Customer Reviews

Mr Hood

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For many new MF Doom fans, it's real hard to believe that he rhymed under the name Zev Love X, in a group called K.M.D. that also consisted of his brother DJ Subroc, and Onyx The Birthstone Kid (aka Rodan). In 1991, they dropped their first album Mr. Hood, with the single "Peachfuzz" which became a well known hit. The album itself is mostly based on a fictional character named Mr. Hood, who's voice is pasted together by instructional tapes (or so I heard). Some of the skits that feature Mr. Hood are quite entertaining, such as "Mr. Hood Meets Onyx", and "Mr. Hood Gets A Haircut".

Production wise is unique and creative. The sampling is also what makes this album great. Most of the samples are from televison shows such as Seseme Street for songs like "Humrush" and "Who Me?". The latter song would have a music video as a paroody of Seaseme Street. Lyrically, this trio had a lot. Zev Love X would take control of most of the vocals, and show off in songs like "Peachfuzz" and "Figure Of Speech". He would also imitate a preacher inside of a church in the track "Preacher Porkchop", and somehow Mr. Hood attends. The other two members would show off their skills on a few solo cuts also. Subroc would do his thing in "Subroc's Mission", and Onyx would handle the track "Boogie Man". There are not many guest appearances on this album. Only the group Brand Nubian would join for the song "Nitty Gritty" which works out well.

Overall, a great album by this trio, that became a big hit back in '91. This is one album that you will enjoy again, if you like creativity. I recommend this if you want to hear MF Doom back in his younger years, or if you enjoyed early 90's rap. Unfortunately Electra Records let this one go out of print, and didn't think to ever reissue it, up until a couple of months ago with the help of Traffic Ent (thank you very much for doing that!!). So at this price, I recommend that you snatch this one up as soon as possible. Unfortunately this group would face major setbacks when it came to their next album "Bl_ck B_st_rds"... (hey that might get reissued also [crosses fingers]).

Lyrics: A-

Production: A+

Musical Vibes: A

Overall: A

Favorite Tracks: Who Me?, Mr Hood Meets Onyx, Subroc's Mission, Humrush, Nitty Gritty, Peachfuzz, Gasface Refill

Honorable Mention Track: Preacher Porkchop

Chandler Infamous, and I'm out. Peace!

P.S.- Kool G.Rap & DJ Polo's "Rags To Riches", Lord Finesse's "The Awaking", and The Genius/GZA's "Words From The Genius" were also reissued recently on Traffic Ent. Snatch those up also!

Classic material...too bad its out of print, but you can get it for free at emusic.com (as other reviewers have said), and yes it really does work, and it's legal, you just have to enter your credit card #. Anyway, KMD was an early 90s group made up of Zevlove X (aka MF Doom aka Viktor Vaughn), Onyx The Birthstone Kid & DJ Subroc. Also check out 'Black Bastards', which is also on emusic, or just buy 'Best Of KMD' which pretty much has the best songs on 'Mr. Hood' & 'Black Bastards' and 2 unreleased tracks ("Nitty Gritty" Remix with Brand Nubian and Busta Rhymes & "Popcorn".

1.Mr. Hood At Piocalles Jewelry/Crackpot-5/5-Introduces Mr. Hood, who's a character made up of parts of a language-instruction tapes, who ends up making the album pretty funny. Zevlove's "Crackpot" verse is great too.
2.Who Me?-5/5-Great song, this was back when Doom had an incredible flow (still is a very good lyricist tho)
3.Boogie Man!-5/5-Great Onyx solo song, too bad he didn't at least become a weird masked rapper...
4.Mr. Hood Meets Onyx-Funny skit ("excuse me, your shirt is dirty", "what size are your slippers? they are too small")
5.Subrocs Mission-5/5-Yea, Subroc can rap too
6.Humrush-5/5-All 3 drop nice verses, over a very well done beat...and Sesame Street samples
7.Figure Of Speech-5/5-Great Zevlove X solo song, one of his best tracks lyrically
8.Bananapeel Blues-3/5-"A lot of brothers don't like this joint
Cause it might not be funk or funky"-Yea, and maybe also because its talking instead of rapping, so its kinda boring
9.Nitty Gritty Featuring Brand Nubian-5/5-Probably the best song on the CD, featuring a verse from every member of KMD and Brand Nubian, and the best production on the CD
10.Trial And Error-5/5-If 'Nitty Gritty' isnt the best song on the CD...then this definately is, more great production
11.Hard Wit No Hoe-5/5-Kind of weird storytelling from Zevlove X, but more hot production and Zev is still shining as the group's best MC
12.Mr. Hood Gets A Haircut-Another funny Mr. Hood skit
13.808 Man-5/5-More nice production and storytelling, basically every track on this CD is classic material
14.Boy Who Cried Wolf-5/5-Zevlove X is at the top of his game on this track
15.Peachfuzz-5/5-The only single on the CD, and also one of the best tracks. Some of the best production on the CD, and Onyx drops what is probably his best verse on the CD
16.Preacher Porkchop-Not really a song, more like a skit
17.Soulflexin'-5/5-The flow on this track is nice over a great loop
18.Gasface Refill (Bonus Track)-5/5-Great sequel to 3rd Bass' 'Gasface' which feaured Zevlove X, not as good as the original in my opinion (which was a classic song) but still a hot song

Highly reccomended, find a way to get this album, you won't be dissapointed.

KMD's "Mr.Hood" was one of my favorite, and will always be. If this CD is not in your collection, get it now and you'll see! Even the first track "Crackpot" will offer better rhymes in it's first lines than most newbies on the scene today.

M.C. Serch let Zev Love X shine on the "Gas Face", and that one verse was all I needed to hear to go cop the album. Actually, I bought the tape, and I'm kicking myself, now that I see how much the CD will cost me. These youngsters didn't get the commercial success they deserved, but this was definately a ground breaking freshman effort.Their clever lyrics and infusion of comedy over racist samples, was as innovative as it gets. Even at a time when Rap was actually saying something,I.E. Chuck,KRS, De La, these kids really struck a chord with a true head, like myself. When I hear the garbage that's scanning platinum these days,I realize just how unimportant talent is, when it comes to sales.
I guess the promotion machine really likes basic and simple. Just ask J-quon and Nelly. R.I.P. DJ Subrock

For many new MF Doom fans, it's real hard to believe that he rhymed under the name Zev Love X, in a group called K.M.D. that also consisted of his brother DJ Subroc, and Onyx The Birthstone Kid (aka Rodan). In 1991, they dropped their first album Mr. Hood, with the single "Peachfuzz" which became a well known hit. The album itself is mostly based on a fictional character named Mr. Hood, who's voice is pasted together by instructional tapes (or so I heard). Some of the skits that feature Mr. Hood are quite entertaining, such as "Mr. Hood Meets Onyx", and "Mr. Hood Gets A Haircut".

Production wise is unique and creative. The sampling is also what makes this album great. Most of the samples are from televison shows such as Seseme Street for songs like "Humrush" and "Who Me?". Lyrically, this trio had a lot. Zev Love X would take control of most of the vocals, and show off in songs like "Peachfuzz" and "Figure Of Speech". He would also imitate a preacher inside of a church in the track "Preacher Porkchop", and somehow Mr. Hood attends. The other two members would show off their skills on a few solo cuts also. Subroc would do his thing in "Subroc's Mission", and Onyx would handle the track "Boogie Man". There are not many guest appearances on this album. Only the group Brand Nubian would join for the song "Nitty Gritty" which works out well.

Overall, a great album by this trio, that became a big hit back in '91. This is one album that you will enjoy again, if you like creativity. I recommend this if you want to hear MF Doom back in his younger years, or if you enjoyed early 90's rap. Unfortunately Electra Records let this one go out of print, and didn't think to ever reissue it. If the price is out of your budjet, I recommend "The Best Of KMD" which would have most of the tracks from this and their sophomre album. Unfortunately this group would face major setbacks when it came to their next album Black Bastards...

Lyrics: A-

Production: A+

Musical Vibes: A

Overall: A

Favorite Tracks: Who Me?, Mr Hood Meets Onyx, Subroc's Mission, Humrush, Nitty Gritty, Peachfuzz, Gasface Refill

This was the start of the excellent group KMD. They had nice beats and heavy flows that were above many other rappers in 91. This was far ahead of a lot of others too. Their style is fun and witty and nice to chill and listen to at any time of the day. If you haven't got this I would say get it quick even though its likely you will find a second hand one and will have to pay a bit for it. Its definately worth it because you can't miss out on classic albums like this and not know who they were. I would also recommend getting Black b_s#a@ds too because that is like having a collection of diamonds in your room, in a way of representing hip hop of the era when it was more true and fun than it will ever be now. KMD is a TRUE HIP HOP group and both their albums are perfect and what you need if you don't know about real hip hop. Just check what these mans are saying in here, and theres many more that know what the deal is. GET IT! Peace!

Simple, pick it up while you still can. A must grab for rare CD collectors. Awesome lyrics, smooth production. By the time you get this, get Black Bastards if you got the chance... both of are hard to find albums.

...so I'll keep it short. Just an amazing, funny, smart rap album from 3 young guys. Mr. Hood is as good now as it was when I purchased it on cassette in 1991. It's *totally* worth picking up this album in its entirety as opposed to the "best of" K.M.D. album, which doesn't have all the tracks and misses the "original flow" of the album from song to song.

I'm truly a hip hopper, had to get this one again. Listening to 3rd bass made me remember these dudes. Shouldn't have forgotten being a fan of m.f. doom.

I had nobody to share this with before the internet...but this album was my favorite. From the consciousness to the goofiness to the spoken word joint, this is the most honest hip hop album ever. No attempt was made KMD to fit in or cater to any fashion or social image. I can't tell yall how much I love Mr. Hood, so cop it and analyze this true piece of art. I'm not an MF Doom fan and it's not the same music...just sayin.