[24/9/2023]

MF DOOM - Born Like This

Born Like this shows a much darker side of DOOM, a lot of his songs having more intense subject matter than his previous albums. Even down to his voice, DOOM takes on a much raspier and forboding tone. Despite that, it still manages to be funny at times, having some of that iconic MF DOOM goof to it. Batty Boyz, a VERY homophobic song, is, despite its homophobia, one of the goofier songs on this track. He makes fun of the man in tights superhero design throughout this song. The lyric "Grown men in a rubber suit, runnin' around with a young boy" pokes fun at the fact that Batman, a grown man, is running around with Robin, a young boy, while wearing very tight, and even somewhat revealing clothing.

On another note, That's That is one of DOOM's heaviest songs, barely letting up at any point, not slowing down until the very end of the song, where he breaks out into a somewhat comical chorus. The lyrics present a dramatic picture of power and authority, including everything from the criminal court system to street life. Throughout the song DOOM is portraying himself as an unstoppable force who is above all of the things previously mentioned. Ultimately, the song serves as a warning to those oppose MF DOOM and an affirmation of his skill as a rapper.

My personal favorite track from this song is Gazzillion Ear, which further talks up the persona of DOOM. He states, right off the bat that he has a strong will, not being persuaded by money and fame. He pursues his passion and won't let up until he has amassed a "gazillion grand" a figure of speech expressing his devotion to his work and aspiration for success. DOOM's drive to explore new areas and accomplish bigger and higher goals is underscored by his references to "treasure maps" and "stacks to the ceiling." It's jam-packed with groovy cinematic samples and record scratches, but if that wasn't enough, there's an incredible rhythm transition in the middle when the music begins to resemble a more synthy beat, with sharp drumming.

Overall, I heavily recommend this album to anyone who is a fan of DOOM's previous music, it goes incredibly hard. If you haven't listened to MF DOOM before, it's still a great listen, though it is one of his more abstract albums. Despite shifting from his usual campier style, his charm shines through on this album. There's still plenty of quips and comical lines by him as well!