Sudden Death of Daniel Dumile Rattles Hip Hop Community

On New Year’s Eve, just when it seemed like 2020 had no more gut punches to deliver, a sudden announcement rattled the hip hop community. British-American rapper Daniel Dumile, also known as MF DOOM, had passed away. DOOM will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the early 2000s’ best rappers, and as a unique artist unlike many others in the modern music industry.

DOOM was among the most respected lyricists of all time, and was an influential force in the underground hip hop scene. His solo career kicked off in 1999 with the release of Operation: Doomsday, on which he flaunted his skilled lyricism and quality production while establishing his persona as the masked supervillain MF DOOM. Using a variety of interludes and skits, Operation: Doomsday depicted DOOM as a mysterious and terrifying figure. For example, its first track featured dialogue about his plan to destroy every major city on Earth (when he said supervillain, he meant it). 2004’s MM...FOOD continued to build on the character while simultaneously cramming dozens of food-related lyrics into an impressive concept album. DOOM also released music under a variety of other names, like Viktor Vaughn, King Geedorah, and Danger DOOM (a collaboration with producer Danger Mouse). His most beloved release was 2004’s Madvillainy, released under the name Madvillain (a pseudonym for DOOM and producer Madlib). Madvillainy is regarded as one of the best hip hop albums of all time, due to its crisp instrumentals and DOOM’s staggering ability to string together clever rhymes. He consistently makes use of internal rhymes in his lyrics, resulting in a laundry list of incredibly impressive verses throughout his career.

“He wears a mask just to cover the raw flesh

A rather ugly brother with flows that’s gorgeous”

MF DOOM, Beef Rap (2004)

DOOM had an undeniable commitment to his role as a supervillain. He was almost exclusively seen wearing a metal mask inspired by the Marvel character Doctor Doom. Not many pictures of his face are easily accessed on the internet, and many of his fans swore off attempting to learn more about his personal life. He was a truly elusive figure, and rarely made public appearances. At times, DOOM even chose not to show up to his own performances, instead sending out masked imposters to perform his songs, much to fans’ dismay. But, performances were rare, especially after visa issues prevented him from returning to the United States. He was also uninterested in marketing himself on social media. For years, his Twitter page contained only one tweet, which read “DOOM IS NOT ON TWITTER.” His reclusive nature was no doubt a part of the MF DOOM character, but also may have been influenced by the tragedies he faced in his personal life. DOOM’s brother and fellow rapper DJ Subroc was killed in 1993, and his son passed away in 2017.

“On Doomsday, ever since the womb

‘Til I'm back where my brother went, that's what my tomb will say

Right above my government; Dumile

Either unmarked or engraved, hey, who's to say?”

MF DOOM, Doomsday (1999)

DOOM was truly one of a kind, and the air of mystery that surrounded him is emblematic of a bygone era of music. In the years before social media, when interaction between artists and fans was more difficult, someone like DOOM could maintain a low profile while still being recognized and beloved for his work. Nowadays, it is almost unthinkable that a prominent artist could have no social media presence, hide their appearance, go by a number of confusing alter egos, and still gain a sizable following. Many contemporary artists work tirelessly to communicate with fans and develop a favorable public image, while DOOM made an effort to remain as mysterious as he could. Nevertheless, this did not preclude him from gaining many enthusiastic fans. And, as evidenced by the outpouring of messages on social media that followed his death, DOOM influenced many. He was often referred to by fans online as “your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper.” To see DOOM’s influence, look no further than Tyler, the Creator and Earl Sweatshirt’s star-struck reactions when they first met him. Showcasing their admiration for DOOM, Tyler’s 2019 album IGOR was centered around his titular alter ego, while Earl has drawn comparisons with the glitchy lo-fi production on 2018’s Some Rap Songs and his complex internal rhyme schemes. With younger artists like Tyler, Earl, and others citing DOOM as a major influence in their careers, it is certain that his influence will be visible in hip hop for years to come.

“It's ugly, like look at you, it's a damn shame

Just remember all caps when you spell the man’s name”

Madvillain, All Caps (2004)

If you want to hear some of DOOM’s work, I would recommend these songs: Accordion - Madvillain, Doomsday - MF DOOM, Rapp Snitch Knishes - MF DOOM, Benzi Box - Danger DOOM, and November Has Come - Gorillaz ft. MF DOOM

Declan MurphyJanuary 17, 2021Comment