Born Like This - DOOM
  • Band Name: DOOM
  • Record Label: Lex
  • Release Date: Mar 24, 2009
Metascore
77 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
view
per page
  1. MSN Consumer Guide (Robert Christgau)
    91
    The clincher is how gracefully this klutz skates over the oddly rolling beats of J Dilla, Jake One and the Metal Fingered Villain... Doom (ellipsis in original).
  2. The A.V. Club
    91
    Three years away has done wonders for the masked supervillain. The rapper who now goes by DOOM (“all big letters but it ain’t no acronym”) comes roaring back to life on the largely self-produced Born Like This.
  3. cokemachineglow
    86
    He’s filled his abdicated spot with greater authority than ever before, patched up the walls punched in from Ghostface’s temper tantrums and assured us that villian-rap’s appeal will remain evergreen as long as it infused with this genius, this wild idiocy, these manic flights of syllabic invention.
  4. Filter
    82
    The rhymes and stripped, off-kilter soul samplings are more "Mm...Food" than "Madvillainy," which is to say they're colorful with phrases clipped to punctuate a particularly satifactory punchline or rhyme conclusion. [Spring 2009, p.91]
    All this publication's reviews

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.5 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. EricC
    9
    Madlib got all the credit for the production on Madvillainy (deserved or not) but DOOM gets the spotlight back here. He uses plenty of cartoonish samples, but keeps the album grounded with harrowing real-world audio clips. The combination creates an emotional experience that is difficult to find in most hiphop acts today. And yeah, he's still a sharp and engaging rapper. I don't see what there is to be dissapointed in (though building up your legacy through rumors, controversy, nonexistent projects can make your comeback seem anticlimactic). This is one of the best albums I've heard this year, easily the best rap album.… Full Review »
  2. EdP
    9
    I agreed the most with the above Pitchfork review where the album takes a few listens to sink in. It is darker in terms of the material he is talking about; cynical I would say. Gazzillion Ear covers all three main pseudonyms: MF, Viktor Vaughn and King Gheedorah, incredible. Regardless, the wait was worth it. All caps when you spell the man's name.… Full Review »
  3. TheLastBoffin
    8
    "...elixir for the dry throat/ try to hit the high note/ villain since an itsy-bitsy zygote.." This is just one of a sheer calvalcade of extraordinary couplets from DOOM. And make no mistake, this album is an absolute treat for all fans of real hip hop. So what's so good about it? In short, virtually everything. There's quality production throughout. There's sizzling performances from the guest artists. There's incredibly intricate and expressive rhymes, delivered by a man who's mastered his craft. And there's not a chorus in sight! Listening to DOOM is a gift that keeps on giving - you'll hear something new each time.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »