On December 31st it was announced that legendary rapper MF DOOM had passed away. The death was confirmed by the artist’s wife Jasmine, who announced in an Instagram post that he had died on October 31st, according to BBC.
The late rapper was only 49 years old.
MF DOOM, whose real name was Daniel Dumile, was a major figure in the 2000s underground hip-hop scene. He was known for his signature metal mask, his intricate rhyme schemes, and the ‘supervillain’ stage persona which he cultivated.
The post, which was now garnered over a million likes, is addressed to the late rapper himself.
“The greatest husband, father, 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 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.”
Jasmine concluded the post with the statement: ‘Transitioned October 31, 2020.’
Since the announcement, numerous artists and celebrities have paid tribute to MF DOOM, including names such as Tyler the Creator, James Gunn, and former collaborator Busta Rhymes.
Dumile was born in London in 1971 but moved to Long Island, New York as a child. It was there that he started performing hip-hop under the stage name Zev Love X. He eventually formed the group KMD with his younger brother, releasing his well received debut album, ‘Mr. Hood,’ in 1991, according to CNN.
Unfortunately, while preparing for his sophomore album, Dumile’s brother tragically died in a car accident. The rapper re-emerged in 1999 as Metal Face Doom, a character modeled after the Marvel character Dr. Doom, and released his first solo record: “Operation: Doomsday.”
Since then, MF DOOM has continued to release music, producing six solo albums as well as a plethora of mixtapes, compilations, and instrumental albums. He has gone on to collaborate with names such as Ghostface Killah, Flying Lotus, The Avalanches, Gorillaz, and many others— according to BBC.
As of right now, both the cause of death and the reason for the delayed announcement are still unknown. Dumile has been taking a break from making music for the past couple of years, releasing very little since his 14 year old son passed away in 2017.
MF DOOM will be remembered as one of the most well respected MCs, and his influence in the industry will be long lasting. Q-Tip, a member of the group A Tribe Called Quest, paid tribute to the late rapper on New Years Eve, describing the industry giant as: “Your favorite MC’s MC.”
