Operation: Doomsday (stylized Operation: DOOMSDAY.) is the debut solo studio album by Daniel Dumile, and the first under the MF Doom moniker. It was first released through Fondle 'Em Records on 19 October 1999,<!--- Dart Adams is a journalist for music publication Okayplayer and is considered a subject-matter expert in the field of 80's/90's hip hop; therefore, this source may be used in compliance with WP:A/S and WP:MEDIUM ---> and later reissued by Sub Verse Records in 2001 with a slightly altered track listing. It was his first solo release under the MF Doom moniker after previously performing as Zev Love X in the group KMD. Operation: Doomsday is regarded as one of the most influential albums in independent hip-hop history. A deluxe remastered version was released by Doom's label Metal Face Records on 24 October 2011.
Background
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. 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. Doom incorporated a variety of musical styles onto the album, featuring a mix of 1980s soul and smooth jazz loops with vintage drum breaks.
With an erratic thought process, MF Doom delivers sharp-witted stream-of-consciousness rhymes in a deteriorating yet steadfastly murky flow.
It was announced on 16 December 2010 that Operation: Doomsday was being reissued in 2011. The reissue cover was designed by Jason Jagel, who did the art for Mm..Food. It was reported that there were licensing issues with the original artwork, which was designed by the famed graffiti writer Keo X-Men, that caused problems with reissuing. Stones Throw Records stated that Doom was working on a track-listing for the reissue.
Critical reception
Upon its release, Operation: Doomsday garnered praise from contemporary music journalists, and has since achieved status as a cult classic. 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."
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Legacy
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.
Track listing
All tracks were written and produced by MF Doom.
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".
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the albums' liner notes.
1999 Fondle 'Em Records release
Personnel
- MF.Doom – production
Additional personnel
- Daniel Dumile – executive production
- Percy Carey – executive production
- Big Lou – executive production
- Bobbito – executive production
- Pebbles – additional vocals
Artwork
- Doom – illustration
- Scotch 79 – art direction
2001 Sub Verse Music re-release
Personnel
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