Viktor Vaughn – Vaudeville Villain (2xLP, Silver vinyl)

in 2003, during an incredible period of growth and reinvention of the legendary artist MF DOOM, he introduced us to one of his many alter egos: Viktor Vaughn.

The story goes that Viktor Vaughn was an inter-dimensional, time-traveling MC from an alternate realm where hip-hop was banned. He explored time and space in search of new dimensions to hone his MC skills, which eventually led him to 90s New York, where a mechanical mishap with his time machine left him stranded.

He started performing at open mics and small venues, battling other MCs and taking on a few side jobs to raise enough money to fix his time machine and get back to his travels. Vaudeville Villain is a concept album like no other, where MF DOOM reinvents himself as a younger, hungrier and bolder man, exploring new and old themes from a different angle.

Having developed a second self in a more technologically advanced universe, he naturally wanted to take a fresh approach to production. Viktor Vaughn fittingly raps over next-school beats that move freely in the spaces between electronica and hip hop, all courtesy of Sound Ink producers King Honey, Heat Sensor and Max Bill, with the exception of one track produced by RJD2. Featuring DOOM's original lyrics and some notable guest appearances from M. Sayyid (Anti-Pop Consortium), Lord Sear, Apani B Fly MC, Louis Logic and others, "Vaudeville Villain" is one of the most creative entries in the MF DOOM universe.