Daniel Dumile (July 13, 1971 – October 31, 2020) was a British-American rap… Read Full Bio ↴Daniel Dumile (July 13, 1971 – October 31, 2020) was a British-American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He performed and released music under a variety of stage names, most notably MF DOOM, which Dumile preferred to be stylized in all caps. Dumile debuted during hip-hop's golden age of the late 1980s and became a major figure in underground hip-hop of the early 21st century. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest rappers of all-time.

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".

Fly That Knot
MF DOOM Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah, that's what I'm talkin' 'bout
Yeah, we on fire
We gotta call the fire department
Let's go
Yo, yo, yo

[Chorus]
I don't know why people try to be live when they not

I gotta blow up they spot so I fly that knot

Yo, I know you like that
You like that!
Yeah, yeah

There's an E! True Hollywood Story for the pluckin' it's ripe
How cats is stuck in purgatory for life
Tryin' to fight the enemy without sight
They in the dark swingin' right to left
Clingin' to the little bit of light that's left
And can't escape the room, you can't escape the tomb
You all wear a mask sometimes, I can relate to Doom
That make the whole world earthquake, shake, and move
The beat create a mood or eat your whole plate of food
You can't come close like an order of protection
That this is myself in the pack was sort of my intention
Slaughter anybody testin' my callin', my profession
Anymore questions will born 'em a lesson
A demonstration of takin' it all the way home
While you stuck at first base and
It's like havin' relations without the penetration
Basically doin' nathin'
You a waste of space and time
Always chasin' mine is how you lost your place in line

[Chorus]

We got that uncut flow that bring the cops out
Pay and groan like young Mike and get knocked out

[Chorus]

Yeah, free the radio population
Kweli and Doom the 1-2, the combination
Let's go

About time you heard a rhyme flow with Doom and Kweli
To catch you with the combo, boom boom, Muhammad Ali
Versus Potsy cursin' Yahtzee at the crap table
Burstin' caps at a Nazi rap label
Oops, a pot of hot tea spilt on the cable
Evaporate an ice grill, read the seeds of Aesop fable
Children, come sit, gather
Face the rapid fire of the super slap shit outta liar
The end
Villain, the champ tramp
Flowin' since they had him holdin'
He cleaned his mask with a shoe mitt
And a little bit of her blue spit
She told him you so stupid
Wiped it off, got dressed and left
Everybody instigatin', not just the ref
We can shoot the fire on the dirt ground
Rocks out live with the worst sound
First round knock out

[Chorus]

We got that uncut flow that bring the cops out
Pay and groan like young Mike and get knocked out

[Chorus]

Yeah, free the radio population

Kweli and Doom the 1-2, the combination
Let's go

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to MF DOOM's song "Fly That Knot" explore themes of authenticity, the struggles of life, and the art of poetic wordplay. The chorus sets the tone, expressing a frustration with people who try to be something they're not, leading the singer to expose and disrupt their facade.

In the verses, DOOM delves deeper into these themes. He likens the pursuit of fame and success to being stuck in purgatory, fighting blindly against an unseen enemy. The reference to wearing a mask relates to the musician's own use of a metal mask as his persona, emphasizing the idea of hiding behind a facade. DOOM also discusses the power of music to create mood and impact, comparing it to the force of an earthquake. He criticizes those who are surface-level and questions their worth in the grand scheme of things.

The song also features collaboration with rapper Talib Kweli, who adds his own verses and energy to the track. Together, they proclaim their unique combination and challenge the radio industry and its limited musical offerings. The closing lines reference DOOM's notorious masked persona and his dedication to the craft, highlighting his long-standing presence and his ability to captivate listeners.

Line by Line Meaning

Yeah, that's what I'm talkin' 'bout
Expressing enthusiasm and agreement with the current topic of conversation.

Yeah, we on fire
Feeling a strong sense of excitement and energy.

We gotta call the fire department
The intensity and passion displayed in their work need professional attention.

Let's go
Eager to begin or move forward with the task at hand.

Yo, yo, yo
A playful and attention-grabbing call to listen or pay attention.

I don't know why people try to be live when they not
Confusion and frustration towards those who pretend to be someone they are not.

I gotta blow up they spot so I fly that knot
Taking action to expose and reveal the truth about these individuals.

Yo, I know you like that
Acknowledging and understanding the listener's appreciation for the previous statement.

You like that!
Emphasizing the listener's enjoyment or approval of the given situation.

There's an E! True Hollywood Story for the pluckin' it's ripe
An abundance of entertaining and captivating stories waiting to be revealed.

How cats is stuck in purgatory for life
Describing individuals trapped in a state of indecisiveness and uncertainty for an extended period.

Tryin' to fight the enemy without sight
Struggling against an adversary with limited knowledge or understanding.

They in the dark swingin' right to left
Engaged in a battle while lacking clear direction or purpose.

Clingin' to the little bit of light that's left
Holding onto the remaining hope or positivity in a challenging situation.

And can't escape the room, you can't escape the tomb
Feeling trapped and unable to break free from a difficult or oppressive environment.

You all wear a mask sometimes, I can relate to Doom
Understanding and empathizing with the tendency to hide one's true self behind a facade.

That make the whole world earthquake, shake, and move
Having a profound impact that disrupts and transforms the entire world.

The beat create a mood or eat your whole plate of food
The power of the music to influence emotions or distract from other important aspects of life.

You can't come close like an order of protection
Maintaining a significant distance or barrier to prevent any potential harm or intrusion.

That this is myself in the pack was sort of my intention
Deliberately choosing to stand out and be different from the rest of the group.

Slaughter anybody testin' my callin', my profession
Defeating and overpowering anyone who challenges their skills or expertise.

Anymore questions will born 'em a lesson
Warning that further inquiries will result in a harsh lesson or reprimand.

A demonstration of takin' it all the way home
Displaying and proving mastery by successfully completing a task or goal.

While you stuck at first base and
Making progress and advancing further while others remain stagnant.

It's like havin' relations without the penetration
Engaging in activities or interactions that lack depth, substance, or meaningful impact.

Basically doin' nathin'
Essentially engaging in unproductive or meaningless actions.

You a waste of space and time
Considering someone to be entirely unimportant and insignificant.

Always chasin' mine is how you lost your place in line
Constantly pursuing personal goals and desires, causing them to lose their position or opportunity.

We got that uncut flow that bring the cops out
Possessing a raw and powerful style that attracts attention and scrutiny from authorities.

Pay and groan like young Mike and get knocked out
Facing severe consequences or defeat, reminiscent of a young Mike Tyson's victories.

Yeah, free the radio population
Expressing a desire for liberation and diversity in mainstream radio music.

Kweli and Doom the 1-2, the combination
Highlighting the collaboration between Kweli and Doom as a formidable and successful partnership.

About time you heard a rhyme flow with Doom and Kweli
Celebrating the long-awaited moment of experiencing the unique and skillful rap styles of Doom and Kweli.

To catch you with the combo, boom boom, Muhammad Ali
To surprise and impress the listener with their striking and powerful combination of skills, similar to Muhammad Ali's famous boxing techniques.

Versus Potsy cursin' Yahtzee at the crap table
Depicting a confrontational and intense situation, fueled by frustration and anger.

Burstin' caps at a Nazi rap label
Metaphorically attacking and criticizing a record label known for promoting controversial or offensive content.

Oops, a pot of hot tea spilt on the cable
Introducing a sudden and unexpected disruption or accident that affects the flow or direction of events.

Evaporate an ice grill, read the seeds of Aesop fable
Causing someone with a harsh or cold demeanor to soften and gain a deeper understanding or insight.

Children, come sit, gather
Inviting and encouraging individuals, especially younger ones, to come together and listen attentively.

Face the rapid fire of the super slap shit outta liar
Confronting someone with a barrage of quick and powerful statements, exposing their falsehoods and deceit.

The end
Concluding the narrative or story being told.

Villain, the champ tramp
Referring to themselves as a skilled and formidable individual, despite being misunderstood or underestimated.

Flowin' since they had him holdin'
Continuously showcasing their talent and skill in rapping since their early days.

He cleaned his mask with a shoe mitt
Symbolically wiping away any impurities or false representations with a humble and practical approach.

And a little bit of her blue spit
Incorporating elements of another person's creative influence, specifically their lyrics or style.

She told him you so stupid
Receiving criticism or disapproval, likely for their unconventional or eccentric choices.

Wiped it off, got dressed and left
Ignoring the negativity and judgments, instead moving forward confidently and independently.

Everybody instigatin', not just the ref
Observing how everyone, not just the presumed authority figure, encourages conflict or controversy.

We can shoot the fire on the dirt ground
Creating and producing intense and passionate rap lyrics even in less glamorous or ordinary settings.

Rocks out live with the worst sound
Delivering a powerful and electrifying performance, despite the unconventional or rough sound quality.

First round knock out
Achieving a swift and decisive victory early in a competition or confrontation.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANIEL DUMILE THOMPSON, ERIC KRASNO, ROBERT A DEITCH, TALIB GREEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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