I’ve heard rap music at its best

Ryan Liu explores the genuis behind the mask of the late hip-hop icon, MF DOOM

Music is a subjective joy for all. Whether you’re a fan of pop, R&B, or house, music of all genres can be enjoyed by anyone. Personally, I am a fan of rap. Originating in the predominantly black Bronx suburb of New York in the 1970s, music characterised by hard drums over booming instrumentals is my favourite. Whether it be Dave, Drake, or older tunes by Skepta and OutKast, I will always have a soft spot for rap. Having said this, I think I have heard the pinnacle. I’ve listened to multiple subgenres of rap and eras spanning decades, but I believe the best comes from a man shrouded in mystery, springing from tragedy under the guise of a masked comic book supervillain to leave an indelible mark on rap, MF DOOM.

with one of rap’s greatest producers, Madlib, widely seen as DOOM’s magnum opus, and still one of the most celebrated rap albums ever. According to DOOM, the album came together spontaneously, “[Madlib] would give me another CD, and I’m writing... We might stop, and he’ll burn one and listen to the beat, and that’s it... We hardly spoke. It was more through telepathy. We spoke through the music.” Dumile would release four more collaborative albums from 2005-2021, and one more solo album, Born Like This, in 2009. These releases would be supplemented by six volumes of self-produced instrumentals, the Metal Fingers Presents: Special Herbs series.

Vaughn experiences when he discovers the woman he loves cheating with himself, MF DOOM. Finally, to marry it all, was his voice. A gru , gravely utterance that added atmosphere and rammed home the feeling of being in the presence of a supervillain.

Born Daniel Thompson Dumile in Hounslow on 13th July 1971, he grew up in New York, earning the nickname ‘DOOM’, a phonetic play on his name, due to his love of comic books. He formed the rap group KMD alongside his younger brother DJ Subroc, releasing their first studio album, Mr. Hood, in 1991. On 23rd April 1993, just before the release of their second album, Black Bastards, tragedy would strike. His younger brother DJ Subroc was struck and killed by a car, with KMD then being dropped by their label due to their controversial cover art. Following his brother’s death, Dumile would disappear from 1994-1997, becoming ‘near homeless.’ He swore his revenge ‘against the industry that had so badly deformed him.’

Dumile would return under the moniker MF DOOM, named after Marvel supervillain Dr. Doom, releasing his debut solo album Operation: Doomsday in 1999. The ‘MF’ in his name would stand for Metal Fingers when producing, and Metal Face when rapping. He released two albums in 2003 under di erent names, Take Me To Your Leader by King Geedorah, and Vaudeville Villain by Viktor Vaughn. Dumile would then release two albums in 2004 under the MF DOOM name, MM...FOOD, an anagram of his name based on using food puns to critique themes common in rap at the time, and Madvillainy, a collaboration

Now, why do I think MF DOOM’s music is the best rap music I will ever hear? Firstly, his character. DOOM was famous for never taking o his Marvel-inspired mask, explaining that he felt rap music was becoming more about the artist than the art. To counteract this trend, as well as build the supervillain persona, he adopted the mask, forcing the listener to appreciate his rapping skill rather than his admittedly portly appearance. He stayed underground for his entire career, focusing on his music and avoiding the public, hedonistic lifestyle of his mainstream contemporaries. Secondly, his choice of instrumentals and use of samples. Heavy use of old comic book cartoons throughout albums such as Doomsday and Madvillainy helped to create a world of a supervillain, his machinations for world domination and dastardly doings of destruction. His instrumentals featured incredibly obscure samples ranging from guitar ri s from 60s and 70s bands, Brazilian piano chords on the song ‘Raid’ from Madvillainy or Bollywood samples. All these samples were procured through constant vinyl crate digging.

Then there was his flow and rhyme schemes. A lazy, o -kilter flow that had the e ect of a supervillain following his own rules. Throw in his mesmerising, often ridiculous rhyme schemes, with entire lines rhyming with entire lines, stringing together entire verses, filled with double-entendres, puns, and self-deprecating humour. He showed his range on Madvillainy, with the brilliantly concise anti-War On Terror song ‘Strange Ways’, flowing over a booming 70s string-sample instrumental, and ‘Fancy Clown’, a song about the heartbreak Viktor books@palatinate.org.uk

Daniel Dumile passed away on Halloween, 31st October 2020, at the age of 49. His death was not announced until 2 months later. The legacy he left behind was revolutionary. Being active during a period where braggadocio and the glorification of violence was, and still is, the norm, DOOM subverted this expectation. He proved that being slightly weird could garner success. Multiple modern-day rappers ranging from Tyler, The Creator and Joey Bada$$ show appreciation for his work and cite DOOM as a major musical influence.

I was recommended MF DOOM three years ago, and now proudly display the Madvillainy vinyl above my desk. ‘All Caps’, the zenith of the Madvillainy album, stands irreplaceably at the top of my Spotify most-streamed list. For me, the universe that DOOM created through his timeless music, his cartoonish character and his infallible ability is incomparable to any other. His absurd, comedic artistry and lyricism are the best bar none. His ability to produce, rhyme, collaborate, and create characters is incredible. Listening to his music invokes the feeling of being immersed in the universe of a cartoon or comic book, and perhaps that’s what he set out to achieve with his music. He’s certainly achieved this, and in doing so, I have had the privilege of hearing rap music at its very best.