The Offhours #38: All the Zines (1)
Thoughts on design, art and living life while being a creative human.
Zines are some of my favorite things to put together. They encapsulate an idea/subject in a perfect package. I worry not of formality, and lean toward the expression it calls for. Over a few posts I will share some of my favorite zines I’ve created over the years and a few from artists I’ve collected.
‘One Beer’ Zine - MF DOOM
Eventually, Doom will be played by Robert Downey Jr. in the Marvel universe. Fitting, in a way—since the original comic version of Doctor Doom inspired rapper MF DOOM to don the metal mask and adopt a villainous rap persona. A true wordsmith and prankster, MF DOOM is one of my favorite underground artists. His creativity and ability to weave words into vivid, layered imagery is top-tier.
There aren’t many songs that immediately conjure clear visuals for me. Sure, plenty of tracks tell stories well, but some songs hit a specific spot in your brain—sparking curiosity. Not just an earworm, but something deeper and more lingering. MF DOOM's “One Beer” did exactly that. The track is sporadic in the best way, packed with ’90s NY references, battle rap bars, and lyrical flexing. All of it riding on a soulful, catchy beat that gives the song a gritty, fundamental hip-hop feel. By the way the song has explicit lyrics.
I had to bring it to life visually. At the time, I was really into lettering lyrics and phrases (as I’ve mentioned a few times), though I’d never tackled anything this long or involved before, but I had a process down as to how to make it happen.
“One Beer” became a deep dive into my hand-drawn lettering practice, eventually evolving into a 95-page black-and-white zine. I broke the song down bit by bit, studying the lyrics, pacing, and tiny details to represent it in a cohesive, visual way. As I immersed myself in the project, it became more than just an artistic challenge—it was a way to connect with the song on a deeper level. Each line of MF DOOM’s verses felt like a puzzle. Translating them visually let me explore the essence of his words from a new perspective.
What started as a simple creative outlet turned into a full-on exploration of the track’s nuances—capturing the energy, the cleverness of the lyrics, and the raw spirit of hip-hop. This zine was a turning point and taught me trust my creative instincts when a random idea and energy to make it happen starts flowing.
Next Up: Another song inspired zine “Keys Open Doors”
👋🏾 Hi, thanks for reading The Offhours, a newsletter on the creative experience outside of full time gigs, deadlines and self imposed schedules. You’re amazing, tell a friend. Stay Wonderful.
