'GAZZILLION EAR' EP releasing December 8

After 'Unexpected Guests' drops this upcoming Tuesday, we'll be receiving one more DOOM release before 2010 gets started. Lex Records has officially announced the release of a 12-track 'GAZZILLION EAR' EP. The EP will include to original "GAZZILLION EAR", produced by J Dilla, and remixes from Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Dr Who Dat? and Dave Sitek (TV on the Radio), as well as the instrumentals to go along with each... and a few bonus tracks to finish things off.

The EP will release digitally & on wax December 8.


Official tracklisting:

01 Gazzillion Ear
02 Gazzillion Ear (Thom Yorke Remix)
03 Gazzillion Ear (Dr Who Dat? Remix)
04 Gazzillion Ear (Jneiro Jarel/SITEK Remix)
05 Gazzillion Ear (Acappella)
06 Gazzillion Ear (Instrumental)
07 Gazzillion Ear (Thom Yorke Remix) (Instrumental)
08 Gazzillion Ear (Dr Who Dat? Remix) (Instrumental)
09 Gazzillion Ear (Jneiro Jarel/SITEK Remix) (Instrumental)
10 Green Whore Net (bonus beat)
11 Feta (scratch samples)
12 Kat Girl (bonus)


- Subroc, The Hip Hop Hendrix

Album Review: 'Unexpected Guests'

With the hard copy release being a week away, I figured I'd post my impressions of DOOM's 'Unexpected Guests' album.

Upon initially reading the official press release & track list a couple months back, I wasn't overly excited for this compilation. Actually, the first thing that popped into my mind was "cash grab". The retail version of the album leaked at the beginning of last week, and I've been listening to it pretty steadily since then.

I can't front... I'm really feelin' this release. The track selection is pretty impressive when you're listening to the album, and has a ton of joints that you've probably forgotten about or haven't heard that bang. Tracks like "Fly That Knot", "Sorcerers", "Quite Buttery" & "Project Jazz"; some dope DOOM shit that is mostly forgotten.

Another refreshing track on the album is the original version of "Angels" from 2006. I'm not sure about any of you, but I'd become accustomed to the version on 'BORN LIKE THIS.' since it was released. I still prefer the OG, sounds so much smoother than the BLT version.

The album also features a handful of recently release DOOM collabos since the villain made his return last year. "Sniper Elite", "Fire Wood Drumstykx", "The Unexpected" & "Black Gold", which I'm sure everybody on here has recently listened to, and would say are good selections to include on a DOOM collabo compilation.

The mixing may be what impressed me the most. Track to track transitions are flawless... I probably shouldn't have been expecting anything less, though. I can't stand when mix albums are mixed shitty; makes them unlistenable.

The only real whack shit on the album is the live version of "I Hear Voices". The press release said it was an unheard live version of "I Hear Voices"; it's taken from the 'Live from Planet X' recording. But here's where it gets really whack: even though it's the version from 'Live from Planet X', they decided to lift the track from that illroots.com "DOOMED" mixtape released in '08... and with about 10 seconds remaining in the track you hear a DJ Drop "ill roots dot com". How's that shit happen?

Overall, I really like this release, even though I'd been planning on skipping it. The only disappointment was at the end of the album, which I wrote about above. I'll be copping a hard copy when it's released next week, and the digital version was released on iTunes today (link on the right side), which includes a tracked version as well as a single track 49 minute mix version.

Official Website: DOOM - Unexpected Guests


- Subroc, The Hip Hop Hendrix

DOOM compilation scheduled for October release

Let me start off by stating that pictures of DOOM performing at Monolith this past Saturday will be up on the blog later today.

Now, the real news.

Back at the beginning of the year, we heard straight from Dumile himself that he'd have more releases later on this year. Well, the year has blinked by, and with only a few months left, we've received nothing.

Yesterday, an official DOOM compilation album was announced. The album will be comprised of collaboration tracks, and an unheard live version of "I Hear Voices". The compilation, cleverly titled 'Unexpected Guests', is slated for an October 27 release.


Official press release:

DOOM gathers Unexpected Guests

DOOM: Unexpected Guests (10/27, Gold Dust)

A collection of non-album tracks, guest features & exclusives selected and mixed by the Super Villain himself.

DOOM is one of the most original and uncompromising voices in hip-hop. From his work in the 90's with the seminal KMD to his legendary releases under a variety of aliases including MF Doom, Madvillain, King Geedorah, Viktor Vaughn, Dangerdoom & more, his prolific body of work has always valued artistic integrity and creativity over anything else. As numerous and varied as his albums are, DOOM also has a thick catalog of guest appearances, remixes, non-album tracks, & vinyl only singles. For the first time, Unexpected Guest presents many of these hard to find tracks as a mix CD, executed and overseen by the Super Villain himself.

With a list of co-conspirators which includes marquee level names such as Talib Kweli, Ghostface & GZA as well as underground heroes Vast Aire, CountBass D & Kurius, the music on this disc highlights DOOM's ever-present trademark wit and taste for raw and ominous beats. On "Trap Door," he spits couplets like "No curse words / DOOM the worst church nerd verse heard" over a plucked bass and guitar line from producer Jake One that sounds like the funkiest spy movie soundtrack imaginable. "Sniper Elite" sees the emcee united with the late J Dilla, and is one of the many tracks featured that has yet to see an official CD release. The album will also feature a never before heard live version of DOOM's classic "I Hear Voices" from the Operation Doomsday album.

Peppered with his signature comic book dialogue and vintage sound clips, Unexpected Guests presents a treasure trove of DOOM obscurities which should shed light on material that even some hardcore fans may have missed. It's a frenetic, virtuosic look at a true hip-hop original.

Tracklist (Final tracks and running order TBA)
1. Get 'Er Done feat. DOOM - Jake One
2. Fly That Knot feat. DOOM - Talib Kweli
3. Sniper Elite feat. DOOM - Dilla Ghostface DOOM
4. Trap Door feat. DOOM - Jake One
5. Sorcerers feat. DOOM & Invizible Handz - John Robinson
6. Da Supafriendz - Vast Aire
7. Quite Buttery - Count Bass D feat DOOM
8. ? - DOOM featuring Kurious
9. All Outta Ale - DOOM
10. E.N.Y. House - Masta Killa
11. Bells of DOOM - DOOM
12. My Favorite Ladies - DOOM
13. Street Corners (Remix) - Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck & GZA

For More Information, Check Out:
http://www.doom-unexpectedguests.com/
http://www.golddust-media.com
http://www.myspace.com/mfdoom

Stephen Bolles
!K7 • Strut • Gold Dust • Rapster
stephen@k7.com - 718-722-9935x11
17 Old Fulton St. 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201

- Subroc, The Hip Hop Hendrix

J Dilla's latest album, 'Jay Stay Paid', in stores now! [DOOM featured]

The latest J Dilla album, which features a DOOM track, hit shelves this past Tuesday.

DOOM's track is titled "Fire Wood Drumstix". Typical DOOM; this track is short & sweet.

Click HERE for a snippet.

This album is dope; it's supposed to play like a radio broadcast and is mixed by Pete Rock. Ma Dukes put it together, so you know the money will be going to the correct places.

Other artists featured include Black Thought, Raekwon, Blu, Illa J & more!

Rest In Peace, Jay. You're forever missed.


- Subroc, The Hip Hop Hendrix

MF DOOM to be featured on J Dilla's upcoming album 'Jay Stay Paid'

This album sounds incredible, can't wait for June 2!

NEW ALBUM FROM THE LATE HIP-HOP LEGEND J DILLA COMING THIS SUMMER

EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY DILLA’S MOM MS. YANCEY AKA “MA DUKES” ON NATURE SOUNDS FOR JUNE.

By now most everyone is familiar with the story of musical legend J Dilla. The quiet, prolific producer collaborated with everyone from Eryka Badu to Common to Janet Jackson to Prince. Dilla was just beginning to capitalize on his cult status when he sadly passed at age 32 due to Lupus-related complications. Jay Stay Paid is a 25 track collection of unreleased Dilla beats mixed and arranged by Pete Rock. While mostly instrumental, “J$P” also offers a few guests vocals from artists that Dilla worked with or admired including Black Thought of The Roots, MF DOOM, and M.O.P.

Curtailing any notion of jumping on some sort of Dilla bangwagon, Jay Stay Paid was executive produced by Dilla’s mother Maureen Yancey (aka Ma Dukes) along with the musical supervision of Dilla’s only real musical idol, Pete Rock. “It wasn’t rushed and it wasn’t haphazard,” explains Ms Yancey. “This album combines what he did in the beginning of his career, what he did in some of our early hospital stays, which was very deep, and some stuff pulled from old floppy disks & DATs. Its mind blowing…this is like the missing links to Dilla’s legacy.”

The format of the album plays like a radio show with Pete Rock as the program director. With regards to Pete’s involvement, Ms. Yancey gets very excited, “Dilla wanted to pattern himself behind Pete. His dream was to become as close as possible to what Pete stood for. Pete meant everything to him. Dilla would have just been flabbergasted! ” Pete’s sentiments were the same toward Dilla, “Dude was amazing. He just kinda came outta nowhere and the more you heard his beats the better they got. He may not be here with us, but it’s all good we’re going to keep his music alive and well.”

In the late 80s, Dilla founded the seminal rap group Slum Village and put Detroit hip-hop on the map, while the 90’s saw him playing a major role in the production team The Ummah with Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad doing extensive work on Tribe Called Quest’s last two albums.

Jay Stay Paid will be released on June 2nd on Nature Sounds.

- Subroc, The Hip Hop Hendrix

DOWNLOAD: 5-track 'BORN LIKE THIS.' CD Sampler

The 5-track CD Sampler for DOOM's 'BORN LIKE THIS.' from Lex Records is up for download.

DOWNLOAD: MF DOOM - 'BORN LIKE THIS.' (5-Track CD Sampler)



- Subroc, The Hip Hop Hendrix

J Rocc spins DOOM's "LIGHTWORKS" (from 'BORN LIKE THIS.') way back in 2007

Way back in 2007 J Rocc spun Dilla's famous "Lightworks" with DOOM spitting over them. Since then I've been waiting for this track to surface, and I was sure Stones Throw would release it after "Sniper Elite" last year.

Well, we're not getting it from Stones Throw, but I was glad to see it made the track list of 'BORN LIKE THIS.'...




- Subroc, The Hip Hop Hendrix

J Rocc spins new DOOM track on Feb. 7 from "BORN LIKE THIS."

This past Saturday J Rocc hit everybody with a new exclusive DOOM track from his upcoming "BORN LIKE THIS." release. Produced by the late, great J Dilla...




- Subroc, The Hip Hop Hendrix