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".
3214
MF DOOM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leaving the towns I love the best
Thought I′d seen some ups and downs
'Till I come into New York town
People going down to the ground
Buildings going up to the sky
Wintertime in New York town
Walk around with nowhere to go
Somebody could freeze right to the bone
I froze right to the bone
New York Times said it was the coldest winter in seventeen years
I didn′t feel so cold then
I swung on to my old guitar
Grabbed hold of a subway car
After rocking, reeling, rolling ride
I landed up on the downtown side
Greenwich Village
I walked down there and ended up
In one of them coffee-houses on the block
I get on the stage to sing and play
Man there said, "Come back some other day
You sound like a hillbilly
We want folksingers here"
Well, I got a harmonica job, begun to play
Blowing my lungs out for a dollar a day
I blowed inside out and upside down
The man there said he loved my sound
He was raving about he loved my sound
Dollar a day's worth
After weeks and weeks of hanging around
I finally got a job in New York town
In a bigger place, bigger money too
Even joined the Union and paid my dues
Now, a very great man once said
That some people rob you with a fountain pen
It don't take too long to find out
Just what he was talking about
A lot of people don′t have much food on their table
But they got a lot of forks and knives
And they gotta cut somethin′
So one morning when the sun was warm
I rambled out of New York town
Pulled my cap down over my eyes
And headed out for the western skies
So long, New York
Howdy, East Orange
In these lyrics from MF DOOM's "3214," the rapper describes his journey from the Wild West to New York City to pursue his music career. He reflects on the highs and lows of his time in the city, experiencing both the bitter cold of winter and the warmth of appreciation for his music. In Greenwich Village, he performs at coffeehouses and initially receives resistance for his style, being described as a "hillbilly", but eventually gains a harmonica job that earns him recognition for his unique sound.
The lyrics also touch on the reality of economic inequality, as the singer notes that some individuals may have an abundance of utensils, but little food. MF DOOM's delivery is smooth and measured, conveying a reflective and nostalgic mood. The refrain "So long, New York, howdy, East Orange" serves as a farewell to the city and a nod to his next destination.
Line by Line Meaning
Rambling out of the Wild West
Leaving behind a rough past and setting out for a new adventure
Leaving the towns I love the best
Bidding farewell to cherished memories and places
Thought I'd seen some ups and downs
Experiencing life's highs and lows
'Till I come into New York town
Until arriving at a place of greater opportunity
People going down to the ground
Witnessing the daily struggles of the working class
Buildings going up to the sky
Seeing the rapid growth and urbanization of the city
Wintertime in New York town
Experiencing the harsh winter of the city
The wind blowing snow around
Feeling the biting wind and freezing snow
Walk around with nowhere to go
Feeling aimless and uncertain
Somebody could freeze right to the bone
Realizing the danger of the cold weather
I froze right to the bone
Succumbing to the cold weather
New York Times said it was the coldest winter in seventeen years
Confirming the extreme weather conditions in the city
I didn't feel so cold then
Accepting the harsh reality and adapting to the conditions
I swung on to my old guitar
Turning to music in times of uncertainty
Grabbed hold of a subway car
Using the city's public transportation system to get around
After rocking, reeling, rolling ride
Enduring a chaotic and unpredictable journey
I landed up on the downtown side
Arriving in the heart of the city
Greenwich Village
Discovering a vibrant and creative part of the city
I walked down there and ended up
Exploring the city and discovering new places
In one of them coffee-houses on the block
Visiting a popular spot for artists and musicians
I get on the stage to sing and play
Taking a chance and performing in front of others
Man there said, 'Come back some other day
Being rejected and discouraged by a potential opportunity
You sound like a hillbilly
Being judged for one's appearance or background
We want folksingers here'
Being told that one's style or genre of music is not welcome
Well, I got a harmonica job, begun to play
Taking on a new opportunity and honing one's musical skills
Blowing my lungs out for a dollar a day
Working hard and struggling to make ends meet
I blowed inside out and upside down
Giving everything and leaving it all on the stage
The man there said he loved my sound
Receiving validation and recognition for one's talents
He was raving about he loved my sound
Being praised and appreciated by others
Dollar a day's worth
Acknowledging the meager pay for one's hard work
After weeks and weeks of hanging around
Waiting for the right opportunity to come along
I finally got a job in New York town
Finally finding success and stability in the city
In a bigger place, bigger money too
Moving up and improving one's situation
Even joined the Union and paid my dues
Becoming a part of a community and contributing to it
Now, a very great man once said
Referencing a wise and respected figure
That some people rob you with a fountain pen
Warning about the dangers of financial exploitation
It don't take too long to find out
Realizing the truth about financial exploitation
Just what he was talking about
Understanding the significance of the warning
A lot of people don't have much food on their table
Recognizing the struggles of poverty and hunger
But they got a lot of forks and knives
Seeing the excess and waste in society
And they gotta cut somethin'
Realizing that resources must be allocated and prioritized
So one morning when the sun was warm
Deciding to leave the city and move on to new adventures
I rambled out of New York town
Leaving behind the city and its opportunities
Pulled my cap down over my eyes
Preparing for the journey ahead
And headed out for the western skies
Setting out for new horizons and possibilities
So long, New York
Saying goodbye to the city and its struggles
Howdy, East Orange
Greeting a new place and a new adventure
Writer(s): Robert Dylan
Contributed by Emily E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.