Operation: Doomsday is the debut studio album by rapper MF DOOM, released through Fondle 'Em Records on 19 October 1999 and reissued by Sub Verse Records in 2001 with a slightly altered track listing. It was his first solo release under the MF DOOM moniker after previously performing as Zev Love X in the group KMD. Operation: Doomsday is regarded as one of the most influential albums in independent hip-hop history. A deluxe remastered version of the album was released by Doom's own Metal Face Records on 24 October 2011. Background Following his debut in the late-1980s, Daniel Dumile, then known as Zev Love X, suffered a series of unfortunate setbacks, including the death of his brother and fellow KMD member DJ Subroc and the subsequent abandonment of the group's second studio album Black Bastards by Elektra Records due to its political message and cover art. After the untimely death of his brother and the disbanding of KMD in 1993, Zev Love X left the hip-hop community and would suffer years of homelessness and despair. In 1997 he would re-emerge as MF DOOM, covering his face at shows and releasing singles on Bobbito Garcia's label Fondle 'Em Records. The three singles released generated enough buzz for Garcia to agree to sign Doom for an album. Recording and production Operation: Doomsday was produced by Daniel Dumile himself and recorded under his new name MF Doom, also known as Metal Face Doom. The recording draws most of its character from lo-fi production values, retaining minor flaws and imperfections. MF Doom self-produced his solo album through the use of low-fidelity bedroom production in addition to low-budget audio mixing techniques. His eccentric record production maintains a left-field finish, often invoking mid-1980s quiet storm. He incorporated a variety of musical styles onto the album, featuring an at times abstract mixture of 1980s soul and smooth jazz loops with vintage drum breaks. Doom's usage of smooth jazz loops served to alleviate muffled recording sounds while integrating cartoon samples and snippets. For the most part, MF Doom included minimal percussion to complement his musical selections, often rapping over their original musical backdrops. Music and lyrics As an underground rap album, Operation: Doomsday is a lo-fi recording, with MF Doom producing bedroom electro. Despite being an earthly work born from tragedy, it revisits the cartoon pleasure of late-1980s hip-hop. The debut album features dense rhyme schemes over tracks