DOOM explains in XXL Magazine:
"[This song was] a while ago, so I’m trying to remember what inspired it. It’s really just normally what I’d be talking about. I kinda do bragging rap. I do the kind of hip-hop where the MC is more pointing out things and accentuating certain things that have been forgotten at some stage. So I’m really just explaining hip-hop rules. Rules about rhyming. Typical shit that you would normally do or don’t do. That’s basically it. Hold on a second, I’m crossing the street right now."
The beat was later released in his Special Herbs beat tapes. The beat is titled “Saffron” and it is on "Special Herbs Vol. 2".
Doomsday
MF DOOM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(When I was led to you)
(I knew you were the one for me)
Come through, dig the sound
(I swear the whole world could feel you MC)
Crowd around
But never copped no drop
Hold mics like pony tails, tight, and bob a lot
Stop and stick around
Come through and dig the sound
Of the fly brown six-o sicko psycho who throws his dick around
Bound to go three-plat
Came to destroy rap
It's a intricate plot of a B-Boy strapped
Femstat cats get kidnapped
Then release a statement to the press, let the rest know who did that
Metal Fist terrorists claim responsibility
Broken household name usually said in hostility
Um what is MF? You silly
I'd like to take "Mens to the End" for two milli'
"Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo" That's a audio daily double
Rappers need to fall off just to save me the trouble, yo
Watch your own back
Came in and go out alone, black
Stay in the zone turn H2O to Cognac
On Doomsday
Ever since the womb 'til I'm back where my brother went
That's what my tomb will say
Right above my government, Dumille
Either unmarked or engraved, hey, who's to say?
I wrote this one in B.C. D.C. O-section
If you don't believe me, go get bagged and check then
Cell number 17, up under the top bunk
I say this not to be mean, wish bad luck or pop junk
Pop the trunk on See-Cipher-Punk, leave him left scraped
God forbid, if there ain't no escape, blame MF tape
Definition "super-villain", a killer who love children
One who is well-skilled in destruction, as well as building
While Sidney Sheldon teaches the trife to be trifer
I'm trading science fiction with my man the live lifer
A pied piper holler a rhyme, a dollar and a dime
Do his thing, ring around the white collar crime
Get out my face, askin' 'bout my case, need toothpaste
Fresher mint, monkey-style nigga get dentadent
And dope fiends still in they teens, shook niggas turn witness
Real mens mind their own business
That's the difference between sissy-pissy rappers that's double-dutch
How come I hold the microphone double-clutch
C.O.'s make rounds, never have 'ox found
On shakedown, lock-down, wet dreams of Fox' Brown
On Doomsday
Ever since the womb 'til I'm back where my brother went
That's what my tomb will say
Right above my government, Dumile
Either unmarked or engraved, hey, who's to say?
Doomsday
Every since the womb 'til I'm back to the essence
Read it off the tomb
Either engraved or unmarked grave, who's to say?
Pass the mic like "Pass the peas like they used to say"
Some M-er F-ers don't like how Sally walk
I'll tell y'all fools it's hella cool how ladies from Cali talk
Never let her interfere with the Yeti ghetto slang
Nicknames off nipple and tip of nipples metal fang
Known amongst hoes for the bang-bang
Known amongst foes for flow with no talking orangutans
Only gin and Tang
Guzzled out a rusty tin can
Me and this mic is like yin and yang
Clang, crime don't pay, listen, youth
It's like me holding up the line at the kissing booth
I took her back to the truck, she was uncouth
Spittin' all out the sunroof, through her missing tooth
But then she has a sexy voice, sound like Jazzy Joyce
So I turned it up faster than a speeding knife
Strong enough to please a wife
Able to drop today's math in the 48 keys of life
Cut the crap far as rap
Touch the mic, get the same thing a Arab will do to you for stealing
What the devil? He's on another level
It's a word
No, a name
MF the super villain
Doomsday
Check the sound
Right around
(When I was led to you)
(I knew you were the one for me)
(I swear the whole world could feel you MC)
MF DOOM’s “Doomsday” is a perfect example of the abstract former member of KMD’s innovative rhyming style. The song tells the story of his journey from his early days of being a drug dealer to becoming a celebrated rapper. The opening lyrics, “When I was led to you, I knew you were the one for me,” refer to DOOM’s relationship with Hip Hop as a whole. He knew that he was meant to be a part of this form of expression. DOOM states that he is “Bound to go three-plat,” displaying his confidence in his future success. He also claims to have come to “destroy rap,” indicating his desire to reinvigorate the genre through his own unique style.
The song also sees DOOM referencing his long-lasting feud with Jive Records, which would eventually lead to the breakup of KMD, DOOM’s original group. He also addresses his imprisonment, which led to his artistic resurrection as MF DOOM. The iconic line “Came in and go out alone, black, Stay in the zone turn H2O to Cognac,” refers to DOOM’s isolation while in jail and the creative genius that arose from it.
Overall, “Doomsday” is a masterful blend of storytelling and rhyming, showcasing MF DOOM's unparalleled skill at both.
Line by Line Meaning
Mic check
Testing the microphone to ensure that it's working
(When I was led to you)
When I discovered you, my life changed
(I knew you were the one for me)
I recognized that you were the perfect match for me
Come through, dig the sound
Come and experience the music I'm producing
(I swear the whole world could feel you MC)
Your music is so impactful that it could resonate with people worldwide
Crowd around
A call for people to gather around the performance area
I used to cop a lot
I used to purchase a lot of things
But never copped no drop
Despite constantly buying, I never obtained any success
Hold mics like pony tails, tight, and bob a lot
Gripping the microphone tightly while vigorously moving around on stage
Stop and stick around
Stop what you're doing and stay to enjoy the music
Come through and dig the sound
Another invitation for people to come and enjoy the music
Of the fly brown six-o sicko psycho who throws his dick around
A description of a wild and crazy performer who exudes confidence
Bound to go three-plat
Indicates a belief in the performer's success
Came to destroy rap
A call to action to end the current state of rap music
It's an intricate plot of a B-Boy strapped
A reference to the hip-hop culture, where there's a complex scheme going on
Femstat cats get kidnapped
Female rivals are targeted and abducted
Then release a statement to the press, let the rest know who did that
A taunt to the competition to let them know who's responsible for the kidnapping
Metal Fist terrorists claim responsibility
A reference to the performer's persona as a terrorist and mastermind behind the plot
Broken household name usually said in hostility
MF DOOM is notorious and often mentioned in a negative light
Um what is MF? You silly
A playful jab at those who don't know about the performer's name
I'd like to take 'Mens to the End' for two milli'
A reference to a popular game show, Jeopardy, while expressing a desire to win a large amount of money
"Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo" That's an audio daily double
A sound effect used on game shows while referencing the previous line
Rappers need to fall off just to save me the trouble, yo
The performer expresses frustration with other rappers and suggests they should quit to simplify things
Watch your own back
A reminder to stay alert and be responsible for one's safety
Came in and go out alone, black
A reference to being independent and not relying on others
Stay in the zone turn H2O to Cognac
A reference to staying focused and achieving greatness
On Doomsday
A reference to an impending, catastrophic event
Ever since the womb 'til I'm back where my brother went
Exploring the concept of life from birth to death
That's what my tomb will say
A statement reflecting on one's mortality and what their legacy might be
Right above my government, Dumille
A reference to the performer's real name and its proximity to their government name
Either unmarked or engraved, hey, who's to say?
Reflecting on the uncertainty of life and death
I wrote this one in B.C. D.C. O-section
A reference to the timeline of writing the song
If you don't believe me, go get bagged and check then
A challenging statement to those who doubt the performer's credit
Cell number 17, up under the top bunk
A specific location where an experience is being shared from
I say this not to be mean, wish bad luck or pop junk
The performer clarifies their intention and intent behind the statement
Pop the trunk on See-Cipher-Punk, leave him left scraped
A reference to potentially harming an individual known by the name See-Cipher-Punk
God forbid, if there ain't no escape, blame MF tape
A reminder of the performer's influence and capabilities
Definition of 'super-villain', a killer who loves children
The performer humorously describes the nature of a super-villain
One who is well-skilled in destruction, as well as building
A super-villain not only destroys but also creates
While Sidney Sheldon teaches the trife to be trifer
A contrast between the educational lessons provided by Sidney Sheldon versus the performer's own destructive influence
I'm trading science fiction with my man the live lifer
A reference to exchanging fictional ideas with a friend who leads a rebellious lifestyle
A pied piper holler a rhyme, a dollar and a dime
A comparison between the performer and a pied piper, leading others with their music
Do his thing, ring around the white collar crime
A call to action to continue doing what the performer does best, while also causing chaos for the elite
Get out my face, askin' 'bout my case, need toothpaste
A dismissive statement towards those questioning the performer's situation while also making a comparison to something as mundane as toothpaste
Fresher mint, monkey-style nigga get dentadent
A wordplay using the term dentadent and a reference to challenging others to step up their game
And dope fiends still in they teens, shook niggas turn witness
Reflecting on the cycle of drug addiction and how some are willing to betray others in order to escape punishment
Real mens mind their own business
A reminder of the importance of staying out of other people's affairs
That's the difference between sissy-pissy rappers that's double-dutch
A statement highlighting the difference between mediocre rappers and those who are truly invested in their craft
How come I hold the microphone double-clutch
A boastful statement about the performer's unique style and ability to hold the microphone grip a certain way
C.O.'s make rounds, never have 'ox found
A reference to wardens making rounds in a prison and not finding contraband
On shakedown, lock-down, wet dreams of Fox' Brown
A reference to sexual fantasies while in prison and mentions a specific person
Right above my government, Dumile
A repeat of a previous line
Doomsday
Another reference to an impending disaster
Every since the womb 'til I'm back to the essence
A repeat of a previous line that traces life from birth to death
Read it off the tomb
A reference to how the performer's life will eventually be remembered
Either engraved or unmarked grave, who's to say?
A reminder of the uncertainty of life and death, repeated from earlier in the song
Pass the mic like 'Pass the peas like they used to say'
A reference to sharing the microphone and passing it around like one would share food
Some M-er F-ers don't like how Sally walk
A playful statement about how individuals might have negative opinions on others
I'll tell y'all fools it's hella cool how ladies from Cali talk
The performer defends the way women from California speak, which might be different from others
Never let her interfere with the Yeti ghetto slang
Not allowing the woman's speech patterns to interfere with the performer's unique style
Nicknames off nipple and tip of nipples metal fang
A reference to creating a unique nickname and persona
Known amongst hoes for the bang-bang
The performer is known for their sexual conquests
Known amongst foes for flow with no talking orangutans
The performer's rap skills are known and respected by their enemies
Only gin and Tang
A drink of choice that the performer enjoys
Guzzled out a rusty tin can
Drinking from an unclean container due to a lack of other options
Me and this mic is like yin and yang
The performer and the microphone are inseparable
Clang, crime don't pay, listen, youth
A reminder that crime doesn't lead to success
It's like me holding up the line at the kissing booth
A humorous comparison between holding up a line and kissing booth
I took her back to the truck, she was uncouth
A story of the performer taking a woman back to their truck, but finding her unrefined
Spittin' all out the sunroof, through her missing tooth
The woman speaks in a crude way while drooling
But then she has a sexy voice, sound like Jazzy Joyce
The performer finds redeeming qualities in the woman's voice, comparing it to a popular radio DJ
So I turned it up faster than a speeding knife
The performer increases the volume of the music in response to the woman's voice
Strong enough to please a wife
The performer's music is enjoyable not only for themselves, but for others as well
Able to drop today's math in the 48 keys of life
The performer has knowledge and wisdom to impart through their music
Cut the crap far as rap
Encouragement to focus on the true and real aspects of rap music
Touch the mic, get the same thing a Arab will do to you for stealing
A warning to others to not mess with the performer or their microphone
What the devil? He's on another level
The performer's skills and abilities are on a higher level than others
It's a word
A simple statement to conclude the song
No, a name
Clarifying to listeners that it's not just any word, but a name
MF the super villain
The performer's moniker and persona as a super villain
Check the sound
A final nod to the reason behind the song - the music
Right around
A final declaration that the performer is still relevant and talented
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Daniel Dumile Thompson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind