I remember seeing the mask and the mouse album in a HMV when I was in college, little did I know when I actually picked that album up it would open my eyes to some of the most exquisite music and hilarious skits. I'd never been, up to that point, a hip hop head but The Madvillain's works opened the floodgate into
@StonesThrow and other artists I now count as my favourites. The Mouse and the Mask in some ways was the perfect vehicle to be introduced as I'd always loved cartoons,
@adultswim being my angsty, edgy release for irreverent, obscure and absurdist humour. It also switched me on to Mighty Mouse and projects like the Grey Album.
Growing up and casting an ear back into his previous projects, from the tragic origins of KMD through to later albums and beats collections in his special herbs collection, I remember summers of sesh soundtracks by favourite tracks on Mm..Food. Also I highly recommend the Sadevillain Mixtape which rung out throughout my time in Mexico.
Attending highlight performances such as a questionable doppelganger appearance at Pizza East in Shoreditch. Shepherds Bush Forum where I first saw
@freddiegibbsofficial perform for the first time, through to a nuts crowd packed into London Pleasure Gardens for the I'll faited a(BLOC)alypse Festival in 2012 and a thicc chronic smelling gig at the Roundhouse in Camden, where he and Ghostface Killa performed as DOOMSTARKS.
Celeb deaths pass me by except for the memes but when I heard of Dumile's passing on New year's it really hut me in the chest. So much so I had to get in contact with
@leimai_lemaow for a gold leaf piece to honour the man. After some pretty quick and easy back and fourth, we decided to go for the portrait of him donned head to toe in
@realtree camo and cradling a
@Boss SP 303 sampler. Super happy with how it came out in the end as I'd always been an admirer of Leimai's work but never knew what to commission.
For me this is a fitting tribute to the man and the mask, Zev Love X, Victor Vaughn, aka Metal Finger, aka King Geedorah, aka The Villain. Rest in power MF DOOM x
