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".
CELLZ Pt. 2
MF DOOM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Separating cell womb to Melle Mel, boom
Revelations in Braille, respiration inhale, view
Nations fail and shaking of a snake tail make due
Blazing swords trace the haze, praise the Lord
Saving Grace, lace your broad, she say she bored
A crazy straw, ink and stale dry paraffin
Candy corn crap rappers pale by comparison
Rancid rants having rambling savages scavenging
For scraps, perhaps road kill if that
Gift of gab and he flowed ill, chrome stiff hat
Known for writing lightning tight lines, chiefin′
Beefin', being off deep ends, divine bright shines even
Dimes quiet as mimes by design mighty fine
Slight rewind, tightly bind, blind lead blind
Need mines now that was this is then, listening
To sizzling officialtons whispering, "Him again"
Metal Face Finster playing with the dirty money
Sinister, don′t know what he saying but the words be funny
Major vet spaded through the vest with a bayonet
Save your breath, gave a F, pay your debt, they forget
Make her sweat bullets, crime pays no benefits
Then it gets wilder with more childisher degenerates
Three thousand years ago, Moses said:
"Every human being is responsible for his actions
Or thy being is still a beast, not yet human!"
You ought to let your uncle flow, my motorcyle trunk fulls
From two-one two-one, lose crumbs to trunks in bundles
Hands down, better than what your mans used to get
Standing around from where the translucent looses spit
Missing wheel, you don't listen, you're a feel head
Sitting in the kitchen pissing, twitching, kissing steel lead
Crime pays no dental nor medical
Unless you catch retirement, county, state or federal
You heard like roaring waters in a seashell
If a tree fell, you couldn′t tell from three cell
Be real careful, they tell him by the earful
Kids doing skid bids, acting out is terrible
Word is bond, fix your clothes, put a shirt on
Pants sagging back when you used to meant you had a skirt on
Squirts posing as thuggers and hustlers
El Eloh closer then y′alls ball huggers and jugglers
Motherfuckers!
DOOM is transmitting a message to you
Super fools
I need to use more power
In "CELLZ Pt. 2", MF DOOM presents his unique and intricate lyrical style to document the harsh realities of society and the human existence. The first part of the lyrics refers to the ancient Egyptian realm of El Kulum and cell separation, which serves as a metaphor for the birth of consciousness and self-awareness. DOOM then jumps into a series of wordplays and puns where he talks about revelation in Braille, inhaling respiration, nations and snakes failing, and swords tracing the haze, all in a mix of esoteric and straightforward imagery. The overall message seems to highlight the futility of human efforts to save the world, which eventually leads to boredom and emptiness.
In the second part of the lyrics, DOOM continues with his signature wordplay style and profound observations of society's ills. He intertwines references to mundane objects like candy corn and crazy straws with thoughts on bad Samaritans, average men, and rancid rants to create an atmosphere of chaos and absurdity. DOOM's criticism of the rap industry's lack of creativity and mediocrity is apparent in lines like "Candy corn crap rappers pale by comparison." He delves into issues of crime, responsibility, and consequences, reminding the listener that crime pays no benefits and that everyone is responsible for their actions. DOOM concludes with a tantalizing message that he is transmitting a message to his fans.
Line by Line Meaning
DOOM from the realm of El Kulum, smelly gel fume
DOOM comes from El Kulum and brings with him a smelly gel fume
Separating cell womb to Melle Mel, boom
DOOM is separating the cell womb, represented by Melle Mel, with a loud boom
Revelations in Braille, respiration inhale, view
DOOM sees revelations through touch and takes a deep breath to view the world around him
Nations fail and shaking of a snake tail make due
DOOM observes that nations fail and the consequences of their actions are like the movement of a snake's tail
Blazing swords trace the haze, praise the Lord
DOOM notes the power of swords in clearing the air and giving thanks to a higher power
Saving Grace, lace your broad, she say she bored
DOOM tells his audience to spice up their romantic life by showing grace and pleasing their partner
A crazy straw, ink and stale dry paraffin
DOOM compares weak and uninspired rappers to a cheap plastic straw and old, dry paraffin wax
Candy corn crap rappers pale by comparison
DOOM asserts that other rappers are inferior and low-quality compared to himself
A bad samaritan averaging above average men
DOOM considers himself a bad Samaritan with talents that surpass those of average men
Rancid rants having rambling savages scavenging
DOOM's angry and disorganized rants attract and excite similarly wild people
For scraps, perhaps road kill if that
DOOM suggests that people will settle for any scraps they can find, even if it's like eating roadkill
Gift of gab and he flowed ill, chrome stiff hat
DOOM boasts of his talent for speaking and rapping with rhymes that are sharp like a chrome-stiff hat
Known for writing lightning tight lines, chiefin′
DOOM is known for writing and rapping fast, tight rhymes while smoking marijuana
Beefin', being off deep ends, divine bright shines even
DOOM frequently engages in conflicts, takes risks, but still succeeds with shining brilliance
Dimes quiet as mimes by design mighty fine
DOOM praises the beauty and reserved nature of attractive women
Slight rewind, tightly bind, blind lead blind
DOOM warns that repetition and blindly following others without independent thinking is dangerous
Need mines now that was this is then, listening
DOOM believes that we all have a need to understand the past and listen to lessons learned
To sizzling officialtons whispering, "Him again"
DOOM imagines that officials and those in power are whispering about his return and influence
Metal Face Finster playing with the dirty money
DOOM plays with and enjoys the wealth he has earned, despite its questionable sources
Sinister, don′t know what he saying but the words be funny
DOOM admits that his language can be unclear, but still entertaining and humorous
Major vet spaded through the vest with a bayonet
DOOM has achieved the status of a major veteran, representing his success in the rap game
Save your breath, gave a F, pay your debt, they forget
DOOM advises others to save their breath and not worry about people who would forget their debts
Make her sweat bullets, crime pays no benefits
DOOM offers a crude reminder that crime does not often pay in the long run
Then it gets wilder with more childish degenerates
DOOM experiences more chaotic and reckless behavior from immature individuals
Three thousand years ago, Moses said:
DOOM references an ancient historical figure, Moses
"Every human being is responsible for his actions
DOOM references Moses' teachings that individuals must take responsibility for their own actions
Or thy being is still a beast, not yet human!"
DOOM warns that those who do not take responsibility for their actions are comparable to animals
You ought to let your uncle flow, my motorcycle trunk fulls
DOOM invites others to enjoy his music and reveals his stash of equipment in his motorcycle trunk
From two-one two-one, lose crumbs to trunks in bundles
DOOM references his hometown, New York City, and claims to have gathered and stored his music equipment in large bundles
Hands down, better than what your mans used to get
DOOM asserts that his music is better than what others have previously received
Standing around from where the translucent looses spit
DOOM criticizes other rappers for standing around uselessly while he dominates and raps fluidly
Missing wheel, you don't listen, you're a feel head
DOOM accuses others of not paying attention and being driven only by emotion
Sitting in the kitchen pissing, twitching, kissing steel lead
DOOM describes a violent and messy scene in the kitchen involving weapons
Crime pays no dental nor medical
DOOM repeats his warning that crime does not have long-term benefits, and may even lead to medical expenses
Unless you catch retirement, county, state or federal
DOOM mentions a few situations in which crime may pay off, but only temporarily
You heard like roaring waters in a seashell
DOOM compares the attention and volume of his rapping to the sound of the sea in a seashell
If a tree fell, you couldn′t tell from three cell
DOOM references a common phrase about the sound of a tree falling, suggesting that even from a distance, one can tell he is different due to his rapping skills
Be real careful, they tell him by the earful
DOOM is advised to be careful and cautious, as people may be seeking to deceive or harm him
Kids doing skid bids, acting out is terrible
DOOM expresses concern about youth behavior, and suggests that acting out and getting into trouble is a negative thing
Word is bond, fix your clothes, put a shirt on
DOOM emphasizes the importance of being trustworthy and suggests that his audience should dress appropriately
Pants sagging back when you used to meant you had a skirt on
DOOM references the trend of sagging pants, and jokes that they used to mean the person was wearing a skirt instead
Squirts posing as thuggers and hustlers
DOOM calls out fake gangsta rappers who pretend to be tough and successful
El Eloh closer then y′alls ball huggers and jugglers
DOOM asserts that his creative power is more impressive than the athletic skills of other people
Motherfuckers!
DOOM finishes his song strongly, using an expletive to convey his attitude and energy
DOOM is transmitting a message to you
Outro message from DOOM to his audience
Super fools
DOOM uses a sarcastic term to refer to his listeners, highlighting the awareness he assumes they possess
I need to use more power
DOOM concludes with a final statement about needing more creative and expressive energy
Contributed by Tristan G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@and_one_
my heart stopped cause i thought DOOM is putting out new shit for a second
@jemkayp6383
and same
@coderef6482
EXACTLY
@RayJamesArtist
Same
@kamylc9352
same fucking thing swear I had my mouth wide open like woah for real
@jacoboputney
Soon
@DeathWishRED
When I was little I thought he was Biggie’s alter ego.
@grumpee8432
Biggie wishes.
@poly_g6068
I think he's honestly the best to do it since BIG. Will gladly die on that hill.
@punecak_sup169
I did remember hearing his album madvillainy back when I was a kid at the age 12 and I 16 nowadays but I did remember hearing that album and I was obsessed with mf doom music and I got his album name mmm food and madvillany but I did remember thinking that mf doom was Tyler the creator lol until I saw a video of Tyler the creator and earl sweatshirt with mf doom in a live performance and I thought he was flying lotus until lotus and thundercat made a live performance with mf doom in a adult swim festival so I thought he was some rapper name Daniel dumile and I was right but I wish mf doom was still alive and mf doom was my first favourite rapper and I did remember as a kid that I wrote at school saying Mf doom is a really good creative rapper with interesting music that other people should listen at school lol