Imagine for a moment that you are me.
It's not that hard.
First, you're torn between the skill of Ghostface Killah and the content of Ghostface Killah's albums, which offend your sensibilities as a person who does not call women "bitches". Second, you love Talib Kweli, but are increasingly annoyed by his 2004 album because Zach (that asshole) pointed out that it wasn't mixed particularly well. Third, you've been exposed to a healthy dose of Cee-Lo, due to that OTHER DJ Danger Mouse project, Gnarls Barkley (which someone should get on reviewing, dammit). Fourth, you love Adult Swim. You're on a 12 oz. Mouse kick, but you like the Aqua Teen as much as anyone else. Finally, you've shown some love for DJ Danger Mouse since Gorillaz (though you didn't know it then), but you also pushed the Grey Album on everyone, and you're heavily digging on Gnarls Barkley (WHICH SOMEONE SHOULD REVIEW, DAMMIT).
Ok, you with me? I'll give you a minute. Review everything real quick.
Nice.
So Danger Doom is a collaboration between the aforementioned DJ Danger Mouse and MF Doom, and their album The Mouse and the Mask is a wonderful piece of Adult Swim-inspired hip-hop. The opening volley is the excellent "El Chupa Nibre", in which MF Doom reminds you why you liked old school hip-hop in the front place. His flow is unbelievable, and Mouse keeps the beats light, as he does throughout the entire album. Let's go ahead and get this out of the way - this is a fun album through and through, and if you don't particularly care for Adult Swim or like your rap more "serious" for whatever reason, this album may not work for you.
"El Chupa Nibre" ends with a answering machine message from Master Shake to MF Doom, which becomes a running gag throughout the album. It beats 99% of rap skits, so I'll take it. From there, we roll right into "Sofa King", which rotates around one of the better Aqua Teen bits. The beauty here is not only the amazing beat, but how seamlessly the Aqua Teen samples work within the song - they weave in and out, and the lack of structure isn't confusing but instead freaking awesome. "I am sofa king we todd ed." Brilliant.
Tracks 3, 5, and 6 all have the notable guest appearances. First, we get Ghostface rapping about cartoons and comic books, and of course his mask, in "The Mask". Cee-Lo makes his appearance on "Benzie Box" - he lends his pipes to the chorus, and I'm almost certain that he came into the studio to record this part and Gnarls Barkley was formed before he left. Track 6, the Kweli song, is the strongest of these three. "Old School" has an awesomely old school beat that seems particularly sculpted for Kweli's sick flow, and Talib doesn't disappoint. "It's just that I'm old school like that, roll that rap over soul loops like that."
"Aqua Teen Hunger Force" is track 7, and it is only 3 minutes long (with 45 seconds of Master Shake's leaving messages at the end), but much like "Sofa King", Mouse seamlessly works the Aqua Teen samples with MF Doom's rapping, and the result is simply a joy to listen to, even if it does not last that long. "Basket Case" brings us our first Harvey Birdman samples, and MF Doom spins an excellent narrative around these samples.
This review has gone on too long, and I haven't even gotten to half the tracks. "No Names" brings Sealab 2021 to the forefront ("oh, you mean _black_ Debbie"), "Crosshairs" is of the more laid-back variety, and oh my god I didn't even get to the beauty of track 11, "Mince Meat."
Like I said, this is going too long. Let me just leave you with this - BUY THIS ALBUM RIGHT FUCKING NOW. It is an absolute gem.
It's not that hard.
First, you're torn between the skill of Ghostface Killah and the content of Ghostface Killah's albums, which offend your sensibilities as a person who does not call women "bitches". Second, you love Talib Kweli, but are increasingly annoyed by his 2004 album because Zach (that asshole) pointed out that it wasn't mixed particularly well. Third, you've been exposed to a healthy dose of Cee-Lo, due to that OTHER DJ Danger Mouse project, Gnarls Barkley (which someone should get on reviewing, dammit). Fourth, you love Adult Swim. You're on a 12 oz. Mouse kick, but you like the Aqua Teen as much as anyone else. Finally, you've shown some love for DJ Danger Mouse since Gorillaz (though you didn't know it then), but you also pushed the Grey Album on everyone, and you're heavily digging on Gnarls Barkley (WHICH SOMEONE SHOULD REVIEW, DAMMIT).
Ok, you with me? I'll give you a minute. Review everything real quick.
Nice.
So Danger Doom is a collaboration between the aforementioned DJ Danger Mouse and MF Doom, and their album The Mouse and the Mask is a wonderful piece of Adult Swim-inspired hip-hop. The opening volley is the excellent "El Chupa Nibre", in which MF Doom reminds you why you liked old school hip-hop in the front place. His flow is unbelievable, and Mouse keeps the beats light, as he does throughout the entire album. Let's go ahead and get this out of the way - this is a fun album through and through, and if you don't particularly care for Adult Swim or like your rap more "serious" for whatever reason, this album may not work for you.
"El Chupa Nibre" ends with a answering machine message from Master Shake to MF Doom, which becomes a running gag throughout the album. It beats 99% of rap skits, so I'll take it. From there, we roll right into "Sofa King", which rotates around one of the better Aqua Teen bits. The beauty here is not only the amazing beat, but how seamlessly the Aqua Teen samples work within the song - they weave in and out, and the lack of structure isn't confusing but instead freaking awesome. "I am sofa king we todd ed." Brilliant.
Tracks 3, 5, and 6 all have the notable guest appearances. First, we get Ghostface rapping about cartoons and comic books, and of course his mask, in "The Mask". Cee-Lo makes his appearance on "Benzie Box" - he lends his pipes to the chorus, and I'm almost certain that he came into the studio to record this part and Gnarls Barkley was formed before he left. Track 6, the Kweli song, is the strongest of these three. "Old School" has an awesomely old school beat that seems particularly sculpted for Kweli's sick flow, and Talib doesn't disappoint. "It's just that I'm old school like that, roll that rap over soul loops like that."
"Aqua Teen Hunger Force" is track 7, and it is only 3 minutes long (with 45 seconds of Master Shake's leaving messages at the end), but much like "Sofa King", Mouse seamlessly works the Aqua Teen samples with MF Doom's rapping, and the result is simply a joy to listen to, even if it does not last that long. "Basket Case" brings us our first Harvey Birdman samples, and MF Doom spins an excellent narrative around these samples.
This review has gone on too long, and I haven't even gotten to half the tracks. "No Names" brings Sealab 2021 to the forefront ("oh, you mean _black_ Debbie"), "Crosshairs" is of the more laid-back variety, and oh my god I didn't even get to the beauty of track 11, "Mince Meat."
Like I said, this is going too long. Let me just leave you with this - BUY THIS ALBUM RIGHT FUCKING NOW. It is an absolute gem.