Special Herbs, Vol. 4 is an album of instrumental works released by MF Doom 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 last eight tracks of Vol. 4. For this reason, the album is also commonly known as Special Herbs, Vols. 3 & 4. The difference in record labels 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.
"Blood Root" is an instrumental version of "I Hear Voices" by MF DOOM and MF GRIMM from I Hear Voices (12" LP)
"Star Anis" is an instrumental version of "No Snakes Alive Pt. 3" by MF Grimm, from the collaboration EP with MF DOOM, the MF EP. 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 Leader.
"Lemon Grass" is an instrumental version of "Krazy World" by King Geedorah, from Take Me to Your Leader. It is also used on "Benzoin Gum + Asafoetida = 10 Years Later" by MF Grimm, from Special Herbs + Spices Volume One'.
"Four Thieves Vinegar" is an instrumental version of "Rain Blood" by MF Grimm featuring Megalon, from the album The Downfall of Ibliys: A Ghetto Opera. It is also used on "Rain Blood Pt. 2" by MF Grimm, from the album Special Herbs + Spices Volume One; and also on "Clipse of Doom" by Ghostface Killah featuring Trife, from the album Fishscale.
"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 + Spices Volume One.
"Hyssop" is an instrumental version of "The Final Hour" by King Geedorah featuring MF DOOM from the album Take Me to Your Leader. It is also used on the title track from the same album. It is also used on "Tick Tick Pt. 2" by MF Grimm, from Special Herbs + Spices Volume One.
"Arabic Gum" is an instrumental version of "Space Tech Banana Clip" by Babbletron, from the album Mechanical Royalty.
"Calamus Root" is an instrumental version of "Gas Drawls" by MF DOOM, from Operation: Doomsday.
"Dragon's Blood Resin" is an instrumental version of "Go With the Flow" by MF DOOM, from Operation: Doomsday.
"Elder Blossoms" is an instrumental version of "Sumpthin's Gotta Give" by Prophetix, from the album High Risk. It is also used on "Crazy Music" by John Robinson featuring Invizible Handz from the album Who Is This Man?.
"Styrax Gum" is an instrumental version of "That's That'" by DOOM, from Born Like This.