Metal Fingers Presents: Special Herbs Vol 1 & 2

Long before hip-hop production became dominated by hyper-polished digital beats, Daniel Dumile, operating under his legendary producer moniker, Metal Fingers, constructed a blueprint for instrumental hip-hop that remains entirely unmatched. Special Herbs Vol. 1 & 2 compiles the opening chapters of his legendary, botanical-themed instrumental saga, serving as an essential masterclass in loop-finding and dust-caked sampling.

Originally released in the early 2000s, this collection strips away the iconic metal mask to train the spotlight entirely on DOOM’s genius behind the boards. The track list is an exquisite treasure trove of raw, soulful, and eccentric backdrops, built from obscure jazz fusion records, vintage cartoon soundtracks, and forgotten soul cuts. Familiar rhythms that laid the foundation for seminal tracks across the MF DOOM and KMD catalogue appear here in their purest form, renamed after exotic roots and flora.

From the warm, breezy nostalgia of 'Saffron' to the timeless, melancholic loop of 'Zatar', Special Herbs Vol. 1 & 2 is far more than a mere collection of throwaway beats. It is a cohesive, deeply atmospheric listening experience that stands alongside the finest instrumental works of J Dilla or Madlib. A foundational piece of vinyl for any serious hip-hop purist, crate-digger, or fan of left-field production.