“A Love Supreme” by John Coltrane. “The Low End Theory” by A Tribe Called Quest. “The Velvet Underground and Nico” by the Velvet Underground. All these albums ingeniously challenged certain aspects of their respective genres, and because of that have implanted their techniques of making music to our current generation.

How did sampling other songs in your own become such a big thing? The reggae artists that sampled American music in the 60s. How did monotone voices in alternative rock get so big? The Smiths in the 80s. And most of the intricate rhyme schemes that also tell vivid stories, or humorous anecdotes were mostly inspired by a small underground rapper named MF Doom.

Daniel Dumile, an English hip hop artist and producer, isn’t anything special, but when he puts his mask on he transforms to MF Doom, he turns into your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper.

His rhymes are pound for pound entertaining, and extremely clever. Take this opening line of his song “Figaro” for example: “The rest is empty with no brain but the clever nerd/ The best emcee with no chain ya ever heard.”  

When he says the rest is empty, he could be referring to how there is no one who has been on his level lyrically, but it could also mean its a no brainer when it comes to him being the only rapper clever enough to deliver such complex rhymes. In the second part of the first line, he refers to himself being the clever nerd, again flaunting his artistic ability. The second line could either be a reference to him being the best rapper who doesn’t like to wear jewelry, or how he’s the best rapper, even though he never puts chains, choruses, or hooks in his songs. These multi syllable rhymes that cross over into the next bars are what make Doom Doom.

Every song is an unpredictable, sample-heavy, satirical story that listens like an audiobook. If your into good music, give MF Doom a listen. You won’t regret it.