Daniel Dumile ( ; July 13, 1971
October 31, 2020), best known by his stage name MF Doom or simply Doom (both stylized in
all caps
In typography, all caps (short for "all capitals") refers to text or a font in which all letters are capital letters, for example: "THIS TEXT IS IN ALL CAPS". All caps may be used for emphasis (for a word or phrase). They are commonly seen in ...
), was a British-American rapper and record producer. Noted for his intricate wordplay, signature metal mask, and "
supervillain
A supervillain or supercriminal is a variant of the villainous stock character that is commonly found in American comic books, usually possessing superhuman abilities. A supervillain is the antithesis of a superhero.
Supervillains are oft ...
" stage persona, Dumile became a major figure of
underground hip hop and
alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop (also known as alternative rap) is a subgenre of hip hop music that encompasses a wide range of styles that are not typically identified as mainstream. AllMusic defines it as comprising " hip hop groups that refuse to confor ...
in the 2000s.
[ After his death, '']Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' described him as one of the scene's "most celebrated, unpredictable and enigmatic figures".
Born in London, Dumile moved to Long Island, New York
Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United States and the 18th ...
, at a young age. He began his career in 1988 as a member of KMD
KMD ('' K.M.D.'', ''Kausing Much Damage'', or ''A Positive Kause in a Much Damaged Society'') was an American hip hop trio active in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The core of the group was composed of brothers Daniel "Zev Love X" Dumile an ...
, performing as Zev Love X. The group disbanded in 1993 upon the death of member DJ Subroc
Dingilizwe Dumile (August 3, 1973 – April 23, 1993), known professionally as DJ Subroc, was an American hip-hop artist and a member of KMD and Constipated Monkeys.
Biography
Dumile was born on August 3, 1973 at Nassau County Medical Center in ...
, Dumile's brother. After a hiatus, Dumile reemerged in the late 1990s. He began performing at open mic
An open mic or open mike (shortened from "open microphone") is a live show at a venue such as a coffeehouse, nightclub, comedy club, strip club, or pub, usually taking place at night, in which audience members may perform on stage whether the ...
events while wearing a metal mask resembling that of Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
supervillain Doctor Doom
Doctor Victor Von Doom is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and first appeared in ''The Fantastic Four'' #5 in July 1962. The monarch of the fi ...
, who is depicted on the cover of his 1999 debut solo album '' Operation: Doomsday''. He adopted the MF Doom persona and rarely made unmasked public appearances thereafter.
Between 2003 and 2005, Dumile released four solo albums and three collaborative albums. In addition to the critically acclaimed '' Mm..Food'' (2004) under the MF Doom moniker, he released solo albums including one under the pseudonym King Geedorah and two as Viktor Vaughn. ''Madvillainy
''Madvillainy'' is the only studio album by American hip hop duo Madvillain, consisting of rapper MF Doom and producer Madlib. It was released on March 23, 2004, on Stones Throw Records.
The album was recorded between 2002 and 2004. Madlib cr ...
'' (2004), recorded with producer Madlib
Otis Jackson Jr. (born October 24, 1973), known professionally as Madlib, is an American DJ, music producer, multi-instrumentalist, and rapper. He is widely known for his collaborations with MF DOOM (as Madvillain), J Dilla (as Jaylib), ...
under the name Madvillain
Madvillain was an American hip hop duo consisting of two MCs and producers, MF Doom and Madlib. Their only album, ''Madvillainy'', earned critical acclaim and cult popularity, widely regarded as one of the greatest rap albums of all time and ...
, is often cited as Dumile's ''magnum opus
A masterpiece, ''magnum opus'' (), or ''chef-d’œuvre'' (; ; ) in modern use is a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or a work of outstanding creativity, ...
'' and is regarded as a landmark album in hip hop. In 2005, Dumile released ''The Mouse and the Mask
''The Mouse and the Mask'' is an album by Danger Doom, a collaboration between the hip hop artists Danger Mouse and MF Doom. It was released on October 11, 2005, by the independent punk label Epitaph Records in the United States. It was also r ...
'' with producer Danger Mouse as Danger Doom
DANGERDOOM was a hip hop project consisting of Danger Mouse and MF DOOM. Their first album, '' The Mouse and the Mask'', was released in 2005, and followed by the ''Occult Hymn'' EP in 2006.
Background
Danger Mouse and MF DOOM had previously co ...
.
Though he lived the majority of his life in the United States, Dumile never gained American citizenship. In 2010, he was denied reentry after returning from an international tour for his sixth and final solo album, ''Born Like This
''Born Like This'' (stylized in all caps) is the sixth and final solo studio album by British-American rapper/producer MF DOOM. It was released under the pseudonym "DOOM" on March 24, 2009 through Lex Records. It debuted at number 52 on the ''Bi ...
'' (2009). He relocated to London and, in his final years, worked mostly in collaboration with other artists, releasing albums with Jneiro Jarel
Omar Jarel Gilyard, known by his stage name Jneiro Jarel, is an American recording artist, music producer, composer and Disc Jockey, DJ. Recognized for his versatile, abstract, and often experimental style, he is also known for his beat-making ali ...
(as JJ Doom
JJ DOOM was an American alternative hip-hop duo composed of Jneiro Jarel and MF DOOM.
History
On 15 February 2012 the website ''Pitchfork'' ran an article stating that JJ DOOM's debut album would be called ''Key to the Kuffs'' and released via ...
), Bishop Nehru (''NehruvianDoom
''NehruvianDoom'' is the collaborative studio album by American hip hop duo NehruvianDoom which consists of MF DOOM and Bishop Nehru. The album was released on October 7, 2014, by Lex Records.
Background
In January 2014, during an interview ...
''), and Czarface
Czarface () is an American hip hop supergroup formed in 2013 by underground hip hop duo 7L & Esoteric and Wu-Tang Clan member Inspectah Deck. They released their acclaimed debut studio album, '' Czarface'', February 19, 2013.
The album was foll ...
('' Czarface Meets Metal Face'' and the posthumous '' Super What?'').
Early life
Dumile was born in Hounslow
Hounslow () is a large suburban district of West London, west-southwest of Charing Cross. It is the administrative centre of the London Borough of Hounslow, and is identified in the London Plan as one of the 12 metropolitan centres in Gr ...
, London, on July 13, 1971,[ the son of a ]Trinidadian
Trinidadians and Tobagonians, colloquially known as Trinis or Trinbagonians, are the people who are identified with the country of Trinidad and Tobago. The country is home to people of many different national, ethnic and religious origins. As a ...
mother and Zimbabwean
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Moza ...
father. He was the eldest of five children. According to Dumile, he was conceived in the United States, and happened to be born in London because his mother was visiting family. As a child, Dumile moved with his family to Long Island, New York
Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United States and the 18th ...
; he grew up in Long Beach, New York
Long Beach is an oceanfront Administrative divisions of New York#City, city in Nassau County, New York, Nassau County in New York (state), New York, United States. It takes up a central section of the Long Beach Barrier Island, which is the weste ...
. He said he had no memory of his London childhood and his parents had no affiliation with British culture. However, he remained a British citizen, never gaining American citizenship.
Dumile began DJing during the summer after third grade. As a child, he was a fan and collector of comic books and earned the nickname "Doom" (a phonetic play on the name Dumile) among friends and family.
Career
1988–1997: KMD, Subroc's death, and hiatus
As Zev Love X, Dumile formed the hip hop group KMD
KMD ('' K.M.D.'', ''Kausing Much Damage'', or ''A Positive Kause in a Much Damaged Society'') was an American hip hop trio active in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The core of the group was composed of brothers Daniel "Zev Love X" Dumile an ...
in 1988 with his younger brother DJ Subroc
Dingilizwe Dumile (August 3, 1973 – April 23, 1993), known professionally as DJ Subroc, was an American hip-hop artist and a member of KMD and Constipated Monkeys.
Biography
Dumile was born on August 3, 1973 at Nassau County Medical Center in ...
and Rodan, who was later replaced by Onyx the Birthstone Kid. A&R representative Dante Ross learned of KMD through the hip hop group 3rd Bass and signed them to Elektra Records
Elektra Records (or Elektra Entertainment) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk and rock music between the 1 ...
. Their recording debut came on 3rd Bass's song "The Gas Face" on ''The Cactus Album
''The Cactus Al/Bum'' (also known as ''The Cactus Cee/D'' and ''The Cactus Cas/Ette'' depending on release format) is the debut album by hip hop trio 3rd Bass, released on Def Jam Recordings on November 10, 1989. The album received positive rev ...
'', followed in 1991 by their debut album '' Mr. Hood''. Dumile performed the last verse on "The Gas Face"; according to Pete Nice
Peter J. Nash (born February 5, 1967), known by his stage name Prime Minister Pete Nice or simply Pete Nice, is an American baseball historian and author, member of the Society for American Baseball Research, Hip Hop historian, and former rapp ...
's verse on the track, Dumile created the phrase.
On April 23, 1993, just before the release of the second KMD album, ''Black Bastards
''Black Bastards'' is the second and final studio album by KMD (an American rap trio featuring an early alias of MF Doom), completed in 1993 and eventually released on May 15, 2000, through Readyrock Records. Initially, the album was scheduled fo ...
'', Subroc was struck by a car and killed while crossing the Long Island Expressway
Long may refer to:
Measurement
* Long, characteristic of something of great duration
* Long, characteristic of something of great length
* Longitude (abbreviation: long.), a geographic coordinate
* Longa (music), note value in early music mensur ...
. Dumile completed the album alone over the course of several months, and it was announced with a release date of May 3, 1994. KMD was dropped by Elektra and the album went unreleased due to its controversial cover art, which featured a cartoon of a stereotypical pickaninny
Pickaninny (also picaninny, piccaninny or pickinninie) is a pidgin word for a small child, possibly derived from the Portuguese ('boy, child, very small, tiny').
In North America, ''pickaninny'' is a racial slur for African American childr ...
or sambo
, aka = Sombo (in English-speaking countries)
, focus = Hybrid
, country = Soviet Union
, pioneers = Viktor Spiridonov, Vasili Oshchepkov, Anatoly Kharlampiev
, famous_pract = List of Practitioners
, oly ...
character being hanged.
After his brother's death, Dumile retreated from the hip hop scene from 1994 to 1997, living "damn near homeless, walking the streets of Manhattan
Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...
, sleeping on benches". In the late 1990s, he settled in Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
; he had moved to Georgia in the mid-90s. According to interviews with Dumile, he was "recovering from his wounds" and swearing revenge "against the industry that so badly deformed him". ''Black Bastards'' had been bootlegged by that time,[ but was not officially released until 2000.
]
1997–2001: ''Operation: Doomsday'' and production work
In 1997 or 1998, Dumile began freestyling incognito at open-mic
An open mic or open mike (shortened from "open microphone") is a live show at a venue such as a coffeehouse, nightclub, comedy club, strip club, or pub, usually taking place at night, in which audience members may perform on stage whether the ...
events at the Nuyorican Poets Café
The Nuyorican (Puerto Rican New Yorkers) Poets Cafe is a nonprofit organization in Alphabet City, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It is a bastion of the Nuyorican art movement in New York City, and has become a forum for poetry, music, hip ...
in Manhattan, obscuring his face by putting tights over his head. He turned this into a new identity, MF Doom, with a mask similar to that of Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
supervillain Doctor Doom
Doctor Victor Von Doom is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and first appeared in ''The Fantastic Four'' #5 in July 1962. The monarch of the fi ...
. He later used a mask based on the character Maximus from the 2000 film ''Gladiator
A gladiator ( la, gladiator, "swordsman", from , "sword") was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gla ...
''.
Bobbito Garcia
Robert "Bobbito" Garcia (born September 25, 1966), also known as DJ Cucumber Slice and Kool Bob Love, is an American DJ, author, streetball player, streetball coach, and member of the Rock Steady Crew. He is known as a former co-host of hip hop ...
's Fondle 'Em Records
Fondle 'Em Records was a hip hop record label founded and owned by Robert "Bobbito" Garcia from 1995 to 2001, based in New York, New York. Bobbito formed the label after realizing that the many unsigned rappers making guest appearances on ''Th ...
released '' Operation: Doomsday'', Dumile's first full-length LP as MF Doom, in 1999. Dumile's collaborators on ''Operation: Doomsday'' included fellow members of the Monsta Island Czars
Monsta Island Czars was a New York City hip-hop collective that was formed by MF Grimm and included MF DOOM among numerous other NYC MC's. Due to inactivity and DOOM's death in 2020, the group ceased activity.
History
The members of the group t ...
collective, for which each artist took on the persona of a monster from the ''Godzilla'' films. Dumile went by the alias "King Geedorah", a three-headed golden dragon space monster modeled after King Ghidorah
is a fictional monster, or ''kaiju'', which first appeared in Ishirō Honda's 1964 film ''Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster''. Although the name of the character is officially trademarked by Toho as "King Ghidorah", the character was originall ...
. The album's productions sampled cartoons including ''Fantastic Four''.[ ]Jon Caramanica
Jon Caramanica (born 1975) is an American journalist and pop music critic who writes for ''The New York Times''. He is also known for writing about hip hop music.
Biography
Born in Brooklyn, New York (state), New York, Caramanica received his ba ...
, in a review of ''Operation: Doomsday'' for '' Spin'', emphasized the contrast between Dumile's flow as Zev Love X in KMD and his revised approach as a solo artist: "Doom's flow is muddy, nowhere near the sprightly rhymes of KMD's early days, and his thought process is haphazard." Caramanica revisited ''Operation: Doomsday'' in ''The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' in 2021, calling it "one of the most idiosyncratic hip-hop albums of the 1990s, and one of the defining documents of the independent hip-hop explosion of that decade". Cyril Cordor, in a review for ''AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
'', described ''Operation: Doomsday'' as Dumile's "rawest" lyrical effort.
In 2001, Dumile began releasing his ''Special Herbs
British-American rapper and record producer Daniel Dumile, also known under several stage names, most notably MF DOOM, released six studio albums, two live albums, three compilation albums, 10 instrumental albums, seven collaborative albums ...
'' instrumentals series under the pseudonym Metal Fingers. In a review of a 2011 box set containing ten volumes of the ''Special Herbs'' series, ''Pitchfork'' observed that the instrumentals stand on their own without vocal tracks: "most of these tracks sound plenty 'finished' even in rhyme-less form".
2002–2004: King Geedorah, Viktor Vaughn, and ''Madvillainy''
In 2003, Dumile released the album '' Take Me to Your Leader'' under his King Geedorah moniker. In ''Pitchfork'', Mark Martelli described ''Take Me to Your Leader'' as close to a concept album
A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...
, noting how it lays out the "mythos" of the eponymous King Geedorah. Martelli praised the album, particularly tracks such as "One Smart Nigger" which, in his view, were superior to other artists' attempts at political hip hop
Political hip hop is a subgenre of hip hop music that was developed in the 1980s as a way of turning hip hop into a call for political and/or social action and a form of social and/or political activism. Inspired by 1970s political artists su ...
. ''Fact
A fact is a datum about one or more aspects of a circumstance, which, if accepted as true and proven true, allows a logical conclusion to be reached on a true–false evaluation. Standard reference works are often used to check facts. Scient ...
'', in a brief notice for a 2013 reissue
In the music industry, a reissue (also re-release, repackage or re-edition) is the release of an album or Single (music), single which has been released at least once before, sometimes with alterations or additions.
Reasons for reissue
New aud ...
of ''Take Me to Your Leader'', called it "arguably the most cinematic" of Dumile's albums from the turn of the 21st century.
Later in 2003, Dumile released the LP ''Vaudeville Villain
''Vaudeville Villain'' is the third studio album by British-American rapper-producer MF DOOM, released on September 16, 2003 under the pseudonym of Viktor Vaughn. All of the tracks are produced by Sound-Ink record label members Heat Sensor, King ...
'' under the moniker Viktor Vaughn (another play on Doctor Doom, who is also known as Victor von Doom). ''NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
'' described the Viktor Vaughn persona as "a time travelling street hustler". ''Pitchfork'' named ''Vaudeville Villain'' the week's best new album and highlighted its lyricism, writing that Dumile was one of the best writers in rap.
Dumile's breakthrough came in 2004 with the album ''Madvillainy
''Madvillainy'' is the only studio album by American hip hop duo Madvillain, consisting of rapper MF Doom and producer Madlib. It was released on March 23, 2004, on Stones Throw Records.
The album was recorded between 2002 and 2004. Madlib cr ...
'', created with producer Madlib
Otis Jackson Jr. (born October 24, 1973), known professionally as Madlib, is an American DJ, music producer, multi-instrumentalist, and rapper. He is widely known for his collaborations with MF DOOM (as Madvillain), J Dilla (as Jaylib), ...
under the group name Madvillain
Madvillain was an American hip hop duo consisting of two MCs and producers, MF Doom and Madlib. Their only album, ''Madvillainy'', earned critical acclaim and cult popularity, widely regarded as one of the greatest rap albums of all time and ...
. They recorded the album in a series of sessions over two years before a commercial release on March 23, 2004. ''Madvillainy'' was a critical and commercial success, and has since become known as Dumile's masterpiece.[
Also in 2004, Dumile released '' VV:2'', a follow-up LP under the Viktor Vaughn moniker. ]Nathan Rabin
Nathan Rabin (; born April 24, 1976) is an American film and music critic. Rabin was the first head writer for '' The A.V. Club'', a position he held until he left the ''Onion'' organization in 2013. noted in ''The A.V. Club
''The A.V. Club'' is an American online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was cre ...
'' that ''VV:2'', coming as it did after the commercial and critical success of ''Madvillainy'', represented an unusual career choice for Dumile whereby he went "deeper underground" instead of embracing wider fame.
Later in 2004, the second MF Doom album '' Mm..Food'' was released by Rhymesayers Entertainment
Rhymesayers Entertainment (sometimes abbreviated RSE) is an American independent hip-hop record label based in Minneapolis.
History
Rhymesayers Entertainment was co-founded in 1995 by Sean Daley (Slug), Anthony Davis (Ant), Musab Saad (Sab th ...
. ''Pitchfork'' gave the album a positive review. Nathan Rabin described it as a "crazy pastiche" but argued that it grew more coherent on repeated listening.
2005–2009: Danger Doom, ''Born Like This'', and Ghostface collaboration
Although still an independent artist, Dumile took a bigger step towards the mainstream in 2005 with ''The Mouse and the Mask
''The Mouse and the Mask'' is an album by Danger Doom, a collaboration between the hip hop artists Danger Mouse and MF Doom. It was released on October 11, 2005, by the independent punk label Epitaph Records in the United States. It was also r ...
'', a collaboration with producer DJ Danger Mouse
Brian Joseph Burton (born July 29, 1977), known professionally as Danger Mouse, is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He came to prominence in 2004 when he released ''The Grey Album'', which combined vocal performances from J ...
under the group name Danger Doom
DANGERDOOM was a hip hop project consisting of Danger Mouse and MF DOOM. Their first album, '' The Mouse and the Mask'', was released in 2005, and followed by the ''Occult Hymn'' EP in 2006.
Background
Danger Mouse and MF DOOM had previously co ...
. The album, released on October 11, 2005, by Epitaph
An epitaph (; ) is a short text honoring a deceased person. Strictly speaking, it refers to text that is inscribed on a tombstone or plaque, but it may also be used in a figurative sense. Some epitaphs are specified by the person themselves be ...
and Lex
Lex or LEX may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Lex'', a daily featured column in the ''Financial Times''
Games
* Lex, the mascot of the word-forming puzzle video game ''Bookworm''
* Lex, the protagonist of the word-forming puzzle video ga ...
, was developed in collaboration with Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network (often abbreviated as CN) is an American cable television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It is a part of The Cartoon Network, Inc., a division that also has the broadcasting and production activities of Boomerang, Car ...
's Adult Swim
Adult Swim (AS; stylized as dult swim
Dult is a village in Batala in Gurdaspur district of Punjab State, India. It is located from sub district headquarter, from district headquarter and from Sri Hargobindpur. The village is administrated by Sarpanch an elected representati ...
and often abbreviated as s is an American adult-oriented night-time cable television Television channel, channel that shares channel space with the basic cable network Cartoon Network and is programme ...
and featured voice actors and characters from its programs (mostly ''Aqua Teen Hunger Force
''Aqua Teen Hunger Force'' (also known by various alternative titles), sometimes abbreviated as ''ATHF'' or ''Aqua Teen'', is an American adult animated television series created by Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro for Cartoon Network's late ni ...
''). ''The Mouse and the Mask'' reached #41 on the ''Billboard'' 200. Critic Chris Vognar, discussing the role of comedy in hip hop, argued that "Doom and Danger exemplify an absurdist strain in recent independent hip-hop, a willingness to embrace the nerdy without a heavy cloak of irony". In the same year, Dumile appeared on the second Gorillaz
Gorillaz are an English virtual band formed in 1998 by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, from London. The band primarily consists of four fictional members: 2-D (vocals, keyboards), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar), Noodle (guitar, ...
album, ''Demon Days
''Demon Days'' is the second studio album by British virtual band Gorillaz. It was first released on 11 May 2005 in Japan and on 23 May 2005 in the United Kingdom by Parlophone and in the United States by Virgin Records. Produced by the band, ...
.''
Dumile produced tracks for both of Ghostface Killah
Dennis Coles (born May 9, 1970), better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and a member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of ''Enter the Wu-Tang (36 C ...
's 2006 albums ''Fishscale
''Fishscale'' is the fifth studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, released March 28, 2006, on Def Jam in the United States. The album features guest appearances from every member of the Wu-Tang Clan, as well as ...
'' and ''More Fish
''More Fish'' is the sixth studio album by rapper Ghostface Killah, released on December 12, 2006 through the Def Jam label. The album's name derives from Ghostface's earlier 2006 release, '' Fishscale''. The track "Good", featuring Ghostface's fe ...
''. In February 2013, Ghostface Killah said that he and Dumile were in the process of choosing tracks for a collaborative album. In 2015, Ghostface Killah announced that the album, ''Swift & Changeable'', would be released in 2016, and later posted promotional artwork for the collaboration. It remains unreleased.
Dumile's ''Born Like This
''Born Like This'' (stylized in all caps) is the sixth and final solo studio album by British-American rapper/producer MF DOOM. It was released under the pseudonym "DOOM" on March 24, 2009 through Lex Records. It debuted at number 52 on the ''Bi ...
'' was released on Lex Records on March 24, 2009. The album was Dumile's first solo album to chart in the US. In a largely favorable review for ''Pitchfork'', Nate Patrin cast the album as a return to form for Dumile, following a period of limited output. He observed that Dumile's lyrics and flow—"a focused rasp that's subtly grown slightly more ragged and intense"—were darker than on earlier records. He also highlighted the overtly homophobic "Batty Boyz", a diss track
A diss track, diss record or diss song (diss – abbr. from ''disrespect'') is a song whose primary purpose is to verbally attack someone else, usually another artist. Diss tracks are often the result of an existing, escalating feud between the ...
against unnamed rappers.[ Steve Yates, reviewing the album in ''The Guardian'', likewise saw ''Born Like This'' as hearkening back to Dumile's earlier output.] Yates felt it presented Dumile at "his scalpel-tongued, scatter-mouthed best".[ Both Patrin and Yates noted the influence of ]Charles Bukowski
Henry Charles Bukowski ( ; born Heinrich Karl Bukowski, ; August 16, 1920 – March 9, 1994) was a German-American poet, novelist, and short story writer. His writing was influenced by the social, cultural, and economic ambience of his adopted ...
on ''Born Like This'': the first line of Bukowski's poem "Dinosauria, We" gives the album its title.[
]
2010–2021: Move to London and later collaborations
In early 2010, Dumile released the EP '' Gazzillion Ear'' on Lex, a compilation of remixes of the track "Gazzillion Ear" from ''Born Like This'' that included a remix by Thom Yorke
Thomas Edward Yorke (born 7 October 1968) is an English musician and the main vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Radiohead. A multi-instrumentalist, he mainly plays guitar and keyboards and is noted for his falsetto. He has been describe ...
and two mixes by Jneiro Jarel
Omar Jarel Gilyard, known by his stage name Jneiro Jarel, is an American recording artist, music producer, composer and Disc Jockey, DJ. Recognized for his versatile, abstract, and often experimental style, he is also known for his beat-making ali ...
. A further remix by Madvillain featuring a voicemail message from Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
was released online. The EP coincided with Dumile's first performances outside North America. On March 5, 2010, Lex and Sónar
Sónar is a festival dedicated to music, creativity and technology, founded in Barcelona in 1994 by Ricard Robles, Enric Palau, and Sergi Caballero. The festival has been divided into two parts since its inception: Sónar by Day and Sónar b ...
presented the first Doom show in London, at the Roundhouse in Camden. ''Expektoration
''Expektoration'' is a 2010 live album by British-American rapper/producer MF Doom, featuring Big Benn Klingon. Recorded in New York, this performance was originally released as a DVD packaged with the 2007 expanded edition of '' Mm..Food''.
Cri ...
'', Dumile's second live album, was released on September 14, 2010, through Gold Dust. In a review of ''Expektoration'', ''Pitchfork'' noted that Dumile's vocal performance was considerably more energetic than on his recordings, which it characterized as "laidback" by comparison.
After completing his European tour, Dumile was refused entry into the United States. He settled in the UK in 2010. ''Key to the Kuffs
''Key to the Kuffs'' is a collaborative album by alternative hip hop artists Jneiro Jarel and MF DOOM under the moniker JJ Doom. It was released on Lex Records on August 20, 2012.
Recording
Jneiro Jarel produced the music in his studio in New ...
'', an album Dumile made in collaboration with producer Jneiro Jarel
Omar Jarel Gilyard, known by his stage name Jneiro Jarel, is an American recording artist, music producer, composer and Disc Jockey, DJ. Recognized for his versatile, abstract, and often experimental style, he is also known for his beat-making ali ...
as JJ Doom
JJ DOOM was an American alternative hip-hop duo composed of Jneiro Jarel and MF DOOM.
History
On 15 February 2012 the website ''Pitchfork'' ran an article stating that JJ DOOM's debut album would be called ''Key to the Kuffs'' and released via ...
, was released on August 20, 2012, and included guest features from Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn (; born 23 March 1968) is an English-Icelandic musician, singer-songwriter and composer, best known as the frontman and primary lyricist of the rock band Blur and as the co-creator and primary musical contributor of the virtual ...
, Beth Gibbons
Beth Gibbons (born 4 January 1965) is an English singer and songwriter. She is the singer and lyricist for the band Portishead, which has released three albums. She released an album with Rustin Man, '' Out of Season'', in 2002, followed by an ...
of Portishead, Khujo
Willie Edward Knighton Jr. (born March 13, 1972), better known as Khujo, is an American rapper. He is one-fourth of Goodie Mob (along with T-Mo, Cee-Lo, and Big Gipp), and one-half of The Lumberjacks (with T-Mo).
Life and career
Khujo was bo ...
Goodie of Goodie Mob
Goodie Mob is an American hip hop group based in Atlanta, Georgia, consisting of CeeLo Green, Khujo, T-Mo, and Big Gipp.
History
The group was formed in 1991 by Cameron " Big Gipp" Gipp, Willie "Khujo" Knighton Jr., CeeLo Green (born Thoma ...
and Dungeon Family
The Dungeon Family is a musical collective, based in Atlanta, Georgia that specializes in Southern hip hop with heavy funk and soul influences. The group derives its name from "The Dungeon", the name given to record producer Rico Wade's studio, ...
, and Boston Fielder. Reviews of ''Key to the Kuffs'' in ''Pitchfork'' and ''Fact
A fact is a datum about one or more aspects of a circumstance, which, if accepted as true and proven true, allows a logical conclusion to be reached on a true–false evaluation. Standard reference works are often used to check facts. Scient ...
'' emphasized its references to Dumile's "exile" in the United Kingdom, while ''Resident Advisor
''Resident Advisor'' (also known as ''RA'') is an online music magazine and community platform dedicated to showcasing electronic music, artists and events across the globe. It was established in 2001. ''RA''s editorial team provides news, musi ...
'' noted its play on Britishisms in tracks like "Guv'nor".
''NehruvianDoom
''NehruvianDoom'' is the collaborative studio album by American hip hop duo NehruvianDoom which consists of MF DOOM and Bishop Nehru. The album was released on October 7, 2014, by Lex Records.
Background
In January 2014, during an interview ...
'', Dumile's collaboration with rapper Bishop Nehru, was released on October 7, 2014. Dumile produced all the tracks on ''NehruvianDoom'', often using beats developed in the ''Special Herbs'' series; vocals are primarily Nehru's, with some contributions from Dumile. The album was Nehru's major label debut. Critics emphasized Nehru's comparative youth (he was still in his teens when the album was recorded) and the consequent limits to his artistic achievement on the album—especially given its brevity, at just over 30 minutes. Dumile's contributions were also seen as limited: ''Pitchfork'' wrote that he often seemed on "autopilot"; ''XXL'' suggested that neither he nor Nehru were able to "push the envelope".
In August 2017, Adult Swim announced a Doom compilation, ''The Missing Notebook Rhymes
''The Missing Notebook Rhymes'' is a compilation album partially released in 2017 by British-American rapper MF DOOM under the shortened alias "DOOM". The album was intended to be a 15-song compilation of rare or unreleased DOOM tracks that would ...
'', that would consist of songs from his upcoming projects and featured appearances on other artists' songs. The Adult Swim website was to release one new song per week over the course of 15 weeks. However, the arrangement was canceled in September after the release of only seven tracks.
In February 2018, Dumile and Czarface
Czarface () is an American hip hop supergroup formed in 2013 by underground hip hop duo 7L & Esoteric and Wu-Tang Clan member Inspectah Deck. They released their acclaimed debut studio album, '' Czarface'', February 19, 2013.
The album was foll ...
released "Nautical Depth", the first single from their collaborative album '' Czarface Meets Metal Face''. The album was released on March 30, 2018. In a lukewarm review for ''Pitchfork
A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves.
The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to th ...
'', Mehan Jayasuriya compared verses by Open Mike Eagle
Michael W. Eagle II (born November 14, 1980), better known by his stage name Open Mike Eagle, is an American hip hop artist and comedian. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, he is now based in Los Angeles, California, where he is a member of the h ...
favorably to Dumile's, but noted that Dumile's contribution to "Nautical Depth" exhibited his "once razor-sharp lyricism". Ben Beaumont-Thomas, in ''The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'', was more complimentary, noting Dumile's "stoner surrealism" in "Captain Crunch".
Aside from the album with Czarface, Dumile's musical output in the final three years of his life was limited to one-off guest appearances on other artists' tracks. Posthumous releases included appearances on two songs for the video game ''Grand Theft Auto Online
''Grand Theft Auto Online'' is an online multiplayer action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It was released on 1 October 2013 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, 18 November 2014 for PlayStation 4 and Xbo ...
'': "Lunch Break", with Flying Lotus
Steven Ellison (born October 7, 1983), known by his stage name Flying Lotus or sometimes FlyLo, is an American record producer, Disc jockey, DJ, filmmaker and rapper from Los Angeles. He is also the founder of the record label Brainfeeder.
Flyi ...
; and "The Chocolate Conquistadors", with BadBadNotGood
BadBadNotGood (stylized in all caps) is a Canadian instrumental band and production team from Toronto, Canada. The group was founded in 2010 by bassist Chester Hansen, keyboardist Matthew Tavares, and drummer Alexander Sowinski. In 2016, they w ...
, made for the game's content update ''The Cayo Perico Heist.'' Shortly after Dumile's death was announced, Flying Lotus revealed that they had been working on an EP. Having been completed in early 2020 but later delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
, Dumile's second collaborative album with Czarface and first posthumous release, '' Super What?'', was released in May 2021.
Style and artistry
Dumile's lyrics are known for wordplay
Word play or wordplay (also: play-on-words) is a literary technique and a form of wit in which words used become the main subject of the work, primarily for the purpose of intended effect or amusement. Examples of word play include puns, phon ...
. Bradley and DuBois, describing Dumile as "among the most enigmatic figures in hip-hop", wrote that Dumile's "raspy baritone weaves an intricate web of allusions drawn from comic books and metaphysics along with seeming nonsense and non sequiturs". According to an obituary in '' The Ringer'', his flow was "loose and conversational, but delivered with technical precision", and his use of rhyme and meter eclipsed that of Big Pun
Christopher Lee Rios (November 10, 1971 – February 7, 2000), better known by his stage name Big Pun (short for Big Punisher), was an American rapper. Emerging from the underground hip hop scene in the Bronx borough of New York City in the ea ...
and Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...
.
Dumile's production work frequently incorporated samples and quotations from film. A review of ''Special Herbs'' volumes 5 and 6 in ''CMJ New Music Monthly'' compared Dumile's beats to "soul jazz
Soul jazz or funky jazz is a subgenre of jazz that incorporates strong influences from hard bop, blues, soul, gospel and rhythm and blues. Soul jazz is often characterized by organ trios featuring the Hammond organ and small combos including ten ...
".
MF Doom persona
Dumile created the MF Doom character as an alter ego
An alter ego (Latin for "other I", " doppelgänger") means an alternate self, which is believed to be distinct from a person's normal or true original personality. Finding one's alter ego will require finding one's other self, one with a differen ...
with a backstory he could reference in his music. The character combines elements from the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
supervillain Doctor Doom
Doctor Victor Von Doom is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and first appeared in ''The Fantastic Four'' #5 in July 1962. The monarch of the fi ...
, Destro
Laird James McCullen Destro XXIV, usually referred to simply as Destro, is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books, and cartoon series. He is the leader of the Iron Grenadiers, and founder of M.A.R.S. ...
, and the Phantom of the Opera
''The Phantom of the Opera'' (french: Le Fantôme de l'Opéra) is a novel by French author Gaston Leroux. It was first published as a serial in from 23 September 1909 to 8 January 1910, and was released in volume form in late March 1910 by Pierr ...
; like Doctor Doom and Phantom, Dumile referred to himself in the third person while in character. His signature mask was similar to that of Doctor Doom, who is depicted rapping on the cover of Dumile's 1999 debut album '' Operation: Doomsday''.
Dumile wore the mask while performing, and would not be photographed without it, except for short glimpses in videos and in earlier photos with KMD. Later versions of the mask were based on a prop from the 2000 film ''Gladiator
A gladiator ( la, gladiator, "swordsman", from , "sword") was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gla ...
''. Academic Hershini Bhana Young argued that, by appropriating the Doctor Doom mask, Dumile "positions himself as enemy, not only of the music industry but also of dominant constructions of identity that relegate him as a black man to second-class citizenship".
Dumile sometimes sent stand-ins to perform in the mask, which he saw as a "logical extension" of the concept but angered audiences. Dumile initially claimed that he had lost weight and thus looked and sounded different. At a 2010 show in Toronto, an imposter was booed off stage before being replaced by Dumile. In an interview with ''The New Yorker
''The New Yorker'' is an American weekly magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. Founded as a weekly in 1925, the magazine is published 47 times annually, with five of these issues ...
'', Dumile described himself as the "writer and director" of the character and that he "might send a white dude next ... Whoever plays the character plays the character."
In November 2019, during his performance at the Adult Swim
Adult Swim (AS; stylized as dult swim
Dult is a village in Batala in Gurdaspur district of Punjab State, India. It is located from sub district headquarter, from district headquarter and from Sri Hargobindpur. The village is administrated by Sarpanch an elected representati ...
and often abbreviated as s is an American adult-oriented night-time cable television Television channel, channel that shares channel space with the basic cable network Cartoon Network and is programme ...
Festival, electronic artist Flying Lotus
Steven Ellison (born October 7, 1983), known by his stage name Flying Lotus or sometimes FlyLo, is an American record producer, Disc jockey, DJ, filmmaker and rapper from Los Angeles. He is also the founder of the record label Brainfeeder.
Flyi ...
announced that he would be joined onstage by Dumile; instead, the masked figure who appeared on stage was revealed to be comedian Hannibal Buress. Dumile's involvement in the prank has not been confirmed.
Legacy and influence
Dumile is considered one of the most celebrated and influential musicians in hip hop.[ The English musician ]Thom Yorke
Thomas Edward Yorke (born 7 October 1968) is an English musician and the main vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Radiohead. A multi-instrumentalist, he mainly plays guitar and keyboards and is noted for his falsetto. He has been describe ...
, who collaborated with Dumile on two occasions, wrote: "He was a massive inspiration to so many of us, changed things... For me the way he put words was often shocking in its genius, using stream of consciousness
In literary criticism, stream of consciousness is a narrative mode or method that attempts "to depict the multitudinous thoughts and feelings which pass through the mind" of a narrator. The term was coined by Daniel Oliver (physician), Daniel Ol ...
in a way I'd never heard before." ''Stereogum
''Stereogum'' is a daily Internet publication that focuses on music news, reviews, interviews, and commentary. The site was created in January 2002 by Scott Lapatine.
''Stereogum'' was one of the first MP3 blogs and has received several award ...
'', reviewing ''Operation: Doomsday'' on its 20th anniversary, noted Dumile's "formative" influence on younger rappers. El-P
Jaime Meline (born March 2, 1975), better known by the stage name El-P (shortened from his previous stage name El Producto), is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Starting his career as a member of Company Flow, he has been a ...
of Run the Jewels
Run the Jewels, also known by the initials RTJ, is an American hip hop super-duo composed of Brooklyn-based rapper and producer El-P and Atlanta-based rapper Killer Mike. They released their critically acclaimed self-titled debut studio album ...
described him as a "writer's writer", while Q-Tip called him "your favorite rapper's favorite rapper".
Personal life
Dumile's worldview was informed by Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
and the Afrocentrism
Afrocentrism is an approach to the study of world history that focuses on the history of people of recent African descent. It is in some respects a response to Eurocentric attitudes about African people and their historical contributions. It ...
espoused by African-American Muslims. His parents raised him and his brother as Muslims
Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abraha ...
in the Five-Percent Nation, a religious black nationalist movement influenced by Islam. Dumile's father taught him about pan-African
Pan-Africanism is a worldwide movement that aims to encourage and strengthen bonds of solidarity between all Indigenous and diaspora peoples of African ancestry. Based on a common goal dating back to the Atlantic slave trade, the movement ext ...
history, including historical figures such as Marcus Garvey
Marcus Mosiah Garvey Sr. (17 August 188710 June 1940) was a Jamaican political activist, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator. He was the founder and first President-General of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African ...
and Elijah Muhammad
Elijah Muhammad (born Elijah Robert Poole; October 7, 1897 – February 25, 1975) was an African American religious leader, black separatist, and self-proclaimed Messenger of Allah, who led the Nation of Islam (NOI) from 1934 until his deat ...
—lessons that he then strove to impart upon his peers. By the early 1990s, Dumile and the other members of KMD identified as a member of the Ansaar Allah Community, later known as the Nuwaubian Nation
The Nuwaubian Nation, Nuwaubian movement, or United Nuwaubian Nation () is an American new religious movement founded and led by Dwight York, also known as Malachi Z. York. York began founding several black Muslim groups in New York in 1967. H ...
. In their music, the members of KMD professed a religious message based on tenets of Nuwaubianism, which Dumile distinguished from Five-Percent beliefs in an early interview. In the music video for "Peachfuzz", Dumile and the other members of KMD wear kufi
A kufi or kufi cap is a brimless, short, and rounded cap worn by men in many populations in North Africa, East Africa, West Africa, and South Asia. It is also worn by men throughout the African diaspora. It is also commonly called a "topi" or ...
caps. By 2000, though he was no longer as strictly observant, Dumile still participated in Nuwaubian events such as the Savior's Day celebration at the Tama-Re
The Tama-Re compound in Putnam County, Georgia (a.k.a. "Kodesh", "Wahannee", "The Golden City", "Al Tamaha") was an Egyptian-themed set of buildings and monuments established in 1993 on 476 acres near Eatonton by the Nuwaubian Nation. This wa ...
compound in Georgia and held a positive opinion of the community.
Dumile was married to Jasmine Dumile for an unknown period until his death in October 2020. According to various sources, they had either two or three children, one of whom was a son called Malachi. Malachi died at the age of 14 from unspecified causes in late 2017, with Dumile paying tribute on social media:KING MALACHI EZEKIEL DUMILE 2/22/03 – 12/18/17 The greatest son one could ask for. Safe journey and may all our ancestors greet you with open arms. One of our greatest inspirations. ‘Thank you for allowing us to be your parents. Love you, Mali.
Dumile was refused re-entry to the United States in late 2010 after completing a European tour. Although he had lived in the country for most of his life, he never became a naturalized
Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-citizen of a country may acquire citizenship or nationality of that country. It may be done automatically by a statute, i.e., without any effort on the part of the in ...
citizen. He had previously avoided leaving the United States—it had only been his second international tour—but had acquired a British passport
A British passport is a travel document issued by the United Kingdom or other British dependencies and territories to individuals holding any form of British nationality. It grants the bearer international passage in accordance with visa requ ...
prior to the tour. He had believed he would be able to secure reentry based on his long-term residency and family connections. The denial of reentry forced Dumile apart from his wife and three children, and for nearly two years he saw them only via video calls or during their brief visits to the United Kingdom. He was reunited with his family when they moved to London in 2012. The same year, Dumile said he was "done with the United States". In December 2017, Dumile announced that his 14-year-old son, King Malachi Ezekiel Dumile, had died.
Death
On December 31, 2020, Dumile's wife announced on social media that he had died on October 31. His representative confirmed the death. The cause of death was not announced.
Many musicians made tributes to his work and his passing. President Joe Biden included Dumile's 2004 track "Coffin Nails" in his inauguration
In government and politics, inauguration is the process of swearing a person into office and thus making that person the incumbent. Such an inauguration commonly occurs through a formal ceremony or special event, which may also include an inaugu ...
playlist. The decision was criticized by some of Dumile’s fans, as Biden was part of the Obama administration
Barack Obama's tenure as the 44th president of the United States began with his first inauguration on January 20, 2009, and ended on January 20, 2017. A Democrat from Illinois, Obama took office following a decisive victory over Republican ...
, which had barred him from returning to the United States.
Selected discography
Solo albums
* '' Operation: Doomsday'' (1999)
* '' Take Me to Your Leader'' (2003)
* ''Vaudeville Villain
''Vaudeville Villain'' is the third studio album by British-American rapper-producer MF DOOM, released on September 16, 2003 under the pseudonym of Viktor Vaughn. All of the tracks are produced by Sound-Ink record label members Heat Sensor, King ...
'' (2003)
* '' VV:2'' (2004)
* '' Mm..Food'' (2004)
* ''Born Like This
''Born Like This'' (stylized in all caps) is the sixth and final solo studio album by British-American rapper/producer MF DOOM. It was released under the pseudonym "DOOM" on March 24, 2009 through Lex Records. It debuted at number 52 on the ''Bi ...
'' (2009)
Collaborative albums
* '' Mr. Hood'' (1991)
* ''Black Bastards
''Black Bastards'' is the second and final studio album by KMD (an American rap trio featuring an early alias of MF Doom), completed in 1993 and eventually released on May 15, 2000, through Readyrock Records. Initially, the album was scheduled fo ...
'' (2000)
* ''Madvillainy
''Madvillainy'' is the only studio album by American hip hop duo Madvillain, consisting of rapper MF Doom and producer Madlib. It was released on March 23, 2004, on Stones Throw Records.
The album was recorded between 2002 and 2004. Madlib cr ...
'' (2004)
* ''Special Herbs + Spices Volume 1
Special or specials may refer to:
Policing
* Specials, Ulster Special Constabulary, the Northern Ireland police force
* Specials, Special Constable, an auxiliary, volunteer, or temporary; police worker or police officer
Literature
* ''Specia ...
'' (2004)
* ''The Mouse and the Mask
''The Mouse and the Mask'' is an album by Danger Doom, a collaboration between the hip hop artists Danger Mouse and MF Doom. It was released on October 11, 2005, by the independent punk label Epitaph Records in the United States. It was also r ...
'' (2005)
* ''Key to the Kuffs
''Key to the Kuffs'' is a collaborative album by alternative hip hop artists Jneiro Jarel and MF DOOM under the moniker JJ Doom. It was released on Lex Records on August 20, 2012.
Recording
Jneiro Jarel produced the music in his studio in New ...
'' (2012)
* ''NehruvianDoom
''NehruvianDoom'' is the collaborative studio album by American hip hop duo NehruvianDoom which consists of MF DOOM and Bishop Nehru. The album was released on October 7, 2014, by Lex Records.
Background
In January 2014, during an interview ...
'' (2014)
* '' Czarface Meets Metal Face'' (2018)
* '' Super What?'' (2021)
Footnotes
References
Sources
*
*
*
*
*
*
Further reading
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
External links
*
*
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Doom, MF
1971 births
2020 deaths
20th-century American rappers
21st-century American rappers
20th-century English singers
20th-century American male singers
20th-century American singers
21st-century English singers
21st-century American male singers
21st-century American singers
African-American male rappers
African-American Muslims
American hip hop record producers
Black British male rappers
British hip hop record producers
East Coast hip hop musicians
English male rappers
English expatriates in the United States
English people of Trinidad and Tobago descent
English people of Zimbabwean descent
Five percenters
Lex Records artists
Illeists
Masked musicians
People from Long Beach, New York
Rappers from London
Record producers from New York (state)
Rhymesayers Entertainment artists
Underground rappers
21st-century African-American musicians
People from Hounslow
20th-century African-American male singers