The News-Times

MF Doom, masked rapper known for complex lyrics, dies at 49

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LOS ANGELES — MF Doom, a masked rapper who awed hip-hop fans and fellow musicians with intricate wordplay, has died. He was 49.

The British-born rapper rarely appeared in public in recent years without his signature mask, modeled after the Marvel Comics villain Doctor Doom. His death was confirmed Thursday by Doom’s representa­tive, Richie Abbott. Jasmine Dumile said in a statement that her husband — whose real name is Daniel Dumile — died Oct. 31.

The cause of death has not been released.

Jasmine Dumile posted a photo of the rapper and a

heartfelt message on his Instagram page. She called him the “greatest husband” and father and thanked him for showing her how not to be “afraid to love.”

“Thank you for teaching me how to forgive beings and give another chance, not to be so quick to judge and write off,” she wrote. “My world will never be the same without you.”

Dumile was born in London and raised in New York. He began his rap career in the late 1980s under the name Zev Love X as part of the group KMD, which included his younger brother DJ Subroc.

The group released two albums: “Mr. Hood” in 1991 and “Black Bastards” two years later. Subroc died shortly before the release of the second album.

Dumile took a step back from the public eye, then returned in the late 1990s under his MF Doom persona. In 1999, he released his self-produced debut album “Operation: Doomsday.”

Dumile released six studio albums under different stage names, including King Geedorah and Viktor Vaughn. He collaborat­ed with producer Madlib on the 2004 album “Madvillain­y,” which was considered his most celebrated release.

Dumile’s last solo studio album, “Born Like This,” was released in 2009. His most recent album was a

2018 collaborat­ion with the group Czarface: “Czarface Meets Metal Face.“

Dumile’s death, three years after the death of his

14-year-old son, shocked the hip-hop world. “Someone just stabbed all my chakras,” rapper Pharoahe Monch wrote on Instagram. “I’m angry. I’m hollering and I’m crying.”

 ?? Peter Kramer / Getty Images ?? Rapper MF DOOM, aka Daniel Dumile, died Oct. 31, his family announced Thursday. He was 49.
Peter Kramer / Getty Images Rapper MF DOOM, aka Daniel Dumile, died Oct. 31, his family announced Thursday. He was 49.

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