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".
Go With The Flow
MF DOOM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And beware before I triple dare you like the last kid
Who asked me what we don't got that you got son
For one, flow that's elementary my dear Watson
Secondly, ever since I was little
Not so much to riddle, least rhyme to the syllable
Keep tracks that make a Arab thief clap
With no hands, I chopped these drums off
Actual fact, relax
In this land of lyrical lost, black
I'm not the cool sleestak
The one who might stop and talk to you
Poisoned a few, niggas who be biting styles I'm like pork to
Ooh, what you got to lose? Let mud fly
When I got blues I chew whole crews that's bud dry
So I ask why the styes from the cess
Shit be fucking with my eye as I pull it to the chest
The super motherfucking villain grip the mic with an iron hand
Throwing emcees to the fire from out the frying pan
It ain't no use in trying, man, son stop crying
Fronting like you death-defying, you need to stop lying
Speak your piece only once you're spoken to first
Now let me hear your verse while I'm choking you
With well refined rhymes like a editor
Throw them to my collection of skulls and spines like Predator
Fuck around, the only niggas who could hear the same sound (who?)
Was Jet Jaguar and James Brown
(Yeah, yeah only them two niggas?)
And I'm glad I took the time to write their names down to big 'em up
(True, true)
I'd like to say hi
It's Sci.Fly the odd Merlin
That's quick to whip up a script like Rod Serling
Who eye on bad bitch who used to whip the Sterling
Who see God toke but never see God hurlin'
My man Grimm had his little monkey like Space Ghost
Me myself I got flavors that out-taste most
With numb gums, some rhymers is lactose
Back to you MF Doom, you late show host
S to the U to the P E R-uh
Who chronicle these times in a 3-D horror
Thriller porno co-starrer in a realer drama
Who break bread with stingy kin-men, indian borrower
Lone gunman who candidly flip fly flows
Single-handedly with one eye closed
In a fly pose, no shirt Alayé
May see me stack the quarter-mill cash pay
That's in a smash way how he did it
Motherfucker probably couldn't peep it past a minute
The lyrics of MF DOOM's song "Go With the Flow" can be interpreted in many ways. The song begins with DOOM bigging up the Monsta Island Massive and warning listeners to beware before he triple dares them like the last kid who asked about his flow. He asserts his superiority by saying that his flow is elementary, and he has been rhyming since he was little. He is not a cool Sleestak and will poison anyone who bites his style.
DOOM then goes into a list of things that he questions, such as why the styes from the cess mess with his eyes and why people front like they are death-defying. He advises people to speak their piece only when spoken to first, and then proceeds to choke them with his well-refined rhymes like an editor. He mentions his collection of skulls and spines like Predator, and how Jet Jaguar and James Brown were the only ones who could hear the same sound.
The second part of the song is a bit more disjointed, but DOOM continues to assert his dominance by saying he's quick to whip up a script like Rod Serling and has flavors that out-taste most. He acknowledges his collaborator Grimm's little monkey like Space Ghost and asserts that he is a lone gunman who can flip fly flows and stack quarter-mill cash pay.
Overall, the lyrics of "Go With the Flow" are filled with bravado and tongue-twisting rhymes. The song can be interpreted as a warning to anyone who dares to challenge DOOM's flow or style.
Line by Line Meaning
Big up all the Monsta Island massive
Shout-out to the Monsta Island crew
And beware before I triple dare you like the last kid
Don't mess with me or I'll come after you
Who asked me what we don't got that you got son
Whoever asked me what we lack compared to them
For one, flow that's elementary my dear Watson
We need a more basic style of flow
Secondly, ever since I was little
Since a young age
Not so much to riddle, least rhyme to the syllable
I don't focus too much on riddles, just making sure my rhymes flow well
Keep tracks that make a Arab thief clap
I create beats that anyone would enjoy, even a thief
With no hands, I chopped these drums off
I produced these beats without needing anyone's help
Truly Yours, G Rap
Sincerely, G Rap
Actual fact, relax
The truth is, you should chill
In this land of lyrical lost, black
In this place where good rap is hard to find
I'm not the cool sleestak
I'm not the charming type
The one who might stop and talk to you
I'm not someone who likes socializing
Poisoned a few, niggas who be biting styles I'm like pork to
I ruined the careers of people who copied my style
Ooh, what you got to lose? Let mud fly
Why not take the risk and put out some music?
When I got blues I chew whole crews that's bud dry
When I'm down, I take it out on other rappers
So I ask why the styes from the cess
Why is there so much dirt and grime here?
Shit be fucking with my eye as I pull it to the chest
It's affecting me emotionally
The super motherfucking villain grip the mic with an iron hand
I hold the mic tight and deliver it with power
Throwing emcees to the fire from out the frying pan
I'm taking on other rappers with ease
It ain't no use in trying, man, son stop crying
There's no point in competing against me
Fronting like you death-defying, you need to stop lying
Don't act like you're unbeatable, be honest with yourself
Speak your piece only once you're spoken to first
Only speak if I ask you to
Now let me hear your verse while I'm choking you
Let me hear what you got while I'm overpowering you
With well refined rhymes like a editor
My rhymes are polished and edited
Throw them to my collection of skulls and spines like Predator
My rhymes are so good, they belong in a trophy case
Fuck around, the only niggas who could hear the same sound (who?)
Only Jet Jaguar and James Brown could match my beats
And I'm glad I took the time to write their names down to big 'em up
I want to show respect for their talent
I'd like to say hi
I want to introduce myself
It's Sci.Fly the odd Merlin
My name is Sci.Fly and I'm unique, like Merlin
That's quick to whip up a script like Rod Serling
I can write like Rod Serling, creator of the Twilight Zone
Who eye on bad bitch who used to whip the Sterling
I'm watching a woman who drives a Sterling car
Who see God toke but never see God hurlin'
She smokes weed but never gets sick
My man Grimm had his little monkey like Space Ghost
My friend Grimm had a pet monkey, like the character Space Ghost
Me myself I got flavors that out-taste most
I have a unique style that's better than most other rappers'
With numb gums, some rhymers is lactose
Some rappers' rhymes are weak, like they have numb gums
Back to you MF Doom, you late show host
Now back to you, MF DOOM, who's like a talk show host
S to the U to the P E R-uh
Introducing Super
Who chronicle these times in a 3-D horror
Who records these times like a horror movie
Thriller porno co-starrer in a realer drama
I'm like an actor in a R-rated thriller, realer than most movies
Who break bread with stingy kin-men, indian borrower
Who splits food with greedy family and friends
Lone gunman who candidly flip fly flows
I'm a solo rapper who changes up his style easily
Single-handedly with one eye closed
I can do it all by myself, even with one eye shut
In a fly pose, no shirt Alayé
Striking a cool pose, like Alayé with no shirt
May see me stack the quarter-mill cash pay
I might make a lot of money from this
That's in a smash way how he did it
I'll do it like a boss
Motherfucker probably couldn't peep it past a minute
Others probably couldn't do it as well as I can
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Daniel Dumile Thompson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind