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A counterpoint to the cloying bling obsession that usually engulfs hip-hop luminaries, DOOM – or MF Doom as he was known until 2010 – is part-comic book villain, part next-level rap genius, and part disturbed psycho. Although a fixture on the underground rap scene since the 80s as a producer and MC, it wasn’t until 2004 that his collaboration with Madlib as Madvillainy caused the wider world to sit up and take notice of his oblique and highly distinctive talent. Working murky, lo-fi production against unsettling yet often hilarious lyrics delivered in his instantly-recognisable drawl, consequent albums MM..Food?, Venomous Villain (under the moniker Viktor Vaughn) and The Mouse and The Mask (with Danger Mouse) cemented his status as wayward hip-hop’s most independent and intriguing voice. Infamous for his erratic temper during his live shows – he’s even been known to send stand-ins to perform in his place without telling anyone – a DOOM gig is certainly among modern hip-hop’s most unpredictable and exciting prospects.
