Born in London, Dumile moved with his family to Long Island, New York at a young age. He began his musical career in 1988 as a member of the East Coast hip-hop trio KMD, at which time he performed under the name Zev Love X. KMD disbanded in 1993 following the death of Dumile's brother, DJ Subroc. After taking a hiatus from the music scene, Dumile reemerged in 1998, when he began performing at open mic events while wearing a mask. He adopted the MF DOOM persona and rarely made unmasked public appearances from that time onward. His metal mask resembles that of Marvel Comics supervillain Doctor Doom, who is depicted rapping on the cover of his 1999 debut solo album Operation: Doomsday. In the early 2000s, Dumile also released solo albums under the pseudonyms King Geedorah and Viktor Vaughn.
MF DOOM appeared in several collaborative projects such as Madvillain (with Madlib), DANGERDOOM (with Danger Mouse), DOOMSTARKS (with Ghostface Killah), JJ DOOM (with Jneiro Jarel), NEHRUVIANDOOM (with Bishop Nehru), and Czarface Meets Metal Face (with CZARFACE).
Dumile was born on 9 January 1971 in London, England, the son of a Trinidadian mother and a Zimbabwean father. His family moved to Long Island, New York, when he was a child; Dumile remained a British citizen. Dumile grew up in Freeport, New York, and first started DJ'ing during the summer after third grade. Dumile had lived in London since 2009. Dumile was a follower of the Nuwaubian Nation.
Dumile created the MF DOOM character as an alter ego with a backstory he could reference in his music. The character combines elements from the Marvel Comics supervillain Doctor Doom, Destro, and the Phantom of the Opera; like Doctor Doom and Phantom, Dumile referred to himself in the third person while in character. His signature mask was similar to that of Doctor Doom, who is depicted rapping on the cover of Dumile's 1999 debut album Operation: Doomsday.
Dumile wore the mask while performing, and would not be photographed without it, except for short glimpses in videos and in earlier photos with KMD. Later versions of the mask were based on a prop from the 2000 film Gladiator. Academic Hershini Bhana Young argued that, by appropriating the Doctor Doom mask, Dumile "positions himself as enemy, not only of the music industry but also of dominant constructions of identity that relegate him as a black man to second-class citizenship".
Dumile's rap persona MF DOOM was known for his unique free-association rap style, challenging the conventional style of rhyming and flow. His interest in cartoons, comics and other pop culture realms as well as his distinct sampling/production inspired many contemporary artists today.
On December 31, 2020 it was announced on Dumile's Instagram and Facebook by his wife Jasmine, that the rapper had passed away on October 31 of that year at the age of 49.
After his death, Variety described him as one of the scene's "most celebrated, unpredictable and enigmatic figures". Dumile is considered one of the most celebrated and influential musicians in hip-hop. The English musician Thom Yorke, who collaborated with Dumile on two occasions, wrote: "He was a massive inspiration to so many of us, changed things... For me the way he put words was often shocking in its genius, using stream of consciousness in a way I'd never heard before." Stereogum, reviewing Operation: Doomsday on its 20th anniversary, noted Dumile's "formative" influence on younger rappers. El-P of Run the Jewels described him as a "writer's writer", while Q-Tip called him "your favorite rapper's favorite rapper".
? feat. Kurious
MF DOOM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Last seen pulling chicks like a fiend pull a fast one
Can't put shit past him
Got niggas on his own team mad enough to blast him
Retarded in real life, on the mic Rain Man
Stand close to his main man like a chain gang
Who give a fuck about who or they fancy crew
That's no mystery that Hardy Boys do with Nancy Drew
The extorter bring slaughter like "Well I oughta"
I suggest you hand over the formula doula
A villain in your land, in his land a ruler
Hard hitting like puffing a woola with Lieutenant Uhura
Every day feel like it's an off day with Ferris Bueller
Brother pull heat to prove they not sweet
No matter how you spell it, we still got beats
Don't question how we live, question what we give
Take it to the next leave 'em where they can't see me
Still they judge, but they be butt ass
Twist that wig like a muppet, keep it simple, can't truss it
Light's the fuel, mic is the tool
Drink Jack, kick back, drop jewel, finish what I start
Mastered the art, living hell can't explain it
Inhale confuse it more, cop the .44
Contemplate, meditate, dictate
I direct my direct fate, coming of late
Kurious, can I say shit
Do it for CottleRock, do it for K.Nit
(RIP)
K-N-I-T, Sub R-O-C
(Eternally for M-I-C)
Only we save we
By candlelight my hand will write these rhymes 'til I'm burnt out
Mostly from experience, shit that I learned about
Topics and views, generally concerned about
With different ways to come up and earn clout
I take a look at my life and pace the trails
From Tablik and savage females with fake nails to face veils
You out your frame but still bagging 'em too
You know I know, these hoes be asking me if I'm you
Like my twin brother, we did everything together
From hundred raka'at salats to copping butter leathers
Remember when you went and got the dark blue Ballys
I had all the different color Cazals and Gazelles
The "SUBROC" three-finger ring with the ruby in the "O", ock
Truly the illest dynamic duo on the whole block
I keep a flick of you with the machete sword in your hand
Everything is going according to plan man
In the first verse of MF Doom ft. Kurious Jorge's song, the lyrics describe the character wearing a metal mask and cleaning it with gasoline while being chased. The singer is a womanizer and no one can deceive him. Even the people in his own team do not dare to betray him because he is powerful enough to take them down. Then, the lyrics compare the singer to Rain Man on the mic who is not socially and behaviorally intelligent in real life. But with his close group of followers, he is powerful like a ruler. The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew part uses an analogy to state that the singer is good at solving mysteries. He is strong enough to extort money and can even challenge people to hand over what he wants by using fear. Finally, the singer is defined as someone who is hard-hitting like Lieutenant Uhura and can create beats that others cannot.
The second verse in "Question" expresses pride in what has been achieved so far. It is said that people should focus on what they give to society instead of how they live. The combination of lights and a microphone has a powerful impact on the surrounding environment. The surroundings change and become more positive when the energy flowing through music is good. The lyrics then talk about how the singer has mastered the art of rapping and it all feels like living hell. Finally, the singer is seen contemplating and meditating about which direction he should take. He also thinks about his fate and how he is not sure whether he is coming too late to achieve what he wants in life.
Line by Line Meaning
He cleans his metal mask with gasoline, they after him
He is being hunted by someone while cleaning his metal mask with gasoline.
Last seen pulling chicks like a fiend pull a fast one
He was recently seen seducing women like an addict pulling a fast one.
Can't put shit past him
He cannot be fooled easily.
Got niggas on his own team mad enough to blast him
He has angered some of his own teammates who are willing to kill him.
Retarded in real life, on the mic Rain Man
He may be mentally challenged in real life, but his rapping skills are exceptional like the character 'Rain Man'.
Stand close to his main man like a chain gang
He sticks closely to his important friend like a chain gang.
Who give a fuck about who or they fancy crew
He doesn't care about anyone else or their fancy team.
That's no mystery that Hardy Boys do with Nancy Drew
It's not a mystery to him, he's as good as Hardy Boys solving mysteries with Nancy Drew.
Sorta with her drawers down quarter
He's taking advantage of a woman exposing herself.
The extorter bring slaughter like 'Well I oughta'
He threatens to extort and kill if he doesn't get what he wants.
I suggest you hand over the formula doula
He suggests giving him what he wants before it gets violent.
A villain in your land, in his land a ruler
He's a villain in other's land, but in his land, he's the ruler.
Hard hitting like puffing a woola with Lieutenant Uhura
His rhymes are impactful like smoking marijuana with Lieutenant Uhura.
Every day feel like it's an off day with Ferris Bueller
Every day feels like a day off like Ferris Bueller's Day Off movie.
Brother pull heat to prove they not sweet
People carry guns to prove they're not weak.
No matter how you spell it, we still got beats
No matter how you look at it, they still have great music beats.
Don't question how we live, question what we give
Don't focus on how they live, focus on what they give to the world.
Take it to the next leave 'em where they can't see me
Take it to the next level and leave those who can't keep up behind.
Still they judge, but they be butt ass
People still judge and criticize unfairly, despite being naked with their own flaws.
Twist that wig like a muppet, keep it simple, can't truss it
People pretend to be someone they're not, keep it simple and don't trust them.
Light's the fuel, mic is the tool
Lighting inspires him, the microphone is his tool of expression.
Drink Jack, kick back, drop jewel, finish what I start
He drinks whiskey, relaxes, shares wisdom, and completes what he starts.
Mastered the art, living hell can't explain it
He has mastered the art of rapping, and even living hell can't describe it.
Inhale confuse it more, cop the .44
He smokes weed to confuse his mind more, but still has a gun for protection.
Contemplate, meditate, dictate
He thinks, meditates, and speaks his mind.
I direct my direct fate, coming of late
He's responsible for his fate, and he's taking charge of it, though it's a bit late.
Kurious, can I say shit
He asks Kurious if he can say what's on his mind.
Do it for CottleRock, do it for K.Nit
He wants to honor CottleRock and K.Nit through his music.
(RIP)
Rest in Peace.
K-N-I-T, Sub R-O-C
He mentions K.Nit and Sub R-O-C.
(Eternally for M-I-C)
He dedicates his music to the microphone.
Only we save we
Only they can save themselves.
By candlelight my hand will write these rhymes 'til I'm burnt out
He writes his rhymes by candlelight until his hand gets tired and burnt out.
Mostly from experience, shit that I learned about
He mostly writes from his experiences and things he's learned.
Topics and views, generally concerned about
He's focused on topics and views that he's generally concerned about.
With different ways to come up and earn clout
There are many ways to succeed and gain influence.
I take a look at my life and pace the trails
He reflects on his life and ponders his future.
From Tablik and savage females with fake nails to face veils
He's interacted with women from different backgrounds and lifestyles, including those who are outwardly religious and those who wear face veils.
You out your frame but still bagging 'em too
Despite being out of shape, he's still able to seduce women.
You know I know, these hoes be asking me if I'm you
Women mistake him for his twin brother and ask him if he's him.
Like my twin brother, we did everything together
He and his twin brother did everything together, including praying and buying expensive clothes.
From hundred raka'at salats to copping butter leathers
From praying a hundred times a day to buying expensive leather clothing.
Remember when you went and got the dark blue Ballys
He recalls when his brother bought a pair of dark blue Bally shoes.
I had all the different color Cazals and Gazelles
He had different colored Cazal and Gazelle sunglasses.
The 'SUBROC' three-finger ring with the ruby in the 'O', ock
He remembers his brother's Subroc ring with three fingers and a ruby in the 'O' of the word.
Truly the illest dynamic duo on the whole block
They were the best and most dynamic duo in their neighborhood.
I keep a flick of you with the machete sword in your hand
He has a photo of his brother holding a machete sword.
Everything is going according to plan man
Everything is going as he planned it.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind