Special Herbs + Spices Volume 1
| Special Herbs + Spices Volume 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 11 May 2004 | |||
| Studio | Powerhouse Studios, NYC | |||
| Genre | Underground hip-hop | |||
| Length | 50:42 (CD) 45:43 (Vinyl) | |||
| Label | Day By Day Entertainment | |||
| Producer | MF Doom | |||
| MF Doom chronology | ||||
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| MF Grimm chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| cokemachineglow | 76%[2] |
| Hip-Hop Elements | 9/10[3] |
| Stylus Magazine | B−[4] |
Special Herbs + Spices Volume 1 is the second collaborative album released by American rappers MF Doom and MF Grimm, released in 2004 on Grimm's own Day By Day Entertainment label.[2] Unlike their previous works, this CD is solely focused on MF Grimm's rhyming over MF Doom's production.[2] The first ingredient of each song title is a reference to the corresponding track from Doom's Special Herbs series of instrumental albums. The tracks on the album were composed as freestyles by MF Grimm with many being written on the spot prior to recording. This reflects Grimm's past as a prolific and decorated battle rapper. Due to the duo's falling out after the release of this album, it is the last record to be released collaboratively.
The album was released prior to and in promotion of MF Grimm's triple-album American Hunger.[2] The last track, "My Love" was originally slated to be released on American Hunger, but was removed and replaced with the track "Still My Love" due to MF Grimm's beef with MF Doom.
Track listing
CD release
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" (performed by Fat Man Scoop) | 2:18 |
| 2. | "Arabic Gum + Ajowan = No Snakes Alive Pt. 3" | 2:56 |
| 3. | "Calamus + Star Anise = Superhero" | 2:31 |
| 4. | "Dragons Blood + Cayenne = 1000 Degrees" | 4:04 |
| 5. | "Dragons Blood Resin + Ginger = Warpaint" | 2:02 |
| 6. | "Benzoin Gum + Asafoetida = 10 Years Later" | 3:00 |
| 7. | "Red #40 + Wasabi = Bottle Rocket" | 3:55 |
| 8. | "Bergamot + Sumac = Rain Blood Pt. 2" | 3:27 |
| 9. | "Kava Kava Root + Poppy Seeds = Stress Box" | 3:24 |
| 10. | "Styrax Gum + Nutmeg = Tick Tick Pt. 2" | 3:30 |
| 11. | "Mugwort + Cinnamon = Shifting Lanes" (featuring Kurious) | 2:57 |
| 12. | "Horehound + Sesame Seeds = Tonight's Show" (featuring Bashton the Invizabul Mang & Lord Smog of M.I.C.) | 3:10 |
| 13. | "Outro" (performed by Fat Man Scoop) | 0:57 |
| 14. | "My Love" (Bonus track) | 12:30 |
| Total length: | 50:42 | |
Vinyl release
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" (performed by Fat Man Scoop) | 2:18 |
| 2. | "Arabic Gum + Ajowan = No Snakes Allowed Pt. 3" | 2:56 |
| 3. | "Calamus + Star Anise = Superhero" | 2:31 |
| 4. | "Dragons Blood + Cayenne = 1000 Degrees" | 4:04 |
| 5. | "Dragons Blood Resin + Ginger = Warpaint" | 2:02 |
| 6. | "Benzoin Gum + Asafoetida = 10 Years Later" | 3:00 |
| 7. | "Red #40 + Wasabi = Bottle Rocket" | 3:55 |
| 8. | "Bergamot + Sumac = Rain Blood Pt. 2" | 3:27 |
| 9. | "Kava Kava Root + Poppy Seeds = Stress Box" | 3:24 |
| 10. | "Styrax Gum + Nutmeg = Tick Tick Pt. 2" | 3:30 |
| 11. | "Mugwort + Cinnamon = Shifting Lanes" (featuring Kurious) | 2:57 |
| 12. | "Horehound + Sesame Seeds = Tonight's Show" (featuring Bashton the Invizabul Mang & Lord Smog of M.I.C.) | 3:10 |
| 13. | "My Love" | 3:41 |
| 14. | "Summon All Monsters" | 3:50 |
| 15. | "Outro" (performed by Fat Man Scoop) | 0:57 |
| Total length: | 45:43 | |
Personnel
Credits adapter from album's liner notes.[5]
Personnel
- MF Doom – production
- MF Grimm – performances
- J Marty – engineering
- Percy Carey – executive producer
- Daniel Dumile – executive producer
- Azar Shahsavarani – executive producer
- DJ Fisher – executive producer[a]
Additional personnel
- tadah – artwork
- Za'tar – herbs & spices
Notes
- ^ DJ Fisher is only credited on the CD release of the album.
References
- ^ Whalley, Matt. Special Herbs + Spices Volume 1 at AllMusic. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d Hepburn, Peter. "MF Doom and MF Grimm: Special Herbs & Spices Vol. 1 | Records". cokemachineglow. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ Jones, Todd E. "MF DOOM & MF GRIMM - "Special Herbs & Spices" - Album Reviews - The Elements". Hip-Hop Elements. Archived from the original on 15 October 2004. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ Drake, David. "MF Doom / MF Grimm - Special Herbs and Spices Volume 1 - Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on 2 February 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ Special Herbs + Spices Volume 1 (liner notes). MF DOOM, MF Grimm. New York, New York: Day by Day Entertainment. 2004. DBD017.
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