Rapper MF DOOM, real name Daniel Dumile, has died at the age of 49. MF DOOM’s death was confirmed via a post on the rapper’s social media accounts on December 31st. The note from his wife included in the post, however, ends with “transitioned October 31, 2020,” indicating that Dumile died two months ago and his passing is only now being publicized. A cause of death was not revealed. Read the full note on the death of MF DOOM from his wife, Jasmine, below:
Begin all things by giving thanks to THE ALL!
To Dumile
The greatest husband, father, teacher, student, business partner, lover and friend I could ever ask for. Thank you for all the things you have shown, taught and given to me, our children and our family. Thank you for teaching me how to forgive beings and give another chance, not to be so quick to judge and write off. Thank you for showing how not to be afraid to love and be the best person I could ever be. My world will never be the same without you. Words will never express what you and Malachi mean to me, I love both and adore you always. May THE ALL continue to bless you, our family and the planet.
All my Love
Jasmine
Transitioned October 31,2020
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While he never attained much in the way of commercial success, MF DOOM was universally admired among hip-hop fans and artists alike. His rhymes, cadences, and flows consistently challenged established artistic structures, and his enigmatic imagery never failed to twist the nature of reality into question. Committed to an aura of mystery and character study on every level, MF DOOM was known for performing in a metal mask a la Marvel’s Dr. Doom and adopting a variety of monikers over the course of his career, from MF DOOM to Viktor Vaughn to King Geedorah to Zev Love X.
De La Soul ft. MF DOOM – “Rock Co Kane Flow”
[Video: pooninaki]
Even beyond the names, DOOM was a shape-shifter, embodying the unique milieu of each project. On his 2005 collaborative album with Danger Mouse, DANGERDOOM, he leaned into the project’s cartoonish nature with Adult Swim audio clips and general frivolity like the tongue-in-cheek “Sofa King”. On Madvillainy, an album by Dumile and Madlib, he adopted the “Madvillain” persona, crafting dense, complex tracks like “Accordion” and “All Caps” from that villainous perspective. With DOOMSTARKS, his collaborative project with Wu-Tang Clan rapper Ghostface Killah, DOOM tested his villainous flow against the Staten Island Shaolin style. On 2004’s Mm..Food, he crafted an acclaimed album based entirely on food metaphors and imagery, without ever dipping into needless parody. The list goes on…
DOOM was known for making mysterious decisions off the mic, as well. He intentionally created storms of questions on various occasions by sending stand-ins to perform in his place at his shows, using the relative anonymity afforded by the mask to his advantage.
Related: MF DOOM, BADBADNOTGOOD Collaborate On “The Chocolate Conquistadors” [Listen]
Rest in peace to one of the best, most intriguing MCs to ever pick up a mic. Just remember, ALL CAPS when you spell the man name.
Madvillain (MF DOOM and Madlib) – “All Caps”