.