Operation: Doomsday

Following his debut in the late-1980s, Daniel Dumile, then known as Zev Love X, suffered a series of unfortunate setbacks, including the death of his brother and fellow KMD member DJ Subroc and the subsequent abandonment of the group's second studio album Black Bastards by Elektra Records due to its political message and cover art.{{cite magazine |author=Hultkrans, Andrew |title=Reissues — MF Doom, 'Operation: Doomsday' |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ARpE2IRKJXMC&pg=PA76 |location= |magazine=Spin |publisher=Spin Media LLC |volume=27 |issue=4 |page=76 |date=May 2011 |access-date=}} After the untimely death of his brother and the disbanding of KMD in 1993, Zev Love X left the hip-hop community and would suffer years of homelessness and despair, Dumile once said in an interview "damn near homeless, walking the streets of Manhattan, sleeping on benches".{{Cite web |title=MF DOOM Biography |url=https://www.hiphopscriptures.com/mf-doom#:~:text=MF%20DOOM%20was%20born%20in,his%20mother%20was%20visiting%20family. |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Hip Hop Scriptures |language=en-US}} In 1997 he would re-emerge as MF Doom, covering his face at shows and releasing singles on Bobbito Garcia's label Fondle 'Em Records. The three singles released generated enough buzz for Garcia to agree to sign Doom for an album.

Operation: Doomsday was produced by Dumile, mostly over a three-week period in which he stayed at Garcia's apartment and borrowed his Akai MPC2000 workstation.{{cite web |last1=Fu |first1=Eddie |title=Knowledge Drop: MF Doom Recorded ‘Operation: Doomsday’ On A Borrowed MPC In Three Weeks |url=https://genius.com/a/mf-doom-recorded-operation-doomsday-on-a-borrowed-mpc-in-three-weeks |website=Genius |access-date=16 June 2023 |date=20 April 2019}} His eccentric record production maintains a left-field finish, often invoking mid-1980s quiet storm. He incorporated a variety of musical styles onto the album, featuring an at times abstract mixture of 1980s soul and smooth jazz loops with vintage drum breaks. Doom's usage of smooth jazz loops served to alleviate muffled recording sounds while integrating cartoon samples and snippets. For the most part, MF Doom included minimal percussion to complement his musical selections, often rapping over their original musical backdrops.

As an underground rap album, Operation: Doomsday is a lo-fi recording, with MF Doom producing bedroom electro. Despite being an earthly work born from tragedy, it revisits the cartoon pleasure of late-1980s hip-hop. The debut album features dense rhyme schemes over tracks composed from a collage of R&B, cartoon samples and elevator music. It is embroidered with an array of samples and snippets, ranging from Hanna-Barbera cartoon series Fantastic Four and Scooby-Doo to 1982 hip-hop film Wildstyle to English sophisti-pop band Sade. Operation: Doomsday indulges in quiet storm balladry that evokes a sense of loss, expressing smooth jazz loops which bring balance to muffled soundscapes. Throughout the album, MF Doom effectually rhymes over the original musical backgrounds atop minimal percussion.

The backstory of Operation: Doomsday is similar to that of Marvel Comics supervillain Doctor Doom, with a series of terrible setbacks and tragedy culminating in the birth of a villainous persona. After suffering the devastating death of his brother and the dropping of his group from their record label, MF Doom, formerly known as Zev Love X, was left emotionally scarred. His lingering pain manifested in the form of a masked hip-hop supervillain who wishes to rule the world for its own good on Operation: Doomsday. In addition, the debut album features thematic skits and interludes which continue the comic book narrative beginning in the opening track all through to a spoken word monologue by E. Mason alongside guest appearances from MF Doom's Monsta Island Czars collective.{{cite web|author=Juon, Steve 'Flash' |title=MF Doom :: Operation: Doomsday |url=http://www.rapreviews.com/2000/10/mf-doom-operation-doomsday/ |work=RapReviews |publisher= |date=October 25, 2000 |accessdate=March 21, 2021}} 

With an erratic thought process, MF Doom delivers sharp-witted stream-of-consciousness rhymes in a deteriorating yet steadfastly murky flow. At the center of Operation: Doomsday lies a bent towards free-form lyricism and pop-culture references. Doom uses a raw and lyrically dexterous delivery to recite palatable, off-kilter rhymes containing obscure references. His abstract rapping is laced with disparate word association grounded by tongue-in-cheek humor. Much of the album's lyrical content displays MF Doom in emotional disorder. The solo debut album acts as a lengthy exercise in musical therapy, with death hanging over throughout, both musically and lyrically. Drawing from the weight of his past, Operation: Doomsday is compact with frank, sincere lyrics and hard, piercing rhymes.

After the departure of KMD from their label Elektra Records, MF Doom released his solo debut album, Operation: Doomsday through the independent record label Fondle 'Em Records in 1999. The studio album was re-released through Sub Verse Music in 2001.{{Cite AV media notes|title=Operation: Doomsday|others=MF Doom|year=2001|type=liner notes|publisher=Sub Verse Music|id=SVM13|location=New York, New York}}

It was announced on December 16, 2010 that Operation: Doomsday was being reissued in 2011. The reissue cover was designed by Jason Jagel, who did the art for Mm..Food.{{Cite web |url=http://www.juxtapoz.com/Current/jason-jagel-for-mf-doom-operationdoomsday-reissue |title=Jason Jagel for MF Doom operation:doomsday Reissue |access-date=20 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100120112423/http://www.juxtapoz.com/Current/jason-jagel-for-mf-doom-operationdoomsday-reissue |archive-date=20 January 2010 |url-status=dead }} It was reported that there were licensing issues with the original artwork, which was designed by the famed graffiti writer Keo X-Men,{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} that caused problems with reissuing. Stones Throw Records stated that Doom was working on a track-listing for the reissue.{{Cite web |url=http://stonesthrow.com/news/2009/12/a-peek-at-mf-doom-operation-doomsday-reissue-2010 |title=A peek at MF Doom's Operation Doomsday reissue in 2010 |access-date=20 January 2010 |archive-date=10 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910215656/http://www.stonesthrow.com/news/2009/12/a-peek-at-mf-doom-operation-doomsday-reissue-2010 |url-status=live }}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/operation-doomsday-mw0000068448 |title=Operation: Doomsday – MF Doom |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=12 May 2016 |last=Cordor |first=Cyril |archive-date=18 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718054458/http://www.allmusic.com/album/operation-doomsday-mw0000068448 |url-status=live }}

| rev2 = Alternative Press

| rev2Score = 3/5{{cite magazine |author=Alternative Press |title=Indies |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BBQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA65 |magazine=Billboard |location= |publisher= |date=May 5, 2001 |volume=113 |issue=18 |page=65 |access-date=}}

| rev3 = The A.V. Club

| rev3Score = A{{cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/review/mf-doom-ioperation-doomsday-lunchboxi-55081 |title=MF Doom: Operation Doomsday: Lunchbox |work=The A.V. Club |date=26 April 2011 |access-date=12 May 2016 |last=Rabin |first=Nathan |author-link=Nathan Rabin |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305185547/http://www.avclub.com/review/mf-doom-ioperation-doomsday-lunchboxi-55081 |url-status=live }}

| rev4 = CMJ New Music Monthly

| rev4Score = (favorable){{cite magazine |author=Drumming, Neil |title=Reviews |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ICsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA85 |magazine=CMJ New Music Monthly |location= |publisher= |date=May–June 2001 |volume= |issue=93 |page=85 |access-date=}}

| rev5 = Muzik

| rev5Score = 5/5{{cite journal |title=MF Doom: Operation Doomsday (Subverse, USA) |journal=Muzik |issue=74 |date=July 2001 |last=Ashon |first=Will |page=145}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6Score = 6/10{{cite journal |title=MF Doom: Operation Doomsday |journal=NME |date=30 June 2001 |page=41}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7Score = 8.9/10{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15359-operation-doomsday/ |title=MF Doom: Operation Doomsday |work=Pitchfork |date=25 April 2011 |access-date=12 May 2016 |last=Cohen |first=Ian |archive-date=29 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429164824/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15359-operation-doomsday/ |url-status=live }}

| rev8 = Record Collector

| rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |url=http://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/operation-doomsday |title=MF Doom – Operation Doomsday |journal=Record Collector |issue=388 |date=May 2011 |access-date=12 May 2016 |last=Draper |first=Jason |archive-date=10 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510125059/http://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/operation-doomsday |url-status=live }}

| rev9 = Spin

| rev9Score = 8/10{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=50Phz-C_VzIC&pg=PA152 |title=KMD: Black Bastards / M.F. Doom: Operation Doomsday |journal=Spin |volume=16 |issue=8 |date=August 2000 |access-date=12 May 2016 |last=Caramanica |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Caramanica |pages=152–54 |archive-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101190659/https://books.google.com/books?id=50Phz-C_VzIC&pg=PA152 |url-status=live }}

| rev10 = The Village Voice

| rev10Score = B+{{cite news |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv701-01.php |title=Consumer Guide |work=The Village Voice |date=7 August 2001 |access-date=12 May 2016 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043123/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv701-01.php |url-status=live }}

}}

Upon its release, Operation: Doomsday garnered praise from contemporary music journalists, and has since achieved status as a cult classic. Alternative Press said the debut, "Places an insightful spin on Doom's history on the rap game ... the mish-mashed musical styles that MF incorporates lend a bit of variety, and the generally lo-fi production values give the album character. Refreshing..." Writing for The Village Voice, rock critic Robert Christgau remarked, "As concept, this could get tedious fast, but as a few skits it's one more scenic sonic on an album that reaches its high point when it samples not just the Scooby-Doo theme but Scoob himself, thus acknowledging that, as Scoob knows so well, some villains are just plain evil." He concluded, "Right, the album never comes into full focus. But it does flow, as music and as signifying. Message: this smart guy had some horrible setbacks and came out on the other side. A role model, you might say." AllMusic{{'}}s Cyril Cordor stated, "For the hardcore Doom fans, the recorded-in-the-basement quality is appealing and representative of his persona as the underdog who 'came to destroy rap.' ... Even though this album is certainly not for everyone, you can easily respect from where the man is coming." Jason Draper of Record Collector opined, "Doom may have become more accomplished – not least recording with Madlib and Danger Mouse – but this outside attack launched the bomb, and made MF Doom the leftfield hero that he remains today."

Pitchfork{{'}}s Ian Cohen described the album as Doom's "warmest and most benevolent work, almost entirely bled of the angrier material that would mark future releases." Their review of the 2011 reissue also called the album "a must-hear in just about any format." In his review of the 2011 reissue, Nathan Rabin from The A.V. Club argued that since its initial release Operation: Doomsday has "attained mythic status; its legend has grown in proportion to its relative unavailability, and to Doom’s ascent to cult godhood." On the album's 20th anniversary, Stereogum described it as "an immediately engaging display of [Doom's] raw talent as both a rapper and producer, as well as an engrossing origin story for the most popular of his many alter-egos."{{cite web |last1=Lyons |first1=Patrick |title=Operation: Doomsday Turns 20 |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2040515/mf-doom-operation-doomsday-turns-20/reviews/the-anniversary/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=3 January 2021 |date=19 April 2019}} In a less enthusiastic review, Spin writer Jon Caramanica claimed, "Sewn together with snippets from the Fantastic Four and Wildstyle, the album is a rambling exercise in musical therapy." He concluded, "But Doom ain't no joker: he’s merely fulfilling KMD's mythology ... six years too late."

Operation: Doomsday has been heralded as an underground classic that established MF Doom's rank within the underground hip-hop scene during the early to mid-2000s. The album has had a vast, long-lasting influence on contemporary underground rap and independent hip-hop artists. Writing for streaming service Tidal, Dylan Green and Donna-Claire Chesman called the album, "a blueprint for all of independent rap." They cite the "dusty cartoon samples" of its lo-fi production, MF Doom's preference for keeping anonymous, his "stream-of-consciousness flows" and the self-sustainance ethos that led to self-producing the entire studio album himself as essential elements both driving Operation: Doomsday as well as serving a source of inspiration for countless artists worldwide.{{Cite web|url=https://tidal.com/magazine/article/mf-dooms-operation-20/1-54901|title=MF Doom's 'Operation: Doomsday' is the Blueprint for Independent Hip-Hop|last1=Green|first1=Dylan|last2=Chesman|first2=Donna-Claire|work=TIDAL Magazine |date=April 20, 2019|accessdate=January 3, 2021}}

All tracks were written and produced by MF Doom.

{{Track listing

| headline = Side Zero{{Cite AV media notes|title=Operation: Doomsday|others=MF DOOM|year=1999|type=liner notes|publisher=Fondle 'Em Records|id=FE-86|location=New York, New York}}

| all_writing =

| title1 = The Time We Faced Doom

| note1 = Skit

| length1 = 2:04

| title2 = Doomsday

| length2 = 4:58

| title3 = Rhymes Like Dimes

| note3 = featuring Cucumber Slice

| length3 = 4:19

| title4 = The Finest

| note4 = featuring Tommy Gunn

| length4 = 4:01

| title5 = Back in the Days

| note5 = Skit

| length5 = 0:46

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side One

| title1 = Go with the Flow

| length1 = 3:36

| title2 = Tick, Tick…

| note2 = featuring MF Grimm

| length2 = 4:05

| title3 = Red and Gold

| note3 = featuring King Ghidra

| length3 = 4:43

| title4 = The Hands of Doom

| note4 = Skit

| length4 = 1:52

| title5 = Who You Think I Am?

| note5 = featuring X-Ray, Rodan, Megalon, K.D., King Ghidra, and Kong{{efn|Feature credits in the 2001 re-release are listed as King Ceasar, Rodan, Megalon, Kamakiras, and Kong}}

| length5 = 3:24

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side Two

| title1 = Doom, Are You Awake?

| note1 = Skit

| length1 = 1:13

| title2 = Hey!

| length2 = 3:47

| title3 = Operation: Greenbacks

| note3 = featuring Megalon

| length3 = 3:49

| title4 = The Mic

| length4 = 3:04

| title5 = The Mystery of Doom

| note5 = Skit

| length5 = 0:24

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side Three

| title1 = Dead Bent

| length1 = 2:22

| title2 = Gas Drawls

| length2 = 3:46

| title3 = ?

| note3 = featuring Kurious

| length3 = 3:09

| title4 = Hero vs. Villain (Epilogue)

| note4 = featuring E.Mason

| length4 = 2:59

| total_length = 58:21

}}

Notes

• MF Doom is credited as a feature on the tracks "Red and Gold" and "Who You Think I Am?" under the alias "King Ghidra".

Credits are adapted from the albums' liner notes.{{efn|The three major releases of this album on Fondle 'Em Records, Sub Verse Music, and Metal Face Records each have different credits in their liner notes.{{Cite AV media notes|title=Operation: Doomsday|others=MF Doom|year=2008|type=liner notes|publisher=Metal Face Records|id=MF86|location=Kennesaw, Georgia}}}}

Personnel

• MF.Doom – production

Additional personnel

• Daniel Dumile{{efn|Credited as "MF.Doom" on the 2008 Metal Face Records re-release.}} – executive production
• Percy Carey{{efn|Credited as "MF.Grim" on the 2008 Metal Face Records re-release.}} – executive production
• Big Lou – executive production
• Bobbito – executive production

Artwork

• Doom – illustration
• Scotch 79 – art direction

Personnel

• Metal Fingers Doom – production
• D.J. Cucumber Slice – cuts {{small|(3)}}, additional vocals {{small|(3)}}
• Big Lou – co-production {{small|(10)}}
• X-Ray da Mindbenda – co-production {{small|(2, 14)}}
• Pebbles the Invisible Girl – additional vocals {{small|(2, 14)}}
• Ill-Clown – co-production {{small|(4)}}

Additional personnel

• Metal Fingers Doom – mixing
• MF Doom – executive production
• MF Grimm – executive production
• Big Lou – executive production
• Bobbito – executive production

{{Notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Discogs master|8470|Operation: Doomsday}}

{{MF Doom}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1999 debut albums

Category:MF Doom albums

Category:Albums produced by MF Doom