Viktor Vaughn — Vaudeville Villain
Throwback Review | May 2024
Just when you thought there was a mystique with MF DOOM, in 2003 he introduced a new pseudonym by the name of Viktor Vaughn through a tremendous concept album, titled Vaudeville Villain.
Daniele Dumile, a.k.a. MF DOOM went by a different name during the late-1980’s and early-1990s. Zed Love X was introduced to the world on 3rd Bass’ The Cactus Album and was a part of KMD, along with brother DJ Subroc and Jade 1, who later left and was replaced with Onyx the Birthstone Kid. Tragically before the release of their debut album, Black Bastards, DJ Subroc passed away in 1993, and soon after the group disbanded and their debut album wasn’t officially released until 2000. After the passing of his brother, Zed Love X would take a long hiatus from music and would go through hard times until he resurfaced as MF DOOM and released his critically acclaimed debut solo album, Operation Doomsday, in 1999. The following years saw DOOM focus more on his production work, specifically for close friend, MF Grimm. Between 2003 and 2005, DOOM would go on arguably the most impressive two year run, by releasing some of the most beloved underground projects. From Vaudeville Villain in 2003, Madvillainy with Madlib and his solo album Mm. Food, both released in 2004, and the 2005 Danger Mouse assisted The Mouse and the Mask.
2003’s Vaudeville Villain is one of the most impressive concept albums within Hip-Hop in the last 25 years, and though Madvillainy and Mm… Food are viewed as DOOM’s greatest projects, there could be a case for Vaudeville Villain having the title of the best MF DOOM album. Firstly, though released over two decades ago, the production sounds amazing and doesn’t sound dated at all. As a producer himself, DOOM would take care of his own production, however with Vaudeville Villain he entrusted the production help of members of the Sound Ink record label, that being Heat Sensor, King Honey and Max Bill. One of the album’s standout track, “Saliva”, was the only song not produced by the trio as it was produced by RJD2. Additionally, and most importantly DOOM’s storytelling and lyricism are at his peak, as throughout the whole album he details who Viktor Vaughn is, and DOOM invites the listener to various stories about Viktor Vaughn. Stories such as “Lactose & Lecithin” details Viktor Vaughn trying to buy cheap drugs only to be foiled and screwed over. “A Dead Mouse” details Viktor Vaughn getting into a fight or “A Mean Mugging” details Viktor Vaughn mugging different people.
“Don’t leave your girl around V he might swoon her, up under the window serenade her like a crooner, stay ahead of the game and cut her off sooner rather later”
There are so many highlights from this project, as mentioned previously “Saliva” is a huge standout with the RJD2’s production sounding great along DOOM’s rhymes. Out of all four producers on the album, Heat Sensor may have given DOOM the best beats out of all four of them. His production, especially for “Lactose and Lecithin” and “A Dead Mouse” sound so futuristic now, let alone in 2003. Heat Sensor’s production on Vaudeville Villain is impeccable, but nothing comes close to the greatness of “Raedawn”, a dark and lo-fi sounding production whilst DOOM uses great rhyme schemes and braggadocios lines, such as “Don't leave your girl around V he might swoon her, up under the window serenade her like a crooner, stay ahead of the game and cut her off sooner rather later”. Talking of great rhymes and rhyme schemes, you can find that heavily on “G.M.C.”, where DOOM dedicates the whole track to dissect and describe this character that he has created. Just like the rest of the album, there are no hooks or melodies, just straight bars from everyone’s favourite metal faced rapper.
Though Vaudeville Villain is a phenomenal album, it’s just shy of being perfect with two tracks that don’t live up to the quality or standard as the rest of the album. Those two records are the “Open Mic Nite” tracks, though I understand why they are included, both tracks actually disrupt the flow of the album, as the production on both songs are the weakest out of the whole album. “Open Mic Nite Part 2” fares out a little better and is listenable, however “Part 1” is just not enjoyable and sadly the worst part of the track is Rodan’s verse, as he just raps and doesn’t seem to flow well with the production. On the other hand, these two tracks are the only low points on the album, and with seventeen tracks in total it means that Vaudeville Villain is a consistent body of work for the majority of the album.
As mentioned 2004’s Madvillainy and Mmm… Food are DOOM’s most popular projects, along with Operation Doomsday, those three albums take up the top three spots when you talk to most DOOM fans. Though those albums are phenomenal, I would argue that their popularity and cult like following, may also play a role as to why fans view those three projects as DOOM’s best works. However from a creative, lyrical, story telling and production stand point, Vaudeville Villain takes the top spot for me. In comparison to the other albums, it’s a more consistent album, even with those two “Open Mic Nite” tracks that weren’t great. If you want an album that represents DOOM as artists and showcase what he was all about, then Vaudeville Villain embodies that the most out of all DOOM projects.