Why ‘Accordion’ Is The Perfect MF DOOM Litmus Test
Few rappers have held such a truly consistent cult following like the late MF DOOM. Prior to his untimely passing in 2020, DOOM had spent the better part of the previous 20 years constantly reinventing himself. Hiding behind various personas (MF DOOM, Viktor Vaughn, King Geedorah), collaborations (Madvllainy, DANGERDOOM, JJ DOOM), as well as actually hiding behind his iconic metal mask.
For all of his endlessly dissectable bars and inventive, sample-flipping production; for the uninitiated–it can be a bit of a task to find out if DOOM is up your alley.
Ask ten DOOM fans where to begin and you’ll get ten different answers. But for my money, the litmus test will always be ‘Accordion’ off his breakthrough collaboration with producer Madlib, Madvillainy. A track that embodies everything to both love about and be turned away by DOOM.
This includes the music video. In my mind, there’s no separating the two.
We start off fading in on a baron hallway. The only music is the sound of an accordion being played at the end of the hallway by producer & instrumentalist Daedelus, whose track ‘Experience’ is the titular accordion sample.
DOOM is there too, leaning against the wall, preparing to jump on the… beat? Squeezebox? Before you can even think about that, there he is, mic in hand & mask on tight. Rapping about living off borrowed time.
This is 2004. The same summer as ‘Lean Back.’ Everything about ‘Accordion’ is probably nothing the average casual listener was expecting.
At a time when music videos were maximalist and deep in the prime of the video vixen, here comes ol’ Metal Face to the party with his friends, accordion man & a woman standing back in the shadows who is less dancing and more getting a few stretches in.
Nothing about this song or this video should work. But this is MF DOOM. Much like the Marvel villain he is named after, he bends reality to meet him, not the other way around.
All of this is either going to turn you away or hook you immediately. Both for the same reasons.
DOOM is almost daring you to stick with him. If you haven’t yet turned away, you’ll be rewarded with bars that are layered with double meanings and callbacks. As well as answers and clarity behind some of his sample & production choices. You can listen to a DOOM track regularly for years and keep uncovering new details and connections.
But that’s not for everyone. That’s OK.
But if you find yourself at all intrigued after giving ‘Accordion’ a tryout, you’re about to be handsomely rewarded with an embarrassment of rap riches to dig through.
I wouldn’t dare spoil the fun of discovering each project or piece of MF DOOM lore (yes, full on lore) on your own. I’ll only reaffirm that ‘Accordion’ is an excellent taste of what makes MF DOOM so unique and why it should be used as a key to unlocking the full breadth of what the late supervillain has to offer.
You can recommend a music video for me to review by reaching out below:
Follow on Twitter: MightyVin
Follow on Instagram: VinForteNYC