The Hip Hop community received some shocking news on Thursday (December 31) when MF DOOM’s wife Jasmine revealed the legendary rapper has died. While the London-born MC actually passed away on October 31, his family presumably chose to keep it under wraps due to the sensitive nature of the situation.
Naturally, people are skeptical about the authenticity of the announcement considering it wouldn’t be too off brand for DOOM to pull an outrageous stunt like this. But sources close to the Rhymesayers Entertainment camp assure HipHopDX there’s nothing fake about his death.
Born Daniel Dumile on January 9, 1971 in London, DOOM moved to Long Island, New York as a child. It was there he discovered his love for Hip Hop and embarked on a path to lyrical greatness. In 1988, he formed KMD as Zev Love X with his younger brother DJ Subroc and another MC called Rodan.
After hearing about the group from 3rd Bass, A&R Dante Ross signed KMD to Elektra Records and their recording debut arrived on the 1989 3rd Bass song “The Gas Face” from The Cactus Album. Their inaugural album Mr. Hood was released in 1991 and attained modest success with the singles “Peachfuzz” and “Who Me?”
But tragedy struck in 1993 as they were plotting the release of their sophomore album Black Bastards. While attempting to cross the Nassau Expressway, Subroc was struck by a car and killed and that same week, KMD was dropped from the label.
MF DOOM Has Died — Cause Currently Unknown
That’s when DOOM took his career into his own hands and reinvented himself in the same vein as the Marvel Comics super villain Doctor Doom. In 1999, he reemerged with the underground Hip Hop classic Operation: Doomsday and followed up with Take Me To Your Leader in 2003.
Mm..Food, released in 2004, is often heralded as some of his best work with songs such as the Whodini-heavy “Deep Fried Frenz” and J.J. Fad-sampling “Hoe Cakes” leading the way. The project peaked at No. 17 on Billboard’s Independent Albums chart and No.9 on Heatseekers Albums chart.
DOOM also released a small arsenal of collaborative projects, including 2004’s Madvillainy album with Madlib, 2005’s The Mouse & The Mask with Danger Mouse, 2014’s NehruvianDoom with Bishop Nehru and 2018’s Czarface Meets MetalFace with Czarface.
In 2017, DOOM dropped the first KMD single in 24 years, “True Lightyears,” and revealed another full-length project under the KMD moniker titled Crack In Time was on its way, but it has yet to come to fruition.
Earlier this month, the company behind Grand Theft Auto V, Rockstar Games, updated its playlists and included FlyLo FM, the fictional station programmed by Los Angeles-based producer Flying Lotus. The new mix included a track called “Lunch Break” featuring DOOM, bass virtuoso Thundercat and Austrian composer Dorian Concept.
Hip Hop is coming out in droves on Twitter to express their condolences. From fellow Rhymesayers artists Atmosphere, Blueprint and Evidence to Q-Tip, Thundercat and Tyler, The Creator, the news of DOOM’s death effortlessly illustrates the astronomical impact he had on the culture. RIP DOOM.
RIP to a motherfucking legend…damn
He’s always been reclusive, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it “wouldn’t be off brand” for him to fake his death. I’m hurt though, I always thought he would eventually have a year where he dropped like 4 projects to make up for lost time.
I am 57 and still play his music daily, Yesterday I made rap snitches my ringtone he was my favorite artist since 2000, my condolences to his family. This is a tough one. 2020 has been one for the ages to start by losing Kobe everyone in between and ending with DOOM shit is surreal
Being more of a 90s head than 00s head, KMD was a dope group, slept on and waaaaaay ahead of their time. If they came out today where everyone and they mama is woke, they would have been big. RIP
So Sad to hear.
Been waiting forever for the Doom/Ghostface album and now we will never get it..
And no new Madvillain album either..
not off brand to fake death? what a terrible thing to write in an an obituary. doom was the greatest MC in the last 20 years.
As great as he was. I think nearly half of his shows were done by imposters… So… In the very first seconds i honestly hoped, he was just playing around again…
Trust me I still think the villain did a villainous thing by faking his death. At this very moment I don’t believe he’s dead
Alway brought something different while everyone did the same . Never forgot . Rip DOOM
Time for Dilla Vs. DOOM in heaven.. I’ll tune in
REST IN POWER M.F. DOOM AKA ZEV LOVE X I CAN’T BELIEVE IT ANUTHA LEGEND GONE REAL HIPHOPPAS WILL MISS U AND U UP IN HEAVEN WITH UR SON AND BROTHER SUBROC KMD IS FOREVER PEACE GOD
I just got my 13-year-old son into his music. I was shocked by this news. Definitely one of my favorite emcees.
did someone shoot him. maybe when the time comes all the famous dead will return to earth and we will no longer be poorer for it.