Daily Jam - Old School

Slept in until 10am today.  It's been so long since i've done that, i can't even remember when the last time was.  Gonna take it easy this morning.  Sip some coffee.  Watch some NFL pregame shows.  Listen to some excellent '00s hip-hop like the the collaborative Danger Doom project from producer Danger Mouse and the late, great MF Doom.  "Old School" features an assist from Talib Kweli and rides that unmistakable Keith Mansfield "Funky Fanfare" sample into the sun.  Listen below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Great Day (Four Tet Remix)

I'm tired as hell, but it was a wonderful day.  I took the day off work.  The third grader had his class field day this morning.  And i spent most of the afternoon in downtown Austin watching a slew of SXSW performances.  So let's celebrate with a little Madvillain, or more succinctly, some Four Tet remixed Madvillain.  Listen to "Great Day" below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - That's That

We all have our different, preferable aesthetics that we’re drawn to when listening to music, the sounds and textures that we love and that comfort us. And as often as I attempt to expand and broaden my horizons with an abundance of unique styles and genres, I always eventually come back to what I know. Whether it be layer upon layer of guitar distortion, dark and moody synthesizer tones, lo-fi, primal screaming in the garage, or awesome and obscure samples, my aesthetic has my heart. In the case of the late, great DOOM’s (formerly MF DOOM) “That’s That,” from 2009’s Born Like This LP, it’s the latter, the selected samples, music or otherwise, working seamlessly together to create just over two minutes of hip-hop perfection.

Grooving off of a sample of the song “Princess Gika,” a track by composer Galt MacDermot from the soundtrack to the 1969 film Woman Is Sweeter, “That’s That” bumps along with a sense of airiness, all the while DOOM’s raspy and stoned vocals keep things organic and grounded. Very often, a lot of hip-hop can sound too synthetic, all computer blips, manufactured notes, and vocal effects, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, and can be wonderful when created by the right talented people, it feels nice to dial things back to a more naturalistic sound. DOOM’s production sounds tangible, or malleable, like something you can hold or feel. His production sounds real. And while he’s never been the most talented rapper in the world, that solid and fluid production work make him far more interesting than a lot of other cats out there. And I’m a total sucker for his stoned flow, like he just took a walloping hit off a bong before hitting the microphone.

“That’s That” is short and sweet, coming and going in just a couple of minutes, leaving you wanting another verse, but also ending with a delightful audio sample from Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Man, I love random samples.

Side note: Busta Rhymes’ 1996 jam “Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check” also samples Galt MacDermot’s Woman Is Sweeter soundtrack from the song “Space.” There’s this cool sense of discovery that comes along with hearing a sample in its original composition after only knowing it in its sampled state, kind of like finding treasure or something.

Check it out below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Potholderz

The world is getting overwhelming.  I'm just going to take a breath and listen to some MF Doom for a little while.  Here's "Potholderz" featuring Count Bass D, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Great Day

It's always going to suck that we lost MF Doom last year.  So here's a track from his Madvillain, his legendary collaboration with producer Madlib.  Check out "Great Day" below, our Daily Jam.

RIP MF Doom

Because 2020 is just the year that keeps on giving, it was revealed today that the elusive and enigmatic producer and rapper MF Doom passed away back in October at the age of 49.  Doom was an absolute master at what i like to call stoner rap, his gravelly, relaxed delivery sounding like he just took the biggest, longest pull off a bong that you could ever imagine.  His beats and samples were the epitome of cool, and he never sounded like anyone but himself.  He will be missed immensely.  Here's one of my favorites, "That's That," from 2009's "Born Like This."  RIP MF Doom.

Daily Jam - Gazzillion Ear

All these years later, and with much competition, DOOM (formerly MF DOOM) is still probably my favorite rapper.  I won't be dissuaded.  Here's "Gazzillion Ear," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Money Folder (Four Tet Remix)

This one just felt right today, Four Tet's remix of Madvillain's "Money Folder," your Daily Jam.

Cookin Soul - DOOM XMAS

Spanish producer and DJ Cookin Soul took it upon himself to take a bunch of MF Doom acappella verses and lay them on top of some absolutely stoned samples of Christmas songs on his new release "DOOM XMAS."  It works like gangbusters, and i know what i'm listening to tonight.  Check out "MF Grinch" below and download it all here.

Madvillain - Avalanche

The duo of Madlib and DOOM, otherwise known as Madvillain, gave us just one amazing album all the way back in 2004.  What a different world it was then.  Anyway, they're back (kind of) with a Madvillain action figure you can get from Rappcats, and it comes with a single for new (kind of again) song "Avalanche."  I always enjoy hearing anything from these two, and "Avalanche" does not disappoint.  Listen below.

The Avalanches - Frankie Sinatra

It's been 16 long years since last we heard from the Australian DJ wunderkinds of The Avalanches, with many rumors and missed release dates behind us, but at last the group's sophomore effort, "Wildflower," is coming out next month.  The first bonkers single, "Frankie Sinatra," features vocal assists from Danny Brown and MF DOOM, and is accompanied by a fittingly bonkers video.  Watch it below and pre-order the record in various forms from Newbury Comics/Astralwerks.

DOOMSTARKS (Ghostface Killah and MF DOOM)

Every year Adult Swim continues to amaze me with the quality jams they put out for free on their summer singles series.  This week's offering comes from DOOMSTARKS, a collaborative effort from Ghostface Killah and MF DOOM, and it's pretty damn cool.  Listen to and download "Lively Hood" below.

Ghostface Killah, BADBADNOTGOOD, and DOOM

Rapper Ghostface Killah has a collaborative album due in February with Toronto proggy jazz trio BADBADNOTGOOD.  Even that wasn't already intriguing enough, DOOM makes an appearance on a track called "Ray Gun."  It's pretty amazing.  Listen below and look for the "Sour Souls" LP next month on Lex.

NehruvianDOOM

I have long been a fan of one MF DOOM, hip-hop producer extraordinaire, whether it be the stoned flow and ebb of his beats and soul and jazz samples, or the also stoned and fuzzy rhyme delivery.  Honestly, it just makes me want to sit back on a comfy sofa and space.  So, any new project the man gets involved with, i check out with glee.  NehruvianDOOM pairs DOOM with up and coming NYC rapper Bishop Nehru, and the result is akin to much of DOOM's repertoire in the past.  That's not a bad thing.  The whole affair sounds like it was recorded in a cloud of smoke, a throwback stoner rap record that makes me squint my eyes and smile like a fool.  Get the album from Lex Records and listen to "OM" below.

Captain Murphy, Viktor Vaughn, Earl Sweatshirt, and Thundercat

Adult Swim's annual summer singles series has really knocked it out of the park this year with tracks from Metz, Dan Deacon, Marnie Stern, Run the Jewels, and so, so many more.  A lovely assortment of genres and artists, they've really outdone themselves this time.  Listen to "Between Villains" below, a new jam from Flying Lotus alter-ego Captain Murphy, MF Doom alter-ego Viktor Vaughn, Earl Sweatshirt, and Thundercat, essentially an electro-hip-hop super group.  This track is sick.  Go here for all the downloads.  FOR FREE!!!