Special Herbs, Vol. 4
Encyclopedia
Special Herbs, Vol. 4 is an album of instrumental works released by Daniel Dumile
under the Metal Fingers moniker, the fourth part of his Special Herbs series. Following the pattern set by previous installments of the series, each track is named for a herb
or similar flora
.
The album's title is slightly misleading, in that it is not an entirely new volume: the third installment in the Metal Fingers series, Special Herbs, Vol. 3
, appears again here as the first eight tracks of Vol. 4. For this reason, the album is also commonly known as Special Herbs, Vols. 3 & 4. The difference in record label
s on which the two albums were released explains this quirk, similar to the earlier inclusion of Vol. 1
as the first part of Vol. 2
.
Daniel Dumile
Daniel Dumile is a hip hop artist who has taken on several stage names in his career, most notably MF DOOM, where the "MF" stands for metal face, and for tracks he has produced, metal fingers...
under the Metal Fingers moniker, the fourth part of his Special Herbs series. Following the pattern set by previous installments of the series, each track is named for a herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
or similar flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
.
The album's title is slightly misleading, in that it is not an entirely new volume: the third installment in the Metal Fingers series, Special Herbs, Vol. 3
Special Herbs, Vol. 3
Special Herbs, Vol. 3 is an album of instrumental works released by Daniel Dumile under the Metal Fingers moniker, the third release in his Special Herbs series...
, appears again here as the first eight tracks of Vol. 4. For this reason, the album is also commonly known as Special Herbs, Vols. 3 & 4. The difference in record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
s on which the two albums were released explains this quirk, similar to the earlier inclusion of Vol. 1
Special Herbs, Vol. 1
Special Herbs, Vol. 1 is the first album in the Special Herbs series of instrumental works released by Daniel Dumile under the Metal Fingers moniker on various independent hip hop labels...
as the first part of Vol. 2
Special Herbs, Vol. 2
Special Herbs, Vol. 2 is the second album in the Special Herbs series of instrumental works released by Daniel Dumile under the Metal Fingers moniker...
.
Track listing
- "AgrimonyAgrimonyAgrimonia, commonly known as Agrimony, is a genus of 12-15 species of perennial herbaceous flowering plants in the family Rosaceae, native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with one species also in Africa...
" – 2:06- Produced by Metal FingersDaniel DumileDaniel Dumile is a hip hop artist who has taken on several stage names in his career, most notably MF DOOM, where the "MF" stands for metal face, and for tracks he has produced, metal fingers...
- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "Arabic GumGum arabic220px|thumb|right|Acacia gumGum arabic, also known as acacia gum, chaar gund, char goond, or meska, is a natural gum made of hardened sap taken from two species of the acacia tree; Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal...
" – 2:50- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "Benzoin GumBenzoin resinBenzoin resin or styrax resin is a balsamic resin obtained from the bark of several species of trees in the genus Styrax. It is used in perfumes, some kinds of incense, as a flavoring, and medicine . Its principal component is benzoic acid...
" – 2:47- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "Bergamot WildMonardaMonarda is a genus consisting of roughly 16 species of erect, herbaceous, annual or perennial plants in the family Lamiaceae. The genus is endemic to North America. Ranging in height from 1 to 3 feet , the plants have an equal spread, with slender and long-tapering leaves...
" – 3:25- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "Calamus Root" – 3:49
- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "Dragon's Blood ResinDragon's bloodDragon's blood is a bright red resin that is obtained from different species of a number of distinct plant genera: Croton, Dracaena, Daemonorops, Calamus rotang and Pterocarpus. The red resin was used in ancient times as varnish, medicine, incense, and dye...
" – 3:38- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "Elder BlossomsElderberrySambucus is a genus of between 5 and 30 species of shrubs or small trees in the moschatel family, Adoxaceae. It was formerly placed in the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, but was reclassified due to genetic evidence...
" – 2:46- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "Styrax GumStoraxStorax is also a name for trees in the genus StyraxStorax is the resinous exudate of the tree Liquidambar orientalis , occasionally used in incense or as an aromatic fixative in perfumery....
" – 2:32- Produced by Metal Fingers
- Contains a sample from "Princess Gika" by Galt MacDermotGalt MacDermotGalt MacDermot is a Canadian composer, pianist and writer of musical theatre. He won a Grammy Award for the song African Waltz in 1960. His most successful musicals have been Hair and Two Gentlemen of Verona...
, from the album Woman is Sweeter.
- "Blood RootBloodrootBloodroot is a perennial, herbaceous flowering plant native to eastern North America from Nova Scotia, Canada southward to Florida, United States...
" – 3:00- Produced by Metal Fingers
- Contains a sample from "For Love (I Come Your Friend)" by George DukeGeorge DukeGeorge Duke is a multi-faceted American musician, known as a keyboard pioneer, composer, singer and producer in both jazz and popular mainstream musical genres. He has worked with numerous acclaimed artists as arranger, music director, writer and co-writer, record producer and professor of music...
, from the album The Aura Will Prevail.
- "Star AnisStar aniseIllicium verum, commonly called Star anise, star aniseed, or Chinese star anise, is a spice that closely resembles anise in flavor, obtained from the star-shaped pericarp of Illicium verum, a small native evergreen tree of northeast Vietnam and southwest China...
" – 3:28- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "Lemon GrassCymbopogonCymbopogon is a genus of about 55 species of grasses, native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the Old World and Oceania. It is a tall perennial grass...
" – 4:21- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "Four Thieves VinegarFour Thieves VinegarFour Thieves Vinegar is a concoction of vinegar infused with herbs, spices or garlic that was believed to protect users from the plague...
" – 3:34- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "GalangalGalangalGalangal is a rhizome of plants of the genus Alpinia or Kaempferia in the ginger family Zingiberaceae, with culinary and medicinal uses originated from Indonesia...
Root" – 2:33- Produced by Metal Fingers
- Contains a sample from "Walk on By" by Isaac HayesIsaac HayesIsaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American songwriter, musician, singer and actor. Hayes was one of the creative influences behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the...
, from the album Hot Buttered SoulHot Buttered SoulHot Buttered Soul was Isaac Hayes' second studio album. Released in 1969, it is recognized as a landmark in soul music.-Album history:The album almost never came to be...
.
- "SpikenardSpikenardSpikenard is a flowering plant of the Valerian family that grows in the Himalayas of China, also found growing in the northern region of India and Nepal. The plant grows to about 1 m in height and has pink, bell-shaped flowers...
" – 3:33- Produced by Metal Fingers
- Contains a sample from "Ain't No Price on Happiness" by The SpinnersThe Spinners (U.S. band)The Spinners is a soul music vocal group, active for over 50 years, and with a long run of pop and R&B hits especially during the 1970s. The group, originating from Detroit, still tours regularly ....
, from the album Mighty LoveMighty Love-Personnel:*Billy Henderson, Bobby Smith, Philippé Wynne, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson – vocals*Linda Creed, Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Evette Benton – backing vocals*MFSB – instrumentation-Charts:AlbumSingles...
.
- "CinquefoilPotentillaPotentilla is the genus of typical cinquefoils, containing about 500 species of annual, biennial and perennial herbs in the rose family Rosaceae. They are generally Holarctic in distribution, though some may even be found in montane biomes of the New Guinea Highlands...
" – 2:59- Produced by Metal Fingers
- Contains sound effects from the Video Game, Doom.
- "HyssopHyssopHyssop is a genus of about 10-12 species of herbaceous or semi-woody plants in the family Lamiaceae, native from the east Mediterranean to central Asia. They are aromatic, with erect branched stems up to 60 cm long covered with fine hairs at the tips. The leaves are narrow oblong, 2–5 cm...
" – 3:33- Produced by Metal Fingers
Other versions
- "Arabic Gum" is an instrumental version of "No Snakes Alive Pt. 3" by MF Grimm, from the collaboration EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
with MF DOOM, the MF EPMF EPMF EP is a split EP released by New York rappers MF DOOM and MF Grimm in 2000 .-Track listing:# "Doomsday" #* Performed by MF DOOM#* Produced by Mister Jason#* Scratches by DJ Fakts One#* Recorded and Mixed by Papa D!...
. It is also used on an updated version, "No Snakes Alive", by King Geedorah featuring MF Grimm and Rodan, from the album Take Me to Your LeaderTake Me to Your Leader (King Geedorah album)Take Me to Your Leader is the first full-length album released by Daniel Dumile under the alias 'King Geedorah'. Regarding the album, Dumile says,...
. - "Benzoin Gum" is an instrumental version of "Krazy World" by King Geedorah featuring Gigan, from the same album.
- "Bergamot Wild" is an instrumental version of "Rain Blood" by MF Grimm featuring Megalon, from the album The Downfall of Ibliys: A Ghetto OperaThe Downfall of Ibliys: A Ghetto OperaThe Downfall Of Ibliys: A Ghetto Opera is the full-length debut album by Manhattan, New York rapper MF Grimm, released on January 12, 2002 on his own independent label Day By Day Entertainment....
. It is also used on "Rain Blood Pt. 2" by MF Grimm, from the album Special Herbs and Spices Volume 1Special Herbs and Spices Volume 1Special Herbs + Spices Vol. 1 is the third collaboration album released between American rappers MF DOOM and MF Grimm, released in 2004 on Grimm's own Day By Day Entertainment label. Unlike their previous works, this CD is solely focused on MF Grimm's rhyming over MF DOOM's production...
. - "Galangal Root" is an instrumental version of "Dead Bent" by MF DOOM, from Operation: Doomsday. It is also used on "Superhero" by MF Grimm, from Special Herbs and Spices Volume 1.
- "Dragon's Blood Resin" is an instrumental version of "Popcorn" by KMDKMDKMD was an American hip hop trio in the early 1990s, best known for launching the career of acclaimed rapper and producer MF DOOM, who at the time was known as Zev Love X. Other members of the group were Rodan and DJ Subroc–Zev Love X's younger brother...
, from the Black Bastards Ruffs & Rares EP. - "Elder Blossoms" is an instrumental version of "Sumpthin's Gotta Give" by Prophetix, from the album High Risk.
- "Hyssop" is an instrumental version of "The Final Hour" by King Geedorah featuring MF DOOM, from Take Me to Your Leader. It is also used on "Tick Tick Pt. 2" by MF Grimm, from Special Herbs and Spices Volume 1.
- ""Styrax Gum" is an instrumental version of "That's That" by DOOM, from BORN LIKE THIS.
- "Star Anis" is an instrumental version of "Space Tech Banana Clip" by Babbletron, from the album Mechanical Royalty.
- "Lemon Grass" is an instrumental version of "Krazy World" by King Geedorah, from Take Me to Your Leader.
- "Four Thieves Vinegar" is an instrumental version of "Escape From Monsta Isle" by Rodan, Megalon, Kong, & Spiega, from the Monsta Island CzarsMonsta Island CzarsMonsta Island Czars is a hip-hop group based in New York City, New York, USA most notable for members MF Grimm and former member MF DOOM.-History:...
album Escape from Monsta Island!Escape from Monsta Island!Escape from Monsta Island! is the first full-length album released by the Monsta Island Czars, notably featuring Daniel Dumile under his King Geedorah/King Ghidra alias.This album is very highly regarded among underground hip-hop fans...
; and also on "Clipse of Doom" by Ghostface KillahGhostface KillahDennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success...
featuring Trife, from the album FishscaleFishscaleFishScale is the fifth studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, released March 28, 2006 on Def Jam in the United States. The album features guest appearances from every member of the Wu-Tang Clan, as well as Ghostface Killah's Theodore Unit...
. - "Blood Root" is an instrumental version of "I Hear Voices" by MF DOOM and MF GRIMM from I Hear Voices (12" LP)