You could call the proper follow-up to 1999′s heralded Operation: Doomsday highly anticipated if it weren’t for the wealth of side projects, pseudonyms, bootlegs, and mixtapes MF Doom unleashed afterward. Still, every bit of Doom output has the underground’s tongue wagging, and as usual, the metal-fingered villain doesn’t disappoint. Part of the reason for this is that MM..Food? is unconcerned with the hype and doesn’t try too hard. It’s actually one of Doom’s least ambitious releases and a lot more fun than his previous ones, especially anything released under his dark Viktor Vaughn moniker. Food references and a ton of samples and scratches from old Fantastic Four read-along records keep the album light as Doom takes tired hip-hop topics like “keeping your hoes in check” and turncoat friends and screws with them. Backstabbers get their due on the Whodini-sampling “Deep Fried Frenz” while guest Mr. Fantastik gives fakes a proper whooping on the excellent “Rapp Snitch Knishes.” Doom’s behind every beat here, whipping up a busy brew of screw-loose samples and late-’90s beats. The mostly instrumental middle of the album is a fantastic, playful ride and more fresh evidence the man is never swayed by fads. Fans looking for his next big statement might be let down at first listen, but MM..Food? is as vital as anything he’s done before and entirely untouched or stymied by the hype. – David Jeffries
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