I’m still having trouble processing this news, man. Enough so that I’m posting on the Coli for the second time in like 7 years. Really difficult for me and I’m not sure why. Might be just personal shyt and this was just the cherry on top, but this really feels like it hurt my soul. I wish I could unpack all my thoughts and feelings and make sense of it all, but right now it’s just raw pain. Just going to let it all out on here I guess. Sorry in advance.
I can’t remember exactly who put me on, I think it may have been somebody from an old forum called Rapboard that introduced me to a lot of good shyt, but my first intro to DOOM was “Change the Beat,” I’m guessing around 2003 since that’s apparently when it dropped. I wasn’t brand new to the underground scene at the time, so I had heard some dope, inventive, creative, esoteric shyt before DOOM, but I never even knew rap could sound like that. “Blew his whole shyt up on some ‘what this button do?’” When the All Caps video came out, I must have watched it 100 times. About 8-9 years ago, in college, I basically studied Operation: Doomsday. I played those two GTA joints that just came out the day they dropped, while I was working. As someone who used to call himself a rapper, DOOM to me was a genius who embodied what it means to be an MC. And his beats were beautiful. I had “Licorice” on repeat the night before the news broke. I held him in very high regard consistently for 17 years, but I still feel I didn’t give him the respect he really deserved. I wish I knew him personally just so I could have some insight into who he was. I was supremely envious of his creativity and effortless skill, and now it is all gone. There’s so much more I could say, but it would never be enough. I hope he is with his brother and his son. And I hope his family and friends find peace. Rest In Peace, DOOM.