MOS DEFinitely not DOOM (Show Review)

Tonight was the night the much anticipated and much advertised "MOSDOOM" co-headlining tour would jump off in Chicago at Congress Theater. I tried to stay optimistic. Even when the show originally got rescheduled I still tried to "keep hope alive." Rumors of DOOM (formerly known as MF DOOM/Daniel Dumile/Zev Love X) sending imposters to perform in his place has been circulating since 2007, but this was different. This was "MOSDOOM." Surely Mos Def wouldn't let a rapper he admired pull this stunt during a tour with both their names and reputations attached to it? Even while the show dragged on and the deejays obviously stalled I still believed that DOOM would show and rock the mic.

(supposed "DOOM" at Chicago's Pitchfork Festival)

Chicago's BBU (Bin Laden Blowin Up) opened up with an energetic juke-styled performance after djs warmed up the restless crowd, but left the stage to boos from the crowd which grew increasingly hostile (partly due to the fact that almost everyone had to wait in an insanely long line outside in the cold for almost an hour before entry.) Underground stalwart Qwel of Galapagos/Typical Cats fame performed a solid set after stalling for his own dj by spitting acapellas that often ventured into tongue twisting. He jokingly and repeatedly asked the crowd to not boo him, but was still greeted with half-hearted "boos." Mike Relm was the surprise highlight of the night combining his turntablism with live sampling and "video deejaying" (although Peanut Butter Wolf still has the best video dj set I've ever seen.) Most of the crowd kept commenting on how his set kept dragging but I'm pretty sure he was asked to play longer to stall for the headliners. Even DOOM's fellow label-mate Psalm One made a surprise visit to perform one song (or perhaps a favor was called in to kill some more time?)
After an agonizing wait Mos finally graced the stage close to midnight (at this point some people have been at the Congress Theater since 7pm.) Mos Def performed a fairly short set consisting mostly of songs from his new album "The Estatic." He performed 2 old songs at most, and he also rapped a handful of DOOM's best songs while rocking a gold DOOM mask. This did not seem like a good sign but Mos himself assured us that DOOM was definitely in the house while he tried to calm the crowd, who periodically kept throwing beers and water bottles at the frequently empty stage.

Finally "DOOM" came on stage. Now before I bash him I'd like to say that DOOM has created some of the best Hip Hop albums in recent years and is one of my favorite lyricists. He was the also main reason I came to the show (having already seen Mos Def four times before) and so I was hoping it was truly him.

It wasn't. If it was him then he still seemed like he lipsynched to 90% of the songs he "performed" during his pitifully short set that barely lasted 20 minutes and did not address the crowd even once. People left early claiming it was not DOOM and rumor was that most of the front row attendees said that the imposter did not look like DOOM at all. Yes he's a villain yadda fucking yadda but any reasoning you put behind this does not justify wasting people's money. Yes it's all about the music, but if I wanted to hear a recorded set I would've listened to his albums at home while I stared at the plastic Gladiator mask I bought years ago. People see live shows to HEAR PEOPLE LIVE, which is a point that's especially more important if your voice is the only live instrument.
Stones Throw Records (another one of DOOM's many label collaborators) issued a statement when these rumors were first spreading but it was quickly taken down:

"Every day for the past month we’ve been hit up by people wanting explanations, statements, clarifications, and declarations about MF DOOM. Is he lip synching? (No. Listen to the videos on Youtube.) Is he an impostor? (No, but he did lose some pounds.)"

Then last year DOOM responded to the controversy in a Rolling Stone interview with the following statement:

“Everything that we do is villain style,” he explained. “Everybody has the right to get it or not get it. Once I throw it out, it’s there for interpretation. It might’ve seemed like it didn’t go well, but how do we know that wasn’t just pre-orchestrated so that we’re talking about it now? I tell you one thing: People are asking more now for live shows and I’m charging more, so it must’ve worked somewhere.”

I'm pissed but I can't say I didn't see the signs myself and I'll admit that this doesn't change my opinion of his future/past albums but no matter what way you spin this it was not a good look. Congratulations, you've succeeded. You're the villain.

More "DOOMPOSTER" links:

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2007/08/mf-doom-imposters-perform-shows.html

http://www.wired.com/underwire/2007/08/rapper-mf-dooms/

http://www.villagevoice.com/2007-08-28/music/from-madvillain-to-milli-vanilli/

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2007/09/mf_doom_fucks_sf_wtf_went_down.php

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.7938/title.mf-doom-addresses-rumors-of-fake-performances

http://qn5.com/blog/entry/an-open-letter-to-mf-doom