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Vaudeville Villain album deconstruction :)
Released on September 13th, 2003, Vaudeville Villain was MF DOOM’s third release following Take Me to Your Leader. This album follows a story line about Vik Vaughn, a scientist, drug dealing, supervillain.
17 songs with a large variety of beats, topics and stories to tell, Vaudeville Villain showcased some of DOOM’s most impressive artistry to date. Vik’s lyricism throughout this album always keeps the listener on their toes, with many unique multi-layered rhyme schemes throughout
OVERTURE
We start off with Overture, a perfect introduction that sets the scene for the album. The Spider Man sample heard at the end of the track helps to immerse the listener into Vik’s comic inspired style.
We start off with Overture, a perfect introduction that sets the scene for the album. The Spider Man sample heard at the end of the track helps to immerse the listener into Vik’s comic inspired style.
VAUDEVILLE VILLAIN
Prod by King Honey, Vaudeville Villain introduces us to the character we’ll be hearing from throughout the album. Viktor Vaughn, also known as Victor Von Doom, one of marvel's most iconic villains. He carries himself as a carefree supervillain who's just doing
Prod by King Honey, Vaudeville Villain introduces us to the character we’ll be hearing from throughout the album. Viktor Vaughn, also known as Victor Von Doom, one of marvel's most iconic villains. He carries himself as a carefree supervillain who's just doing
-him. The simplistic looped beat, allows the focus to stay on Vik as he explains his supervillain self through his lyricism.
LICKUPON
Lickupon showcases Vik’s renowned meticulous lyricism in full force. Although this track includes a more tame beat, the rhymes and flow make up for it. One of my favorite lines is “There's four sides to every story If these walls could talk, they'd probably still ignore-
Lickupon showcases Vik’s renowned meticulous lyricism in full force. Although this track includes a more tame beat, the rhymes and flow make up for it. One of my favorite lines is “There's four sides to every story If these walls could talk, they'd probably still ignore-
me”. It interpolates a play on two phrases that have been included in DOOM’s verses in the past.
THE DROP
The Drop utilizes a very relaxing beat produced by Max Bill perfectly. With lines talking about critics, haters and rivals, Vik helps put the listeners in his shoes as a rapping supervillain. He ties it all together with the lines
The Drop utilizes a very relaxing beat produced by Max Bill perfectly. With lines talking about critics, haters and rivals, Vik helps put the listeners in his shoes as a rapping supervillain. He ties it all together with the lines
-“It’s too much wreck hops/Who next to get they neck chopped/Or popped like a Beck’s top, respect the drop”, giving a nod to the legendary Wu-Tang Clan.
LACTOSE AND LECITHIN
The fifth track on the album focuses on the drug dealing side of Vik’s life. This song delves into his usage of sci-fi related illusions in order to get drugs from cocaine to ketamine & more. Vik is willing to risk his life to get what he needs.
The fifth track on the album focuses on the drug dealing side of Vik’s life. This song delves into his usage of sci-fi related illusions in order to get drugs from cocaine to ketamine & more. Vik is willing to risk his life to get what he needs.
-The beat on this track has to be one of my favorites. It’s simple but it allows the main focus of the track to be on Vik’s lyricism, a common theme on this album.
A DEAD MOUSE
One of the hardest tracks on Vaudeville Villain, A Dead Mouse shows Vik flexing his skill to be able to rap about everything but nothing at the same time. Lyrically, Vik includes symbolism from the start to finish over a well produced beat.
One of the hardest tracks on Vaudeville Villain, A Dead Mouse shows Vik flexing his skill to be able to rap about everything but nothing at the same time. Lyrically, Vik includes symbolism from the start to finish over a well produced beat.
OPEN MIC NITE PT 1
Seven tracks in, we hear the first skit, having four artists perform their acts, all rapping about different subjects. From simple rhyming, to more topical lyrics like racial equality, Vik features artists with varied flows and lyrical ability
Seven tracks in, we hear the first skit, having four artists perform their acts, all rapping about different subjects. From simple rhyming, to more topical lyrics like racial equality, Vik features artists with varied flows and lyrical ability
RAEDAWN
Heat Sensor’s prod. creates an ominous futuristic vibe that feels like something straight out of a sci fi movie. Vik fills the track with deep layered bars and some easter eggs from Shakespeare’s many sonnets, as he walks around town in a confused daze.
Heat Sensor’s prod. creates an ominous futuristic vibe that feels like something straight out of a sci fi movie. Vik fills the track with deep layered bars and some easter eggs from Shakespeare’s many sonnets, as he walks around town in a confused daze.
LET ME WATCH
My personal favorite on Vaudeville Villain, this track walks us through Vik’s love life and the mistakes he makes once he gets close to a woman. Apani B Fly is featured as Nikki, and the perspective shifts between the two as they exchange their experiences.
My personal favorite on Vaudeville Villain, this track walks us through Vik’s love life and the mistakes he makes once he gets close to a woman. Apani B Fly is featured as Nikki, and the perspective shifts between the two as they exchange their experiences.
Vik treats Nikki disrespectfully, leaving her to say she would rather masturbate alone than be with him.
SALIVA
Starting the tenth track off with some great production from RJD2, we get another taste of the futuristic vibe this album tapped into on prior tracks,where Vik is showing that he is clearly ahead of his time in hip hop.
Starting the tenth track off with some great production from RJD2, we get another taste of the futuristic vibe this album tapped into on prior tracks,where Vik is showing that he is clearly ahead of his time in hip hop.
-Saliva is filled with incredible lyricism, energy, and originality. ” Tell em the basics/Basically, break the matrix/And just for kicks, make em gel like asics” Is another one of my favorite lines from here.
MODERN DAY MUGGING
This track is by far the funniest on VV. Vik instructs us how to mug during the modern times but ends up getting a gun pulled on him by an older woman. Heat Sensor’s catchy lowkey prod. draws you in and Vik captivates you with his humorous lyrics throughout.
This track is by far the funniest on VV. Vik instructs us how to mug during the modern times but ends up getting a gun pulled on him by an older woman. Heat Sensor’s catchy lowkey prod. draws you in and Vik captivates you with his humorous lyrics throughout.
OPEN MIC NITE PT 2
The second skit on the album, we have another open mic nite just like the first. This skit includes more conversation about drugs and is held together well by Vik’s incredible rhyming ability. The beat created for Viktors part of the skit goes hard brah #fr
The second skit on the album, we have another open mic nite just like the first. This skit includes more conversation about drugs and is held together well by Vik’s incredible rhyming ability. The beat created for Viktors part of the skit goes hard brah #fr
NEVER DEAD
This track includes a M. Sayyid feature with outstanding production. The story behind Never Dead, a non violent high school argument over video games escalates into a dangerous no second chances situation. This track is really unique with its writing.
This track includes a M. Sayyid feature with outstanding production. The story behind Never Dead, a non violent high school argument over video games escalates into a dangerous no second chances situation. This track is really unique with its writing.
POPSNOT
The production continues to bring out the best in Vik as he talks about picking out which women he wants for the night. Vik’s constant carefree attitude and a really nice EPMD sample make this another highlight on the album for me.
The production continues to bring out the best in Vik as he talks about picking out which women he wants for the night. Vik’s constant carefree attitude and a really nice EPMD sample make this another highlight on the album for me.
MR. CLEAN
King Honey’s production does not disappoint and neither does Vik’s rhyming ability. The main ideal of the track of people faking their way into certain situations to impress those of higher importance makes the title of this track fit like a glove.
King Honey’s production does not disappoint and neither does Vik’s rhyming ability. The main ideal of the track of people faking their way into certain situations to impress those of higher importance makes the title of this track fit like a glove.
G.M.C. has a really hypnotic instrumental that doesn’t necessarily follow a specific story theme or idea like the rest of VV, but Vik makes up for it and showcases some of his best lyrical flows and rhyme schemes to date.
UNTITLED A.K.A. CHANGE THE BEAT
The outro of VV begins with a really ominous rain storm. However, halfway through Vik enters the scene and erupts into his verse, seamlessly continuing his hard hitting bars over 3 separate beat switches, varying his flow with each switch.
The outro of VV begins with a really ominous rain storm. However, halfway through Vik enters the scene and erupts into his verse, seamlessly continuing his hard hitting bars over 3 separate beat switches, varying his flow with each switch.
-I think showcasing Vik’s lyrical ability and ability to adapt on the fly is a really strong way to end this project.
thank you all so much for reading my first album deconstruction :)
