Rating:
  Review Date: April 25, 2007
  Website: Domer Website
  Label: Skipping Beats Records

Domer “Work With Me” Album Review 
I recently read an interview in which the homie Domer claimed that his music is not hip-hop [1]. Initially, this confused me. I mean, his production, though unique and generally universal, is overwhelmingly hip-hop in rhythm and beat. And although he occasionally sings on his tracks, his lyrics are most often presented in rap form. To me, rapping over beats equals hip-hop … no matter what the direction or style.  

Embracing Existence
Therefore, I guess I just assumed that Domer refused to classify his music as hip-hop in order to prevent himself from being associated with society’s popular notion of hip-hop. You know … that bling-thug-gangster shit that is the cause of racism (Kramer), sexism (Imus), and the ineffectiveness of police to prevent crimes (Cam’Ron). And that makes sense to me, because very few hip-hoppers want to be associated with those bullshit stereotypes.

However, as I listened to Domer’s new album “Work With Me,” I started to think that maybe he has a bigger reason for rejecting his music’s hip-hop roots. Maybe he is simply dodging labels on an existentialist path to embracing his own existence. Sound weird? Maybe, but let me make my point motherfuckers. The album starts off with the following verse:

There is no God and I’m not concerned
I don’t see how we need him for lessons to get learned
My folks told me everything should be easy to burn
Just be careful with your bridges and always wait your turn
All respect goes to those earning what you get
Not as much to potluck kids who don’t stretch
But if you got a hustle, it’s as good as the next
So don’t sweat the laws cause they’re all made by men

This verse demonstrates both a direction toward atheism, as in “there is no God,” and a direction toward purposelessness, as in “but if you got a hustle, it’s as good as the next.” The combination of these two frames of thought almost instantly made me think of a philosophical statement that has always intrigued me: “Existence precedes essence.” This statement, which is based on the idea of existence without meaning, implies that while a person may exist, his or her existence does not mean anything at the beginning. Instead, the meaning or essence of existence is created only later. In short, this describes the belief that human existence has no inherent meaning, and that man essentially defines his own reality.

Existentialism in Hip-Hop
Now this proposition is central to a philosophical movement known as existentialism, in which human beings are understood as having full responsibility for creating the meanings of their own lives. Existentialists believe that we are thrown into existence without having chosen it, and that in order to counter the hopeless nothingness and purposelessness of life, one must find meaning solely by embracing existence in all its shitty monotonous uncertainty. From my interpretation, Domer does just this throughout the course of “Work With Me” by creating complex and often metaphoric songs that seem to comically and often-sarcastically showcase the insignificance of our everyday existence.

“Tacky Shoes” describes a person’s experiences with men and woman’s inability to effectively communicate in a social setting. “Whistler” is a cowboy-flavored loner’s anthem about coming to acceptance with being alone in this world. “Character” is a comical track about getting drunk and hollering at cuties on the dance floor. “Crying In The Office” tells the story of a man being too preoccupied with work to console an emotionally-distressed co-worker in a song that seems to perfectly personify human beings’ increasingly-distanced personal relationships. Ironically, my favorite song on the album, “Eden Goes Dark,” has a meaning that still escapes me, but seems to revolve around the idea that personal growth can cease when overwhelmed with the crazy occurrences of daily life.

“Just A Show” talks about the huge gap between how people really act, and how they may perceive themselves or act in public. “You and Me” talks about fighting with the opposite sex. “One Man’s Trash” contemplates the differences between people and their perceptions. “Fist in The Sand” describes the often-futile attempts at gaining acceptance and success. “What I’ve Been Thinking” pokes fun at the manner in which our thoughts flow and change with such consistency and so little meaning. “Raining Sweat” seems to be somewhat of an “everything is everything” hymn that presupposes little difference between the positive and the negative. And “Ain’t Seen Much” questions the significance and purpose of ordinary events and happenings in life.

To be honest with you dogg . I have no idea how close I came to interpreting any of these tracks. But I do know that Domer’s “Work With Me” is hella intellectual, hella introspective, hella philosophical and above all, hella genius. It seems to question the everyday experiences of life by embracing existence at it’s most basic and primal levels, and in the process pushes the idea, through comedy and sarcasm, that little if any of it has an underlying purpose or meaning.

I don’t know man . but maybe that’s why Domer refuses to classify his music as hip-hop even though that’s what it sounds like. After all, if existence does indeed precede essence, then meaning can only be inherent. And if some abstract idea of what hip-hop encompasses is just too small to contain Domer’s existence within it, then perhaps the only way he can embrace that existence and ultimately find meaning is to define his own reality by refusing to put a label on his music. Well, that shit makes sense to me. Or maybe you should listen to his exceptional album “Work With Me,” and figure it out for yourself. As you can tell from my ramblings, it will definitely make you think. Peace.