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If he hadn’t already used it for one of his earlier releases, Weight of the World would have been an apt title for Brooklyn rapper Mike’s 10th studio album. But Showbiz! proves just as fitting, as the album portrays the entertainment industry—and, more broadly, the pursuit of success within it—as a relentless, soul-crushing machine that grinds down anyone caught in its gears. “Dreams of getting’ rich, I was poor then/Nowadays, I don’t pray for shit but for more strength,” Mike raps on the opening track, “Bear Trap.” It’s an acknowledgement that while success has vanquished one of his personal ills, it inevitably brings about more insidious ones.

With its rough-edged aesthetic and fragmented presentation, Showbiz! feels like the culmination of years spent turning ongoing pain into poetry. “Man in the Mirror” finds Mike reflecting on speaking—or, more accurately, muttering—to the person...

After years in which their body of work was in digital limbo due to legal hurdles, De La Soul have started furiously digging into their own crates. Two weeks ago, surviving members Maseo and Posdnuos announced the re-release of their limited-edition 1994 EP Clear Lake Auditorium. Now, they’re somewhat belatedly celebrating the 20th birthday of their seventh and often overlooked album.

Coming March 21 is an expanded edition of The Grind Date, the 2004 album that found them ditching the skits and working with J Dilla, along other producers; Flavor Flav, Mf Doom,...

De La Soul have announced a 20th anniversary reissue of their seventh studio album, The Grind Date, out March 21st. As a preview, they’ve shared a new song titled “Bigger.” Stream it below.

Available in both CD and vinyl packages, the re-release features the original star-studded lineup of guests including Mf Doom, Ghostface Killah, Carl Thomas, and Common. In addition, The Grind Date 20th anniversary reissue includes two bonus tracks and four instrumentals. Pre-orders are ongoing.

“With the 20th anniversary of Grind Date we just feel blessed in knowing that we put together this album that, right now, with its re-release feels fresh, it doesn’t feel outdated, the lyrics feel relevant,” said Posdnous in a statement. “It really feels good to know that with the re-release of this album it takes myself and Mase back to knowing that this album was the first album done outside of our...

Doechii took Alligator Bites Never Heal material to The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, performing “Denial Is a River” and “Boiled Peanuts.”

During the performance, Doechii and her two dancers tear through the mixtape cuts in syncopated, precise movements, their long braids connected as they scratch a turntable while decked out in Gucci.

“This one is for hip-hop,” Doechii said of the groundbreaking performance on X (formerly Twitter). “I felt heavily inspired by the lineage of hip-hop and how it contributes to who I am today. This is my first self choreographed performance,...

Madlib has filed a lawsuit against his former manager Eothen “Egon” Alapatt on the fourth anniversary of Mf Doom’s death. On Thursday, the rapper and producer accused Alapatt — who is in litigation with Doom’s widow over his rhyme books — of “pervasive management” of his businesses and funds.

The lawsuit claims that Madlib, the prolific beatmaker who has produced for Kanye West and Mf Doom alongside a slew of solo projects, hired Alapatt to manage Rapp Catts, a record store, to sell his physical projects and for record store events,...

The late Mf Doom’s classic album Mm..Food is receiving multiple 20th anniversary editions dropping on November 15th via Rhymesayers Entertainment.

In addition to the standard 2xLP Sweet Tart vinyl and CD editions, there will be a deluxe vinyl package bundled with a bonus “Kookies” 7-inch. Meanwhile, the digital deluxe features rare remixes by the likes of producers Madlib, Jake One, and Ant alongside unreleased Mf Doom interview clips.

As a preview, stream Madlib’s “One Beer” remix below.

Released in 2004 as a concept album, the song titles and lyrics on Mm..Food all reference different foods, with production mostly from Doom himself. It arrived during a standout year for the rapper, during which he also dropped an album under his Viktor Vaughn moniker and teamed up with Madlib for their collaborative album Madvillainy.

The long out-of-print “Hoe Cakes” 12-inch vinyl is receiving a separate reissue featuring a remix...

There’s pacing yourself, and then there’s being Kurious, the New York rapper who’s put out five albums in 30 years. On Oct. 18, he’ll reveal his latest act by dropping an album called Majician. Crafted over three years from 2016 to 2019, it’s a testament to his decades-long friendship with the late Mf Doom — Majician’s executive producer and a collaborator who Kurious calls his truest “creative partner.”

The two met at the Def Jam offices in 1989 through Kurious’ connection with the group 3rd Bass, who had recently scored...

Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be Doctor Doom's long-awaited introduction into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the film would be wise to pay close attention to how they handle the hypeworthy supervillain. For years, Doctor Doom has been one of the most hotly-anticipated Marvel Comics character to be introduced into the MCU, and for good reason. As such an iconic villain, how Marvel Studios handles Doom's introduction in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday will be critically important for the franchise's future.

There are several things the MCU will need to do in order to make Doctor Doom truly work in the setting. Many of them may be hindered by Robert Downey Jr.'s casting as Doctor Doom, which presents several possible pitfalls the franchise will need to be aware of. Hopefully, the MCU can make Doom a critically-successful villain that does his comic counterpart justice, like Thanos, rather than...

Jonathan Hickman's Doctor Doom one-shot showcases Doom at his most vulnerable, delving deep into his character without sacrificing his characteristic imposing nature, as he faces the universe-ending threat of Galactus. Artist Sanford Greene's work in Doom #1 perfectly complements the story, creating a desolate world that emphasizes themes of perseverance and survival against all odds. The ending of Doom #1 solidifies it as a modern masterpiece, conveying a powerful message about embracing life in the face of death.

Warning: Spoilers for Doom #1!Jonathan Hickman's Doctor Doom one-shot feels like a return to form for both the character and the writer behind it. Hickman just finished his series G.O.D.S., one of Marvel's most original works in years. However, reactions have been mixed. For some, it is a required taste that's hard to absorb, and for others, a mind-bending odyssey whereas Doom feels akin to his groundbreaking work on X-Men and Ultimate Spider-Man.

Renowned hip-hop producer Madlib enlists Black Thought and Your Old Droog for his new track “Reekyod,” the producer’s first single in three years.

Over a crackling, D.O.C.-sampling beat crafted by Madlib, the two rappers showcase their lyrical prowess. “Everything I spit, shine/Imma get mine, regardless,” Droog proclaims on his verse.

“This is strictly for the honorees,” Black Thought said of the collaboration in a statement. “Madlib is in his bag per usual and Yod is more than a force to be reckoned with. Simply complex,...

The Book Of Clarence postulates apostle traits for an invented figure whose place among the apocrypha opens with a chariot race. That's a competition with a heavy wager to pay off a debt to a criminal figure, and over-leveraged borrowing is everywhere in the film.

The presence of a parallel Messiah can't but be compared to Life Of Brian. This was filmed in Matera, the Unesco heritage Italian village carved into the cliffs of a steep valley which was also where The Passion Of The Christ was shot. If those seem uncomfortable tonal companions then know that The Book Of Clarence is full of similar variety, with similarly mixed results.

Lakeith Stanfield's charisma does a lot of the lifting, from stolen cloaks to various spirits. Omar Sy as the slave gladiator Barabbas first appears wearing a helmet that seems to be based on the mask worn by rapper Mf Doom,...

In a room full of people named Daniel, what will it take to be crowned the ultimate Daniel? In the case of Real Estate, who hosted the album release show for their latest studio album Daniel in Brooklyn, having a single member in the band named Daniel wasn’t necessary. At the show, which was only open to people with some variation of the name — Danny, Danielle, Danimals Yogurt — Real Estate opened and closed their set with their rendition of Elton John’s 1973 single “Daniel.”

The band members weren’t...

Mf Doom, the celebrated masked rapper born Daniel Dumile, died suddenly in Oct. 2020 while being treated at St. James’s Hospital in Leeds, England. After news broke earlier this week that the Dumile’s widow, Jasmine, had raised concerns about his care at the time, the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs St James’s, issued an apology.

“I would like to offer our sincere condolences to Daniel’s family, friends and fans at this difficult time,” Hamish McLure, chief medical officer of the trust, said, per The Guardian.

Jasmine Dumile, the wife of rapper Mf Doom, said her late husband passed away from a rare and severe reaction to blood pressure medication, a condition known as angiodema.

The British-born rapper born Daniel Dumile died on October 31st, 2020 at the age of 49. Until now, the cause of his death has not been disclosed.

However, an inquiry into his death has offered new details about the circumstances that led to his passing (via LeedsLive). Jasmine said her husband suffered from a number of health conditions, including kidney disease and high blood pressure. He was prescribed Ace inhibitors to treat his blood pressure, but after just two doses he developed swelling in his mouth and throat, resulting in breathing issues.

Mf Doom was hospitalized at St James’s Hospital in Leeds, where his condition deteriorated and he was placed on a respirator. Due to the pandemic, Jasmine was not allowed to...

Trugoy the Dove, co-founding member of the iconic hip-hop group De La Soul, has died at the age of 54.

A cause of death has not yet been revealed. However, Trugoy was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in recent years. Notably, he did not join fellow De La Soul members Posdnuos and Maseo at last weekend’s Grammys tribute to hip-hop.

Hailing from Long Island, De La Soul is considered one of the most innovative and influential groups in hip-hop history. Trugoy, whose real name was David Jude Jolicoeu, formed the group alongside high school friends Vincent Mason (aka Maseo) and Kelvin Mercer (aka Posdnuos). The trio went on to lead a loose collective of like-minded New York hip-hop groups including A Tribe Called Quest and the Jungle Brothers.

De La Soul’s debut album, 1989’s 3 Feet High and Rising, was unlike anything that had been heard in hip-hop before, with its eclectic mix of samples,...

The hip-hop duo Black Thought and Danger Mouse delivered a pensive ode to the late musician Mf Doom in the music video for “Belize,” which appeared on their recently released collaborative album Cheat Codes.

Super-producer Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton filmed the video under the direction of Uncanny, also appearing in front of the camera with The Roots’ Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter for a meditative black and white tribute. The pair ran through the entirety of “Belize” from a vacant warehouse space. The framing holds tight on the latter’s face...

In another universe, the memorable theme of "Mad Men" was an indie rock ballad. The suspenseful string composition by DJ RJD2 was actually not the series creator's first choice for the show's intro. In fact, the acclaimed musician Beck revealed that he was approached first to make the show's theme song. He turned the opportunity down — and he's regretted it ever since.

Beck first established himself as an indie rock musician in the 1990s. His hit song "Loser" propelled him to mainstream success. He went on to write and perform songs for a number of films, from dramas like "Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind" to comedies like "Nacho Libre." His songs also appeared in several unforgettable sitcoms of the early 2000s, including "The O.C." and "Friday Night Lights."

By the time he was approached to write the "Mad Men" theme prior to the show's release in 2007, Beck was well-accustomed...

The Oscar-winning Questlove will serve as an executive producer on an upcoming documentary about J Dilla, the hip-hop producer that the Roots drummer previously proclaimed was “the music god that music gods and music experts and music lovers worship.”

Dilla Time, made in cooperation with James “J. Dilla” Yancey’s estate, will be “part biography, part musicology, and part musical meditation” of the influential Detroit-born artist, who died at the age of 32 in 2006 of a rare blood disease.

“Explaining musical genius is my mission. To be able to tell the...

“Fuck a thick skin, I got me an exo-skeleton,” the Roots’ Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter spits over a lush, almost spacey track on “Belize,” a highlight of Cheat Codes, his collaboration with producer Danger Mouse. The tough-minded self-assessment of that lyric is not surprising, given his decades long history of being the most underrated Mc who is also easily one of the greatest of all time. Fans know Black Thought’s voice over the Roots’ full-band, comparatively organic sounds. Here, his verbal dexterity mixes with actual sample-based hip-hop, a rarity in contemporary,...

Lex Records has unearthed a second remix of the late Mf Doom’s “Gazzillion Ear” created by Thom Yorke.

The Radiohead singer originally remixed the J Dilla-produced Born Like This track in 2009, with his version appearing as an iTunes bonus track for the album. However, Lex Records revealed Thursday that the released remix was actually one of two that Yorke sent in.

“Thom Yorke remixed the track twice. The first version was originally released simply under ‘Thom Yorke Remix’ but he delivered it with the moniker ‘Monkey Hustle Remix’ to...

The Avalanches have revealed their long-unreleased Mf Doom remix of “Tonight May Have to Last Me All My Life,” one of 15 unearthed remixes, dubs, and demos off the Australian group’s 20th-anniversary reissue of their classic 2001 album Since I Left You.

More than just putting his signature touches on the remix, the late Daniel Dumile also recorded the vocal contribution for the track, with the affectionate verse arriving just six months after the announcement of Mf Doom’s death.

In addition to the original landmark LP, the 20th-anniversary edition of...

Eothen “Egon” Alapatt was out on a bike ride in Big Sur, California on New Year’s Eve when the news broke that Daniel Dumile, the rapper who performed as Mf Doom, had died two months earlier. Dumile’s death set off shock waves in the music community; but for Alapatt, who put together one of Dumile’s most celebrated and critically acclaimed projects — the 2004 collaboration with beloved, equally elusive hip-hop producer Madlib known as Madvillain — the loss was personal.

“My phone just exploded and I started going through it and I was like,...

Radiohead’s Thom Yorke paid tribute to Mf Doom on social media Saturday following news of the enigmatic rapper’s death at the age of 49.

“I am so sad to hear Mf Doom’s passing,” Yorke tweeted. “He was a massive inspiration to so many of us, changed things.. for me the way he put words was often shocking in [its] genius, using stream of consciousness in a way I’d never heard before.”

Yorke has made rare appearances on hip-hop releases over his career, including — with bandmate Jonny Greenwood — contributing...

MF Doom, a masked rapper who awed hip-hop fans and fellow musicians with intricate wordplay, has died. He was 49.

The British-born rapper rarely appeared in public in recent years without his signature mask, modeled after the Marvel Comics villain Doctor Doom. His death was confirmed Thursday by Doom’s representative, Richie Abbott. Jasmine Dumile said in a statement that her husband — whose real name is Daniel Dumile — died Oct. 31.

The cause of death has not been released.

Jasmine Dumile posted a photo of the rapper and a heartfelt message on his Instagram page. She called him ...

Mf Doom, a masked rapper who awed hip-hop fans and fellow musicians with intricate wordplay, has died. He was 49.

The British-born rapper rarely appeared in public in recent years without his signature mask, modeled after the Marvel Comics villain Doctor Doom. His death was confirmed Thursday by Doom’s representative, Richie Abbott. Jasmine Dumile said in a statement that her husband — whose real name is Daniel Dumile — died Oct. 31.

The cause of death has not been released.

Jasmine Dumile posted a photo of the rapper and a heartfelt message on his Instagram page. She called him ...

Rapper Daniel Dumile, who performed under the name Mf Doom and several other pseudonyms, died October 31, according to his family. No cause of death was given, but his representatives confirmed the passing.

His wife Jasmine posted the news on Instagram.

“To Dumile,” Jasmine began. “The greatest husband, father, teacher, student, business partner, lover and friend I could ever ask for. Thank you for all the things you have shown, taught and given to me, our children and our family. Thank you for teaching me how to forgive beings and give another chance, not to be so quick to judge and write off.

“Thank you for showing how not to be afraid to love and be the best person I could ever be,” she continued. “My world will never be the same without you. I love both and adore you always. May The All continue to bless you, our family and the planet.

Rapper Mf Doom is dead, his wife Jasmine confirmed in a Dec. 31 post on his Instagram. The artist, whose real name is Daniel Dumile, was 49.  A rep for the rapper confirmed to Rolling Stone that he died on October 31. His cause of death has not been publicly disclosed yet.  In a letter to her husband, who was celebrated for his intricate rhyme schemes and wore a mask as part of his signature look, Jasmine called him the "greatest husband, father, teacher, student, business partner, lover and friend" she could have asked for.  "Thank you for all the things you have shown, taught and given to me, our children and our family," she...

MF Doom, the mysterious rapper known for impossibly intricate rhyme schemes and his signature mask, has died at the age of 49. The news was first posted by his wife, Jasmine, on the rapper’s Instagram page. Richie Abbott, MF Doom’s rep, confirmed the rapper’s death to Rolling Stone. A cause of death was not immediately disclosed. Abbott confirmed that the rapper, whose real name was Daniel Dumile, died on October 31st of this year, but his family did not disclose news of his death until Thursday evening.

“The greatest husband,...

James Hunt Nov 28, 2018

The stories behind the strange collision of two iconic but (usually) separate worlds.

This article comes from Den of Geek UK.

Recently, Marvel honored the world of hip-hop by recreating some of the industry’s most iconic album covers with their own superheroes substituted in. The variant covers appeared on Marvel’s comics and proved so popular that the publisher even released a two-volume collection of just the album artwork.

But Marvel’s characters have appeared on record covers before, and often for stranger reasons than you might expect. Here are a few famous (and not-so-famous) examples that you may or may not be aware of…

Joe Satriani, Surfing With The Alien

Joe Satriani’s 1987 breakout album of instrumental psychedelic rock featured – until recently – the Silver Surfer on its cover. Taken from the pages of 1982’s Silver Surfer #1, the artwork (by John Byrne) was suggested by Jim Kozlowski,...

We asked Den Of Geek’s writers to recommend brilliant comedy shows that deserve to have more of a fuss made about them. Here they are...

Banging a drum about stuff we love is more or less our remit on Den Of Geek - hence what many readers have started referring to as the ‘inexplicably regular' appearance of Statham, squirrels and Harold Bishop from Neighbours on these pages.

To that end then, we asked our writers which comedy shows (past and present, UK or otherwise, on TV, radio, or online…) deserved more praise, and here are the ones they chose. You might already like them too, or you might discover something new to dig out and enjoy. That’s the fun of it.

Please note that this list isn’t ranked in any order, nor is it exhaustive. It’s compiled from the opinions of a group of different people,...

Over Your Dead Body

Dear Fern,

Familiar faces. Indeed, it is so very good to see yours, one year later. The steadfastness of friends through this world and in this industry is for me always a surprise, and always touching, especially in light of the mutability of life and cinema.

Familiar faces...Ventura's: that's another story. Seeing this man, this actor, this figure in Horse Money was like happily visiting an aging relative only to discover that across the span of missed time you can see the creeping effects of dementia. (“Blood drips on the floor but you don’t see the razor,” a widow in the film mourning, angrily remarks.) Standing tall as ever and poised with attempted self-control, nonetheless you see Ventura's long fingers tremble, in the darkness a nosferatu wandering a prison-hospital of memories and sins, psychic and bodily pain. The expressionist shroud in which he wanders confounds time,...

In their new documentary Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton, producer-director Jeff Broadway and writer-editor Rob Bralver shine a spotlight on a lesser-known hub of the hip-hop underground: L.A.'s Stones Throw Records. “Stones Throw has been an incubator and a talent discovery entity for almost twenty years now,” says Bralver. "It’s had a massive influence on mainstream pop culture, without a lot of people realizing it."Founded by Chris Manak, a.k.a. DJ Peanut Butter Wolf, in 1996, the avant-garde hip-hop-and-more label has been a trailblazer in the underground music scene for almost two decades. Spearheaded by flagship artists Madlib, J. Dilla, and Mf Doom, Stones Throw garnered a cult following for its willingness to play with genre and to take a chance on experimental, left-of-center artists (recent success stories include Aloe Blacc and Mayer Hawthorne).“They’re an example of a business that is driven entirely by the curator’s tastes,...

It's about time the biggest personality in music got his own video game. That's right, Kanye West is the star of a new Japanese role-playing game (RPG) titled Kanye Quest 3030. In it, the hip-hop hero adventures alongside clones of Jay-z, Nicki Minaj, Lil B, Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G., Mf Doom and the RZA, winding his way through the dystopian year 3030 battling foes with croissants. Photos: The Music Industry's Wildest Riders: From Kanye West's 100 Percent Cotton Rule to The Stooges' 7 Dwarfs The unauthorized game-maker Phenix describes it as "a hip-hop-themed

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Los Angeles — It's tempting to say Daft Punk has gone Hollywood.

The influential French electronic duo crafted its first film score, for "Tron: Legacy," three years ago and are now releasing a well-financed, smartly hyped pop album featuring what they call an ensemble cast of contemporary singers and veteran musicians.

There's long been a show-biz bent to the work of Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, who for the last 13 years have hidden their faces in public appearances by wearing robot helmets and costumes. Bangalter compares the mystique-building masks – echoed by musicians including Deadmau5 and Mf Doom – to an ever-evolving comic book superhero who starts as a side story "then maybe 50 years later it becomes like a big franchise movie in Hollywood."

Yet Daft Punk's new album "Random Access Memories" isn't the special effects-filled summer blockbuster you might expect. The group that helped popularize electronic dance music in the...

Word's out that Thom Yorke and mysterious underground rapper Doom (aka Daniel Dumile) are exchanging ideas in the studio, with a potential full-length album in the offing. You may know Doom from his 2005 collaboration with Danger Mouse, The Mouse and the Mask, where Doom spit his trademark free-associative, cartoon-influenced lyrics bolstered by Danger Mouse's unique, sonic support. Since the release of Radiohead's The King of Limbs, Yorke has been honing his DJ chops by, among other things, dropping in on an L.A. gig by experimental laptop artist Flying Lotus, and thrilling the crowd with a surprise ninety-minute DJ set earlier this month. He also released a twelve-inch single with electronica wizards Four Tet and Burial. Yorke has actually worked with Doom before, remixing the tune "Gazzillion Ear," off Doom's Born Like This album, back in 2009. Doom, keeping it real, revealed that he'[...]...

Doom: Born Like This More ear-poppers from one of rap's zaniest

Now that metal-faced rapper Doom has dropped the Mf from his name and insisted on capitalization of the remainder, his moniker matches what his devotees howl from the audience at shows where he's even rumored to appear. Even with a new pseudonym—his Aka sheet includes Zev Love X, Viktor Vaughn, King Geedorah and half of Madvillain—the perpetually hoarse rhymesayer born Daniel Dumile is still dishing out confounding couplets that have become his trademark. "And the lucky contestant was sent / a whole year's supply of buckets of yucky excrement," he slurs out on the minute-and-a-half "Rap Ambush."...