Note: This the latest release from veteran rapper Daniel Dumile, known best as MF Doom. No stranger to operating under an alias (he’s gone by Zevlove X and Victor Vaughn in the past, and was one half of Madvillain and Danger Doom), there’s been unconfirmed speculation that he actually changed his stage name for legal reasons this time around.
Production: Gritty, dramatic and cinematic hip-hop beats run through an animated, superhero-style filter. Born Like This feels like a weekday afternoon cartoon episode with a pastiche of audio clips (from film, commercials, TV and spoken word) sprinkled in.
Vocals: As always, Doom’s drunken, slurring style somehow finds a way to be spot-on rhythmically and lyrically as he parades out an endless barrage of pop cultural references—from pro wrestlers and Ernest P. Worrell to Tinkerbell and Jiminy Cricket to Don Henley and Paul Simon, and of course superheroes like Batman, Robin and Aquaman. Guest rappers like Wu-Tang Clan members Raekwon and Ghotface Killah also drop verses.
Heavy Rotation tracks: “Gazzillion Ear”; “Microwave Mayo”
Medium Rotation tracks: “Cellz”; “That’s That”; “Batty Boys”; “Angelz” featuring Ghostface Killah
Recommended: The tracks that showcase Doom’s mic skills are the strongest. There’s nary a hook (as usual) and several songs feel underdeveloped (also to be expected from him), but when he’s front and center, he’s one of the most captivating MCs in hip-hop. When he passes the mic, though, the quality generally drops on here, and the glut of interstitial sounds can get a little overwhelming. Overall, despite many excellent moments, Born Like This feels disjointed and uneven, a couple of notches below his last release, Danger Doom’s The Mouse and the Mask (my #17 album of 2005).
Grade: B

Listen to Tracks/Buy Music:
On iTunes
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