Classic Verse: MF DOOM’s “Accordion” (Video & Lyrics)

When Madvillian (a.k.a. producer Madlib and emcee MF DOOM (a.k.a. DOOM, Victor Vaughn, the Mad Villian, etc.)) suddenly reappeared on the scene the other week with the release of "Papermill" it inspired a marathon DOOM listening session. I don't know how I keep forgetting, but the man with the mask is the the most creative, innovative and enigmatic voice in hip-hop, so I thought it was only right I gave him some shine with a classic verse. Ladies and gentlemen, behold, "Accordion".

Lyrics are below the video:

"Livin' off borrowed time, the clock tick faster
That'd be the hour they knock the slick blaster
Dick Dastardly and Muttley with sick laughter
A gun fight and they come to cut the mixmaster
I-C-E cold, nice to be old
Y2G steed twice to threefold
He sold scrolls, lo and behold
Know who's the illest ever like the greatest story told
Keep your glory, gold and glitter
For have half of his niggaz'll take him out the picture
The other half is rich and don't mean shit-ta
Villain a mixture between both with a twist of liquor
Chase it with more beer, taste it like truth or dare
When he have the mic it's like the place get like: 'Ah yeah!'
It's like they know what's 'bout to happen
Just keep ya eye out, like 'aye, aye captain'
Is he still a fly guy clappin' if nobody ain't hear it
And can they testify from inner spirit
In living, the true gods
Givin' y'all nothing but the lick like two broads
Got more lyrics than the church got 'Ooh Lords'
And he hold the mic and your attention like two swords
Or even one with two blades on it
Hey you, don't touch the mic like it's AIDS on it
It's like the end to the means
Fucked type of message that sends to the fiends
That's why he brings his own needles
And get more cheese than Doritos, Cheetos or Fritos..
Slip like Freudian
Your first and last step to playin' yourself like accordion
When he had the mic you don't go next
Leaving pussy cats like wild hoes need Kotex
Exercise index won't need Boflex
And won't take the one with no skinny legs like Joe Tex."

In comparison it's almost comic when other emcees say their styles are too crazy for the mainstream. Um, DOOM never - seriously, never - breaks character, never takes off a giant metal mask in pubic and drops rhymes like "It's like the end to the means / Fucked type of message that sends to the fiends." And it'd be one thing if this was just performance art, if ti was a gimmick, but the man's also a dope emcee (though he certainly has his detractors). Personally, I'm a fan of anyone who pushed the limits of the norms, and no one (and I mean no one) pushed them harder than DOOM. Hip-hop's never heard anything like "Accordion" before, and it never will again. Classic.