The late MF DOOM left behind a discography filled with imaginative characters. From his work as the space-age dictator King Geedorah to the layered concepts he bases his albums on, DOOM has always been a creative force with an unwavering love for the English language. More often than not, Hip-hop fans will point at Madvillainy, DOOM’s 2004 collaborative LP with producer Madlib, as his opus. They have every right to think so although, a year prior to that release, DOOM created the most colorful and innovative alter-ego of his career. Twenty years ago today (September 16, 2003), the masked rhyme slinger introduced the world to Viktor Vaughn with Vaudeville Villain, his second proper studio release and the most in-depth concept album of his career.
The creation of the LP started in early 2003 when early demos of what would become the legendary collaboration between DOOM and Madlib leaked online. In a fit of disappointment and anger, the duo put the project to the side to return to later. This period would prove to be a hyper-productive and refreshingly creative time for DOOM as two of his most groundbreaking releases were made during this period. The first is Take Me To Your Leader, the aforementioned album created under King Geedorah, and Vaudeville Villain. Viktor Vaughn was born after DOOM met producer Heat Seeker of Sound-Ink Records. Heat Seeker then introduced DOOM to the other two producers on the label, King Honey and Max Bill. The trio would go on to produce a majority of Vaudeville Villain with the exception of “Salvia” which was produced by RJD2.
The narrative of Viktor Vaughn’s debut is as creative as the means it was delivered. Viktor Vaughn is a young, time-traveling conman who traverses different eras in pursuit of a quick dollar. On one of his excursions, his time machine broke, leaving him stuck in early ’90s New York City. DOOM crafts gripping short stories on each track as our hero attempts to navigate unfamiliar territory and use his cunningness to gather enough funds to fix his machine. DOOM’s storytelling is career-defining and charming, crafting an innocent perspective to evoke sympathy for a character that would pull a scheme on anyone and everyone. Vaudeville Villain is more than another concept album from MF DOOM, it is a testament to the man behind the mask and his limitless creativity.
The music of Vaudeville Villain is a full sensory experience. DOOM brings you into his youthful fantasy world via his signature otherworldly rhyme schemes and a palette of instrumentals that find solace in a minimal space. The trio at Sound-Ink crafted a plethora of intricate instrumentals that allowed DOOM’s loftiest ideas to become a masterful reality. You’re immediately captured with the controlled chaos of the title track, a cartoonish instrumental acts as a canvas for DOOM who proceeds to decimate with powerful poetry. “Raedawn” is a prime example of the gritty futurism that drives this album. A droning electronic ping is lined with sparse drum loops to give the track an ambient feeling with DOOM dropping some of the best verses on the album.
MF DOOM is a one-of-a-kind talent that will never be matched. His ability to write and craft entire worlds in his albums and transport you right in the middle of his story is undeniable and produced timeless classic after timeless classic. Vaudeville Villain is no exception, DOOM’s mystical storytelling over the rawness of these lo-fi instrumentals created a sonic realm that allowed the artist’s mind to run free. DOOM will always stand as a pillar for fearless art with Viktor Vaughn being one of the strongest examples of his legacy.