MF Doom

MF Doom
Dumile performing in July 2011
Born
Dumile Daniel Thompson

(1971-07-13)July 13, 1971
London, England
DiedOctober 31, 2020(2020-10-31) (aged 49)
Leeds, England
Other names
  • Zev Love X
  • King Geedorah
  • Viktor Vaughn
  • Metal Fingers
  • Doom
  • Metal Face
RelativesDJ Subroc (brother)
Musical career
OriginLong Beach, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Discography
Years active
  • 1988–1993
  • 1997–2020
Labels
Formerly of
Websitegasdrawls.com
Signature
MF Doom

Daniel Dumile[a] (born Dumile Daniel Thompson; /ˈduːməleɪ/ DOO-mə-lay; July 13, 1971 – October 31, 2020), also known by his stage name MF Doom or simply Doom (both stylized in all caps), was a British-American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Noted for his intricate wordplay, signature metal mask, and "supervillain" stage persona, he became a major figure of underground hip hop and alternative hip hop in the 2000s.[2][3]

Born in London and raised in Long Beach, New York, Dumile began his career in 1988 as a member of the trio KMD, performing as Zev Love X. The group disbanded in 1993 after the death of member DJ Subroc, Dumile's brother. After a hiatus, Dumile reemerged in the late 1990s. He began performing at open mic events while wearing a metal mask resembling that of the Marvel Comics supervillain Doctor Doom, 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.

During Dumile's most prolific period, the early to mid-2000s, he released the acclaimed Mm..Food (2004) as MF Doom, as well as albums released under the pseudonyms King Geedorah and Viktor Vaughn. Madvillainy (2004), recorded with the producer Madlib under the name Madvillain, is often cited as Dumile's magnum opus and is regarded as a landmark album in hip hop.[4] Madvillainy was followed by another acclaimed collaboration, The Mouse and the Mask (2005), with the producer Danger Mouse, released under the name Danger Doom.

Though he lived most 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 (2009). He moved to London before settling in Leeds and worked mostly in collaboration with other artists during his final years, releasing albums with Jneiro Jarel (as JJ Doom), Bishop Nehru (NehruvianDoom), and Czarface (Czarface Meets Metal Face, and the posthumous Super What?). On Halloween 2020, he died in a Leeds hospital from angioedema following a reaction to a blood pressure medication. After his death, Variety described him as one of hip hop's "most celebrated, unpredictable and enigmatic figures".[5]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference yoo2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Weingarten, Christopher R. (January 12, 2021). "MF Doom Influenced Scores of Musicians. Hear 11 of Them". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 15, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference lester2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Strauss, Matthew (December 31, 2020). "MF DOOM Dead at 49". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 1, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  5. ^ Barker, Andrew; Moreau, Jordan (December 31, 2020). "Rapper MF Doom Dies at 49". Variety. Archived from the original on January 1, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.


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