NYC rapper Kurious, has shared today the third track off his forthcoming album Majician, titled “Barry Gibb”. The song and album were executive produced by his longtime friend and collaborator MF DOOM before his passing and produced by Mono En Stereo.
On the instantly classic track, Kurious shares “I don’t know if the lyrics relate to this so much, but Barry Gibb from the BeeGees is one of my favorite artists. And, I wrote this song around the time he lost his last brother. He has three brothers and lost all three of them. And, (when he lost his last brother), I was writing like crazy. And, back when they were saying “Disco is dead”, he was writing for Kenny Roger, Dolly Parton, and fucking Michael Jackson. He’s writing for mad people and nobody really knows. I felt like that too. I’m writing a lot for myself and for other people. So, it was just a homage…a salute to him.”
His new album, Majician – also the nickname his peers blessed him with a generation ago, is due out October 18th on Metalface Records and Rhymesayers Entertainment. It’s a mesmerizing blend of technical wizardry and personal introspection that substantiates the legacy he’s long deserved. Pre-order vinyl, CDs and cassettes via gasdrawls.com and rhymesayers.com, as well as exclusive merchandise.
NYC Hip Hop mainstay Kurious has shared today the second track off his forthcoming album Majician, titled “Untainted”. The song and album were executive produced by his longtime friend and collaborator MF DOOM before his passing and produced by Mono En Stereo.
With its throwback beat and Kurious’ steady, driving lyrics, he explains the meaning behind the titled, saying, “That’s a term DOOM used to use a lot. If you play him something that’s tainted, or something is wrong with it, and I don’t know if you’ve ever seen him listening to shit he dont’ like, it literally hurts him, it’s like a migraine. He’s such a genius, and he’s hearing all kinds of shit…he’ll squint his eyes that certain way, or put his hands on his temple, and be like, “yo, don’t play me that….”.
Kurious, the uncommonly gifted rapper from New York City’s Upper West Side, has announced today his newest album, Majician, the nickname his peers blessed him with a generation ago. Due out October 18th on Metalface Records and Rhymesayers Entertainment, the LP, which was executive produced by his longtime friend and collaborator MF DOOM before his passing and produced by Mono En Stereo, is a mesmerizing blend of technical wizardry and personal introspection that substantiates the legacy he’s long deserved.
In 2016, Kurious flew down to Grenada and it was there that he played DOOM “Unknown Species,” the urgent track that now serves as the opening salvo on Majician. Over more trips to Grenada and eventually the United Kingdom, the LP took shape, two kindred spirits chipping away at a block of marble together. “I don’t have another creative partner in life,” Kurious says. “He’s that for me.” So it’s only natural that this project, the last document of their remarkable chemistry, would find a home with Metalface Records. Pre-order vinyl, CDs and cassettes via gasdrawls.com and rhymesayers.com, as well as additional exclusive merchandise.
In continuation of the 20th anniversary celebration of MF DOOM and Madlib’s groundbreaking collaboration, Madvillainy, the MF DOOM estate and Madlib have teamed up with Super7 to present a reimagined Madvillainvinyl action figure, along with an exclusive merch and apparel capsule. The figure and capsule will be on sale from Monday, August 5th at 11:00 AM ET through Wednesday, August 7th at 11:59 PM ET at Gasdrawls.com.
The SuperSize Madvillain figure, the first music-related SuperSize character for Super7, is a 16” tall, 16” tall, poseable vinyl collectible inspired by Hip Hop supergroup Madvillain’s animated comic-book-come-to-life music video “ALL CAPS.” It features premium soft vinyl construction with articulation at the neck, shoulders, waist, and ankles, and includes a soft goods trench coat (non-removable). Retailing for $295, this SuperSize Madvillain figure is ready to make a big impression in your collection.
With updated artwork from the original artist, James Reitano, the Madvillain character is also brought to life through its new packaging art, as well as an exclusive merch & apparel capsule. The capsule collection also features new shirts, sweatshirts, caps, stickers, a skate deck and more. Launching at 11:00 am EST on August 5 and only available through 11:59 pm EST on August 7, the figure and capsule collection are a strictly limited engagement.
One of Hip-Hop’s most beloved anti-heroes, the ever-inventive MF DOOM received widespread praise for his sharp, candid rhymes, as well as his choppy, sample-heavy production style. He joined forces with legendary producer Madlib and under the name Madvillian the supergroup went on to release their critically acclaimed album Madvillainy in 2004.
Pop culture collectibles company Super7 has teamed up with Madlib and the late MF DOOM‘s estate to release a new toy commemorating the 20th anniversary of the duo’s 2004 collaboration, Madvillainy, and it looks SO. FREAKING. COOL. The new 16-inch vinyl action figure is modeled after the Madvillain character from the album’s “ALL CAPS” video. It’s pretty poseable, with articulation at the neck, shoulders, waist, and ankles, and it’s accompanied by a merch capsule with art from the original “ALL CAPS” artist, James Reitano. The figure and capsule will be on sale from Monday, August 5 at 11 AM ET through Wednesday, August 7 at 11:59 PM ET at Gasdrawls.com. The capsule features new shirts, sweatshirts, caps, stickers, a skate deck and more. Check it out below.
Super7
Super7
Speaking of collectible Madvillain vinyl, while the 20th anniversary special edition vinyl is officially sold out, you can still get the album on vinyl and discover why it was so beloved at the time and since (there’s a reason we always use ALL CAPS when we spell the man’s name!). MF DOOM’s own Metalface Records has also reissued the rapper’s old group KMD’s controversial record Black Bastards.
Meanwhile, Super7 continues putting out classic hip-hop figures, such as these Outkast action figures, so check out more at their website.
MF DOOM fans were shocked to find that one of the rapper’s most acclaimed albums was no longer on Spotify. MM… FOOD, released in 2004, was pulled from the popular music streaming service on the evening of July 23. It returned soon after, but not before fans started mourning their perceived loss. Of course, some fans took it as an opportunity to flex their preferred streaming service as the “superior” one.
Like much of underground hip-hop from the early 2000s, MF DOOM’s music is littered with uncleared samples. DOOM was famous for using movie samples, especially from old superhero shows. He also used obscure jazz, soul, and whatever else he could find in his production process. Many artists from DOOM’s era did not get popular enough for anyone to come after them for not getting their samples cleared. DOOM’s popularity has grown over the years, and in death, he is the most popular he’s ever been. Which is why other fans thought that MM… FOOD‘s removal had to do with the lack of cleared samples. It was more likely a bug, which is why it returned so quickly.
Long considered one of the greatest rappers of all time, MF DOOM passed away on Halloween 2020. DOOM’s wife announced the news on New Year’s Eve of that year, much to the shock of fans. Since then, fans have been keeping his legacy alive by listening to his music. He has nearly eight million monthly listeners on Spotify, at the time of this writing.
In 2023, producer Madlib and Brooklyn rapper Talib Kweliappeared on Hot 97 to talk about Liberation 2, their second collaborative release. Questions about the existence of Madvillainy 2, the long-awaited followup to MF DOOM and Madlib’s seminal work, Madvillainy arose. Madlib confirmed that the album is still being worked on, but it is unclear when it will release, if at all. Hopefully, all parties involved come together to pay tribute to the late legendary rapper if the time comes. Until then, do yourself a favor and stream MM… FOOD today.
Every supervillain has an origin story, and across the history of comic books, there’s nothing like a good team-up. At a certain point in pop culture history, the inspiration that Dr. Doom gave the late great MF DOOM turned into a symbiotic presence, and there’s perhaps no better example of that than what released on Wednesday (May 15). Moreover, this week, Marvel Comics released the first issue of DOOM, a 2024 comic book series marking the villain’s first titular solo run since 2000 -– and thus, the first since Viktor Vaughn’s sudden and tragic passing in late 2020. On the issue’s first page, writers and illustrators Jonathan Hickman and Sanford Greene paid tribute to Metal Face’s memory with beautiful artwork of the universe beyond our atmosphere and one of his most legendary bars: “Living off borrowed time, the clock ticks faster” off of “Accordion.”
That track is the “opening” cut (after an intro) on one of MF DOOM’s most legendary projects: 2004’s Madvillainy collaborative album with producer Madlib. That LP, in addition to being a staple of underground hip-hop and pretty much all of rap at this point, was recently certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) two decades after its release. Much like Victor Von Doom himself, the enduring spirit of DOOM continues to inspire new generations and energize older ones. In fact, the synopsis for this new comic run kind of lines up, unsurprisingly, with Daniel Dumile’s own missions to save rap.
“IN THE NEAR FUTURE… DOOM ALONE MUST SAVE THE MARVEL UNIVERSE!” it reads. “Legendary creators Jonathan Hickman and Sanford Greene send Doctor Doom on a journey unlike any he has undertaken before! With Valeria Richards at his side, Doom goes on a quest to harness more power than any human has ever wielded before in order to try to stop Galactus from bringing about the death of the universe!” Despite some controversies surrounding former label manager Egon over allegedly stealing MF DOOM’s notebooks, it’s clear that all the souls he touched on this Earth want to keep this will alive.
Meanwhile, hip-hop continues to mourn and celebrate MF DOOM at every turn, such as a recent story of an alleged freestyle session with Nas. Gems like these will likely continue to emerge over the years. Through this new comic run, it’s heartening to see a company as massive as Marvel Comics pay tribute to a true fan and supervillain. Just remember… RIP MF DOOM.
On this day in Hip Hop history, duo KMD released their debut LP, Mr. Hood. Although it may not have had much commercial success, Mr. Hood ushered in the career of one of Hip Hop’s most respected figures, MF DOOM.
Mr. Hood came at a time in Hip Hop culture where consciousness and positive Afrocentric messages were prominent in the majority of popular rap music. The Nubian renaissance taking place in Hip-Hop at the time birthed artists like Queen Latifah, Brand Nubian, and The Jungle Brothers.
Lyrically, Mr. Hood‘s subject matter is politically charged while being able to retain its youthful nature. Zev Love X and Onyx the Birthstone Kid were able to satirize and intellectually dissect oppressive American culture and weave it seamlessly into their rhymes.
DJ Subroc’s production is also of merit. The sampling techniques used to turn already composed pieces into separate instruments meshed perfectly with the group’s style and influenced generations of producers to come. Even the “Mr. Hood” character that appears throughout the album was sampled clips from a language-learning tape.
Released by Elektra Records, the album’s commercial success does not reflect its importance. KMD and Mr. Hood did a lot for the culture as far as promoting righteousness. Their message is one that inspired not only fellow artists but also a community to be conscious of their culture and grow as a people against a system built against them. Take some time to listen to the beginning of the career of some of Hip Hop’s most influential underground artists.
Salute to DOOM(RIP) and his brother DJ Subroc(RIP) for giving fans this important piece of Hip Hop history!
When you think about essential hip-hop records, where does your mind go? For us and many others, underground icons MF Doom and Madlib gave us one of those kinds of albums back in 2004. We are referring to one of the most studied and highly-regarded offerings in the genre’s 50-year history, Madvillainy. We recently put up a densely-detailed feature on the crazy samples, references, and bars from Doom and Madlib. We highly encourage you to check that out if you are a huge fan of the record. But we are back to talking about Madvillainy today because it just became certified gold.
According to a tweet from HipHopDX, the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) updated the sales numbers on Monday, March 25. That led to them discovering that Madvillainy hit the required 500,000 copies to achieve that mark. What is ironic about all of this is that Doom and Madlib’s album turned 20 years old the day before this announcement. If you really think about it, this is a remarkable feat for this album.
With how off the wall and experimental it is and dropping well before the streaming era, hitting gold status is wild. Just for some stats, three of MF’s 10 most popular tracks on Spotify are from Madvillainy. “All Caps” slots in at fifth with over 146 million plays. Next is “Meat Grinder” right after with 99 million plus. Finally, “Fancy Clown,” which sits at eighth has collected over 76.8 million streams.
What are your thoughts on Madvillainy by MF Doom and Madlib going gold? Are you surprised it took this long for a classic record to hit this mark, why or why not? How impressive is this achievement considering when this was released? What tracks are you still bumping from it? Are MF Doom and Madlib the greatest rapper and producer duo ever? Is this the best hip-hop record of all time? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding MF Doom and Madlib. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the world of music.
It’s a milestone that resonates deeply within the hearts of hip-hop heads and aficionadas alike. Nearly twenty years after its initial release, the iconic collaboration between the masked author MF DOOM and beatsmith extraordinaire Madlib, known as “Madvillainy,” has achieved a monumental feat: gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). This certification, bestowed upon the album almost exactly two decades after its debut on March 22, 2004, marks a testament to the enduring legacy of an album that has consistently captivated audiences since its inception.
Initially released under the banner of Stones Throw Records, “Madvillainy” has now ascended to the echelons of gold status, denoting sales surpassing a remarkable half-million copies. Reflecting on the creation of “Madvillainy,” on Complex Music’s Instagram, Peanut Butter Wolf, the founder of Stones Throw Records, reminisces on the album’s humble beginnings. He reveals the intimate process behind its creation, recounting how Madlib meticulously crafted the beats within the confines of his home, renamed The Bomb Shelter.
“This was an album where Madlib chose to record the beats in my basement that we called The Bomb Shelter (it was a literally a concrete bomb shelter),” he wrote.
Meanwhile, MF DOOM lent his lyricism to the project, recording vocals in a makeshift studio within Wolf’s own home.
“DOOM recorded his vocals in my bedroom down the hall where we also had @ecoleye do a photo shoot that became the album cover–It’s the first (and only) album on my 28-year-old label to go gold.”
It’s a tale of artistic camaraderie and ingenuity, where creative sparks ignited within the confines of DIY recording spaces.
The album’s impact transcended its underground origins, as evidenced by Wolf’s recollection of the LA release party held at The Fonda. Fearing a lackluster turnout, the lineup was stacked with luminaries such as J Dilla and Common, alongside the enigmatic figure of MF DOOM himself. Despite initial trepidation, the event served as a testament to the album’s burgeoning influence, drawing in crowds eager to experience the magic of this future classic.
“We did a few more shows that month with the same lineup in a few major markets to small but very excited crowds.”
On the twentieth anniversary of the album’s release, the Beat Konducta, Madlib paid homage to his late collaborator, MF DOOM, with a heartfelt tribute shared on social media.
“20 years. RIP to the Villain.”
Accompanied by a clip from the “All Caps” video, which yielded a timeless masterpiece.
Beyond its commercial success, “Madvillainy” continues to thrive in the digital age, amassing an impressive array of streams on platforms like Spotify. The album’s popularity has surged in recent years, with an average annual increase of 73% since Spotify’s inception. This surge culminated in a remarkable 241% spike in streams in 2021, following the tragic passing of MF DOOM, underscoring the profound impact of his artistic legacy.
With over 803 million all-time streams on Spotify and appearances on over 8 millions playlists, “Madvillainy” stands as a testament to the enduring power of artistic collaboration and DOOM’s uncompromising creativity.
Its journey from the confines of a basement studio to the halls of gold certification is a testament to the indelible mark it has left on the landscape of hip-hop and music as a whole. As fans continue to revisit “Madvillainy” the collaboration remains a beacon of innovation, originality, and timeless resonance in an ever-evolving musical landscape.
