sufferinsukatash

This eight minute track by Toronto based instrumental hip hop group BADBADNOTGOOD is a medley of covers by MF Doom (RIP). The track was posted on the band's YouTube page on Nov. 11/2011. The album cover features a picture of the Godzilla villain King Ghidorah, a move that most likely is in keeping with MF Doom's supervillain image, as well as meant to represent the three Doom pieces featured in the track (one for each of King Ghidorah's heads). The artwork may also be a comedic acknowledgement of the love/hate relationship that characterizes artistic influence (for some). BBNG may be acknowledging that MF Doom and his pieces make him a worthy adversary in the war of musical ideas (which begs the question as to whether they are Godzilla, another monster in the series, or, most amusing, one of the villages being trampled upon--it isn't entirely clear on the album cover). It may also have something to do with the fact that the group attended Humber College's Jazz Program in Toronto and were labelled as outsiders for liking and playing hip hip recordings. The suggestion then is that their admiration for artists like MF Doom are returning with a vengeance (but then the question is again begged as to whether they are up against a small Japanese village or Godzilla). How clever, don't you think?

The track is broken down into the sections, each of which explores one or more major musical themes from one of the three selected MF Doom tracks contained within. These explorations usually involve a straight-ahead cover of the original source material coupled with jazzy improvisations. The performances are usually pretty tight and the are improvisations are compelling and adventurous. The focus of the covers seems to largely focus on tonal experiments (incorporating solos) rather than also securing the mood of the original piece. For example, the "Supervillain Theme" section lacks the mysterious supervillain vibe that characterizes the original. This is, I think, mostly due to the timbre of the instruments and sounds employed in each recording but may also have to do with the performances themselves. The tracks have a tranquil, lounge jazz-esque feel. Some of the solos (particularly on "Supervillain Theme") resemble the keyboard playing on Miles Davis' seminal In a Silent Way.


The tracks are (respectively):

1) "Supervillain Theme" by Madvillain (Doom alias)
2) "Fazers" by King Geedorah (Doom alias)
3) "Vomitspit" by MF Doom


Since this recording, BBNG have collaborated with Doom as well as other artists such as Kendrick Lamar and Tyler, the Creator. They even co-produced the track "Lust" off of Lamar's DAMN. They have been nominated for and won several Grammys. In the end, an interest artifact.


Rating: An eight minute song doesn't need a rating. If you read this, it's because you have already heard it. If you haven't, but know BBNG, rest assured it's good and is of historical intrigue to fans. It may also someday be recognized as an important moment in the ongoing communion of hip hop and jazz. If you are a hip hop fan but don't know much about jazz (or the obverse) then it's your lucky day buckaroo.


Sources/Inspirations for this review/overview:
1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BadBadNotGood
2) Thanks to Paul Gonzalez whose comments on the YouTube page were of considerable help