Jacqueline Lutz
On December 31, it was announced via social media that the rapper MF DOOM had died. The announcement was initially made on his Instagram page and stated that the rapper had died two months earlier on October 31, with causes still unannounced to the public. The rapper was 49 years old, with a wife and kids and a successful, yet somewhat underrated, career in the music industry.
Daniel Dumile had his start in the music industry rapping under the alias Zev Love X with the rap group KMD in the late ‘80s. When the group split, he relabled himself as MF DOOM, the name being inspired by the Marvel comic-book character Dr. Doom, with the “MF” an acronym for “Metal Face.” Like the comics character, he disguised his identity, at first under a stocking mask and later with his signature metal one.
Throughout his career as MF DOOM, he released several albums and multiple collaborative LPs, all of them including his unique, intricate, and visionary style of lyrics and production. His work was praised among many in the music industry and fans of hip-hop, and was influential to many musicians that are popular today, including Kenny Beats, Denzel Curry, Earl Sweatshirt, and Tyler, the Creator.
Since the announcement of his death, there has been an outpour of posts on social media paying respect for the rapper, especially by those in the music industry, including Aminé, Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest, Playboi Carti, Lupe Fiasco, and Jay Electronica.
MF DOOM’s music, while not entirely mainstream, provided great influence and inspiration for other artists in the music industry, as a saying popular among the late rapper’s fans is: “Your Favorite Rapper’s Favorite Rapper.”
