MF DOOM – His Exit Was as Elusive and Iconic as his Masked Career

Daniel Dumile, the masked underground hip-hop emcee also known as MF DOOM (ALL CAPS), passed away on October 31, 2020. His passing wasn’t made public until two months later on December 31, 2020.

Throughout most of MF DOOM’s career he has eluded the public eye by donning his iconic ‘Doom’ mask. His obsession with comic books (specifically the Fantastic Four), inspired him to shape his MF DOOM persona and generate a cult-like underground following of fans. He had an extraordinary ability to write animated and enigmatic lyrics inspired by cartoons, sampled-beats and thin-air. 

Daniel Dumile was also a pioneering figure of early 90’s hip-hop. Along with his brother DJ Subroc, and Rodan (later replaced with Onyx the Birthstone Kid), they started the group KMD (A Positive Cause in a Much Damaged Society). At the time, Danile went by the stage name Zev Love X and was invited by MC Search of 3rd Bass fame, to be featured on the single “The Gas Face” from the 3rd Bass album The Cactus Album. The performance caught the attention of legendary A&R executive Dante Ross who signed KMD to a deal with Elektra Records.

KMD recorded two albums under their deal with Elektra. The first was the 1991 release Mr. Hood which featured the single “Who Me?” and an appearance from Brand Nubian. The second album was the 1993 recording of “Black Bastard.” Onyx left the group and DJ Subroc was tragically killed in a car accident before the release of the album. Elektra decided not to release the album not long after the accident. Daniel’s controversial ‘sambo hangman’ cover artwork proved to be too controversial for Elektra so they dropped the group. Zev Love X left the group and disappeared from the hip-hop scene before reemerging as MF DOOM.

MF DOOM shook the underground hip-hop scene with his 1999 debut Operation: Doomsday. This album featured production from his late brother DJ Subroc and original KMD member Rodan. It also featured production by rapper/producer Kurious and Bobbito (DJ Cucumber Slice). He released several studio and collaborative albums under MF Doom and his other monikers King Deedorah and Victor Vaughn. 

His most critically acclaimed release was the 2004 collaboration Madvilliany with producer Madlib. MF DOOM used a considerable amount of wordplay techniques that won the praise of several critics and peers.