DOOM
Livin' off borrowed time, the clock tick faster
That'd be the hour they knock the slick blaster
MF DOOM (aka Metal Face aka Metal Fingers aka King Geedorah aka Viktor Vaughn aka Zev Love X and formally known as Daniel Dumile) is your favorite rapper's favorite villain. Daniel Dumile began his career in 1988 as Zev Love X but took a hiatus upon the death of his brother, DJ Subroc, in 1993. After a few years, he reappeared under the alter-ego of MF DOOM. Once he donned the mask, his lyrical wordplay and beat production set new standards for musical creativity. I still remember the first time I heard Operation: Doomsday. I honestly had no idea what I was listening to or how to listen to it. It was a bit jarring compared to the polished mainstream sounds my ears had been used to up until that point. The way the skits and beats were strung together weren't exactly seamless but if you listened carefully they contained subliminal meaning. They were rough around the edges and the cohesion was initially a bit difficult to interpret. But there were so many things about it that intrigued me. It was the audio version of a ransom note put together from letters cut out of a magazine. He found a way to combine old superhero cartoons with Sade samples so that he could seemingly drunkenly and effortlessly lay down some of the most clever and hilarious rhymes I've heard, all behind the persona of a masked supervillain. His productions were an auditory collage that gave you a window into his mind. What inspired me the most is that behind the mask he found the freedom to be unapologetic in his artistic expression. MF DOOM recently passed on October 31st of last year. It's only fitting that the man in the mask passes on Halloween, the one day that the rest of us wears a mask. We thank you for showing us how to push creative boundaries. You will live on through your records continuing to inspire us from beyond. Finally reunited with DJ Subroc and King Malachi, may your name rest in all caps forever.
Daniel Dumile [July 13, 1971 - October 31, 2020]
