MM..FOOD was one of the first albums by MF DOOM that resonated deeply with me, thanks to its sample-rich beats crafted almost entirely by DOOM himself. I vividly remember immersing myself in those loops and memorizing the lyrics. However, my introduction to this album didn’t happen until several years after its release – nearly a decade, perhaps. After Madvillainy didn’t quite click with me, discovering another renowned classic from him was a welcome experience.
While I cherish MM..FOOD, I do have a few minor reservations. Initially, the extensive dialogue samples that help establish DOOM’s villainous persona were entertaining. But now, when I’m eager to hear some bars and beats, I often find myself skipping them.
To clarify, I am a dedicated album listener – I prefer to play the entire record, even if there are tracks that don’t particularly excite me. And I do exactly that with MM..FOOD! I’m listening to it as I write this. However, when I’m attentively listening and want to focus solely on DOOM’s rapping, I skip “Poo-Putt Platter,” “Fillet-O-Rapper,” “Gumbo,” and “Fig Leaf Bi-Carbonate,” as they consist mainly of samples and clips from shows like The Electric Company and the Spiderman and Fantastic Four cartoons from the ’80s featuring Doctor Doom, the Marvel supervillain who inspired DOOM’s persona and mask.
Those are my only personal qualms, and they don’t diminish the album’s overall quality. It’s evident that DOOM, as both a producer and artist, carefully selected his samples to serve either the character he embodies in his music or the album’s food-centric concept.
Yes, this is a concept album. HipHopNumbers on Instagram celebrated the album’s 17th anniversary with a deep dive into the lyrics of MM..FOOD. Their analysis revealed that 25.6% of the album’s content is food-related, mentioning 62 different types of food and drink, primarily carb-heavy snacks. MM..FOOD is an anagram of MF DOOM, especially when stylized with dots after the M and F, though he never officially presented his name that way. The album was released in 2004, making it a significant contribution to the hip-hop landscape of the early 2000s.
In conclusion, MM..FOOD, released in 2004, remains a unique and compelling album in MF DOOM’s discography. Despite minor personal preferences for fewer samples, the album’s clever concept, intricate production, and DOOM’s lyrical prowess make it a standout work.
