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".
Angelz
MF DOOM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's not a Hardy Boy mystery neither
This is real shit
This shit come on right after Hart to Hart y'all
No doubt, 7 o'clock Fantasy Island
This episode is "Death to a Brooklyn Man"
This is Tony's Angels
Undercover agents, far beyond narc's
Amazed by they beauty marks
Wonder Woman bracelets, knee-high boots that was made Clarks
My dick got hard, at how they spoke and shit
Every language was music to the kid as if
I was modern day King Midas
Doreen, Skye and Kelly, Starky's Angel's Shaolin's finest
Though it happened in the streets of Brooklyn
Plus I played the whip real low cause my face was roofin'
My angels jetted out of Albee Square
Gun out, wrap in their hair, kinda crowded so they clap in the air
Chased a nigga down block for blocks
Squeezing glocks, these mommies real anxious to blow off his top
He's a rapist, murderer, convict, burglar
The more they ran the more they skirts got dirtier
Sending shots like check day, Fed Ex expressway
Boom bow bing! You heard the gunplay
"Who shot that duck out the window" Mr. Lee said
"Three pay now, you fucking weed head"
We can stop the finest suspect, he's dead
Then I pulled up "Come on girls to Club Med"
Stay tuned for the conclusion, three's Company
Family jewels
Two brown sisters assisted the Villain, Doom
He woked up, stoked like they was still in the room
Freed his right arm and leg, it was more like a sweep
Release his other leg, arm, head and rose to his feet
Staggering except for the socks and mask, naked
Threw on the boxers, searching for the trio
And checking for the keys the dough, a robbery expected yet
Nothing obvious is missing
Recollected now why Hollywood hotties stepped into Giuseppe's
And naughty personnel nurses, Chanel purses, CLK shottie
Chased the trees with Thai iced teas
She drive while nice to veggie fried rice spicy
Told them both, "I don't feel so well, my belly
Spin me down Melrose, drive me to the telly
Ya'll go 'head and get the dutches, be back copy
Feeling woozy, no Uzi, who's he see in the lobby?
Peace, pizza man change a hundred, stopped and looked
"Nah" Whoops! Left the knot in her pocket book
Wasn't the juks but too careless fearless
Got to the room and fell flat out on the terrace
The question remains who bound and gagged them?
That's when they found the empty pack of black Magnum
Villains skiid a gram on the street, 50G
The part of Mr. Ropo was played by Mr T
The lyrics of "Angelz" by MF DOOM present a story of the rapper's involvement with Tony Starks and his "angels," who turn out to be three undercover agents. The verses describe the three women as stunningly beautiful and skilled in combat, who chase down a criminal in the streets of Brooklyn. The narrative then cuts to a new scene where two women assist the rapper in a heist. However, the situation becomes murky when the women are found bound and gagged, and Villains skiid a gram on the street with the stolen goods. The song ends on a mysterious note, leaving the listener with unanswered questions.
The song "Angelz" is part of MF DOOM's album "Born Like This," and it features a sample from the TV series "Charlie's Angels" and "Hart to Hart." The sample sets the tone for the song, referencing the idea of undercover agents and a life of crime. The verse also borrows from "Death to a Brooklyn Man," an episode from the TV series "Hart to Hart." With its gritty lyrics and complex story, "Angelz" stands out as one of the most memorable tracks on the album.
Line by Line Meaning
Yea, that's right
I am about to share some factual information
It's not a Hardy Boy mystery neither
This is not some fake or staged story
This is real shit
The events described really happened
This shit come on right after Hart to Hart y'all
This is something that happened in the past, like a TV show coming on after another show
No doubt, 7 o'clock Fantasy Island
The events happened at 7 o'clock, Fantasy Island has just finished airing
This episode is 'Death to a Brooklyn Man'
The events described are part of a larger story arc called 'Death to a Brooklyn Man'
This is Tony's Angels
This is a reference to the TV show Charlie's Angels, but instead of Charlie, it's Tony Starks who has his own team of female agents
It was three white bitches who worked for Tony Starks
Three white women were employed by Tony Starks as undercover agents
Undercover agents, far beyond narc's
These women were not just any ordinary undercover agents, they were exceptional at their job
Amazed by they beauty marks
The artist was taken aback by the beauty marks on each woman's face
Wonder Woman bracelets, knee-high boots that was made Clarks
The women wore bracelets that looked like those worn by Wonder Woman and boots made by Clarks
My dick got hard, at how they spoke and shit
The artist was excited by the way the women spoke and carried themselves
Every language was music to the kid as if
The singer found every language the women spoke in to be music to his ears
I was modern day King Midas
The singer felt like he was a modern day King Midas, where everything he touched turned to gold
Doreen, Skye and Kelly, Starky's Angel's Shaolin's finest
These are the names of the three female agents, who are the best Tony Starks had to offer
Though it happened in the streets of Brooklyn
The events described took place in the streets of Brooklyn
Plus I played the whip real low cause my face was roofin'
The artist drove his car with a low profile to avoid drawing attention to himself
My angels jetted out of Albee Square
The female agents quickly left the area known as Albee Square
Gun out, wrap in their hair, kinda crowded so they clap in the air
The agents pulled out their guns, hid them in their hair, and fired warning shots into the air
Chased a nigga down block for blocks
The agents pursued a man for several blocks
Squeezing glocks, these mommies real anxious to blow off his top
The female agents were eager to use their guns and take down the man they were chasing
He's a rapist, murderer, convict, burglar
The man being chased had committed several serious crimes in the past
The more they ran the more they skirts got dirtier
The agents' skirts got dirty as they chased the man for longer distances
Sending shots like check day, Fed Ex expressway
The agents fired their guns rapidly and accurately, like a well-organized FedEx delivery system
Boom bow bing! You heard the gunplay
The sound of gunshots could be heard by anyone in the area
"Who shot that duck out the window" Mr. Lee said
Mr. Lee inquires about the gunshots he just heard
"Three pay now, you fucking weed head"
This is an unrelated command given by Mr. Lee to someone else
We can stop the finest suspect, he's dead
The female agents successfully caught and killed the man they were pursuing
Then I pulled up "Come on girls to Club Med"
The artist arrives and invites the female agents to a place called Club Med
Stay tuned for the conclusion, three's Company
The story is not yet over, and three main characters are still involved
Two brown sisters assisted the Villain, Doom
Two other female agents, possibly of African-American or Latino descent, helped the singer, who goes by Doom
He woked up, stoked like they was still in the room
The artist wakes up shortly after having spent time with the two women
Freed his right arm and leg, it was more like a sweep
The artist frees his limbs with a sweeping motion
Release his other leg, arm, head and rose to his feet
The artist is now standing after having freed all his limbs
Staggering except for the socks and mask, naked
The singer is stumbling around, only wearing socks and his signature metal mask
Threw on the boxers, searching for the trio
The artist puts on his boxers and begins searching for the two women he was previously with, as well as the third female agent named in the first part of the song
And checking for the keys the dough, a robbery expected yet
The singer is looking for some keys and a sum of money that he had expected to steal with the two female agents
Nothing obvious is missing
The singer discovers that nothing appeared to be missing after a quick scan of the area
Recollected now why Hollywood hotties stepped into Giuseppe's
The singer remembers why the women had visited a restaurant called Giuseppe's
And naughty personnel nurses, Chanel purses, CLK shottie
The women had interacted with some possibly promiscuous nurses, carried purses made by Chanel, and traveled in a CLk car with a shotgun
Chased the trees with Thai iced teas
The women enjoyed some cold tea and chased some trees for unclear reasons
She drive while nice to veggie fried rice spicy
One of the female agents drove while enjoying spicy vegetarian fried rice
Told them both, "I don't feel so well, my belly
One of the women complains about not feeling well
Spin me down Melrose, drive me to the telly
The women drive to a hotel on Melrose Avenue
Ya'll go 'head and get the dutches, be back copy
The artist tells the women to go buy some cigars called Dutch Masters and to come back soon
Feeling woozy, no Uzi, who's he see in the lobby?
The artist feels dizzy and does not have a gun on him. He sees someone in the lobby and is unsure who it is
Peace, pizza man change a hundred, stopped and looked
The singer greets a pizza delivery man and receives change after paying with a hundred-dollar bill
"Nah" Whoops! Left the knot in her pocket book
The artist realizes he forgot to take his money back from one of the women's purses
Wasn't the juks but too careless fearless
The singer is not concerned about the fact that his money was left behind
Got to the room and fell flat out on the terrace
The singer arrives at his hotel room and falls down on the terrace
The question remains who bound and gagged them?
The singer wonders who tied up and gagged the female agents
That's when they found the empty pack of black Magnum
The artist finds an empty box of black condoms lying around
Villains skiid a gram on the street, 50G
The antagonists skid a car with 50 grams of an unknown substance
The part of Mr. Ropo was played by Mr T
This is an unrelated line, which states that the actor who played Mr. Ropo was Mr. T
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Corey Woods, Daniel Thompson, Dennis Coles
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind