MF DOOM - "Bookhead Remix"

Here's some crazy creative ish from the man with the iron face that I managed to overlook a couple of months back. By using the slamming machinery of shoe-making at the Clark's headquarters DOOM created this knocking remix of the JJ DOOM single, "Bookhead", that's available on picture disc vinyl now (grab it here)!

[EP] JJ DOOM - "BUTTER EDITION"

When DOOM and Dr. Who Dat gets together in the studio crazy stuff gets laid down as evident by JJ DOOM's "Key to the Kuffs". LEX Records and the duo is preparing to follow up on the successful formula with "Key to the Kuffs: Butter Edition" which is basically a Deluxe Edition of the album, which includes an additional EP of remixes and previously unreleased material. Available in all formats on its August 20 release date, you can already check out ALL but one track out of the new material via LEX's Soundcloud - especially look for the boom boom banging collaboration with Del. Pre-order @ iTunes (mp3) or Lex Projects (CD/LP).

01. "Bookhead"
02. "Pause Tape"
03. "The Signs" (Ft. Gone The Hero)
04. "Viberian Son" (Ft. Del the Funkee Homosapien)
05. "Guv'nor" [BBBG Remix]
06. "Rhymin' Slang" [Dave Sitek Remix]
07. "Retarded Fren" [Thom Yorke & Dave Greenwood Mix]
08. "Bookfiend" [Clams Casino Version]
09. "Banished" [Beck Remix]

[SINGLE COMP] The Origins of JJ DOOM

I must admit when I heard the collaboration between producer/sometime MC Jneiro Janel and vocalist MF DOOM I must admit I was quite dissapointed; the beats wasn't doing it for me, and as with most DOOM releases, for me at least, his rhymes are so intricate and often plain nuts that it often takes several listens before I really can start digging in to them on a real conscious level. Add that the JJ DOOM project sounded very different from anything the Metal Fingered Villain had released before; the production was for the most extremely set apart from his usual set of beats, and that cat always had a fantastic ear for beats.

Had I written the intended review I was planning on right when the album dropped, I would have called it a good but at the same time slightly mediocre project from an artist that I'm so used to hear in other, as I thought, better settings. Since I'm back in yet another DOOM period, I have been revisting "Key to the Kuffs" and I must admit that I have completely changed my mind. This LP is nothing short of blazing heat from track 1 to track 15; it's different, yes indeed, but DOOM has never stayed in a box and that's one of the things that make him one of the greatest. Matter of fact, the album fits in right together with his other rhyming-over-one-producer's work albums like the classic "The Mouse & The Mask" and the original "Madvillainy". It doesn't quite reach those levels, but there's a fantastic chemistry between the two main musicians and the elctronic-tinged beats are both extremely raw and progressive relying heavily on slamming drums, futuristic and dark electronic soundscapes that fits DOOM's insane flows, lyrics and delivery, which is some of his finest performances in years, believe it or not!

The project "Key to the Kuffs" begun after DOOM, who was born in London used his European passport when travelling outside of the US and found himself refused to get back into his come country of the US after his trip back. This led to him staying in the capital EU city, and eventually hooking up with Jneiro Jarel - also known as Dr. Who Dat?. After DOOM invited JJ to remix two different versions of the title track from his "Gazzilion Ears EP" (late 2009), the Dilla produced standout from the emcees' third solo offering under own name, 2009:s often underrated "Born Like This". Despite featuring interesting new takes from Radiohead's Thom Yorke and an exclusive DOOM cut entitled "The Green Whore Net", there were no question  who's two remixes were head and shoulders above the rest. The Dr. Who Dat? remix is almost disturbingly dark, with low-key cuts, a bassline that your neighbors might want to kill you for, and a full-out electrconic approach while still keeping it 100% hip-hop; there are samples here but they are filtered, and hidden in plain sight if you will. Who Dat makes DOOM's borrowed accapella to this madness and make ti sound like this was actrually the beat that he recorded "Gazzillion..." for in the studio. Powserful shit!

The Jneiro Jarel take, co-remixed with Dave Sitek, brings a totally different flavor to the same vocal material. Rather than a full-out hardcore electronic approach, this is filled with samples  and musical that's brilliantly put to use; head-nod inducing rhythm, horns, keys, and more; definitely nothing to sleep on! But what's more interesting is how this is such a great predecessor of what was about to come when the duo was fully formed and they unleased their "Keys to the Kuffs" last year; an album that might just be DOOM's best lyrical career point ar this point. For fans of DOOM, Jneiro Jarel, Dave Sitek and "Keys...", these songs are an absolute treat, and I know they got a few years on their neck but considering what's happening right now with the recent album release, I think it's a perfect time to write an artifcle on the phenomen that is DOOM and his new producer Dr. Who Dat?.  Will be interesting to see if this is just a one album shot, or if we might get a sequel some day. If you have yet to pick up the album, do yourself a favor and head over to UGHH and chose the format of your choice - vinyl or CD. Trust me, give it a few spins, and if you still donn't feel is one of the

[Single Comp] MF DOOM - "The Origin'"

 

01. "Gazzillion Ear" [Dr. Who Dat? Remix] *

02. "Gazzillion Ear" [Jneiro Jarel Remix] *

JJ DOOM - "The Origin" [Single Comp]

Sick J.J. DOOM Mix

Jneiro Jarel, MF's production partner in J.J. DOOM, created this brand new 35 minutes mix of tracks and remixes from the album, interview clips, DOOM joints, Jarel joints, and a few other things, exclusively for Dazed Digital. There's also a Q&A piece included in the link so check that out, and read DOOM's thoughts on the project over @ HipHopDX. I must admit that I was kinda dissapointed with the album when I first heard it, but not totally unexpected it's one that grows on you. On this mix, I'm especially feeling the exclusive remix of "Guv'nor" featured here, peep it...

Exclusive JJ Doom Mixtape by Dazed Digital on Mixcloud

JJ DOOM: A Recap

MF DOOM is easily one of the most creative producers AND emcees in the game, with classic releases like "MM... Foood", "Operation Doomsday", "Vauderville Villain", amazing outside productions and so much more. Most recently we heard the one and only MF DOOM producing the entirety of the always incedible Masta Ace; resulting in "MA DOOM: Son Of Yvette". A dope album by all means, but still slightly dissapointed considering how Ace decided to use all beats previouly released on the "Special Herbz" box set, and by extension other previous DOOM project. What most of us really are waiting for however is the almost mythical meeting with Ghostface Killah on their constantly postponed "Swift & Changeable"on Nature Sounds.

However, the Metal Face is still going strong and gearing up for new projecs, and just as befoe he seems as striving to not be pigeonholded within a genre. The first official project since 2009:s underrated "Born Like This" is a full-length collaboative LP with alternative rapper and producer Jneiro Janel (also known as Dr. Who Dat?). Using the logical moniker of JJ DOOM, the album is titled "Keys to the Kuffs" and is set fo an August 20 release on Lex Records. Cameos on the project comes from Khujo Goodie, Damon Alban and Beth Gibbson with all production coming from Janel and all vocals provided by The Illest Villain. So far two tracks from the album has been released, as well as two remixes of songs that will appear on the retail; the Radiohead version of "Retarded Fren"  and the Dave Sitek remix of "Rhymin' Slang" . If you missed anything, here they all are in steamable format. It's actually sounding very promising to me, and DOOM is rhyming his ass off as expected.