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".

Lemon Grass
MF DOOM Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Intro: Juice Sample]
Hey man if Bishop calls or if he comes tell him I ain't here
Why, you don't like Bishop no more?
Why you asking so many questions man?
Cause I like Bishop!
Why?
Cause he's cool!
He's cool huh? Well you just tell Mr. Cool Man if he calls or comes by that I ain't here

[Verse 1]
See now a lot of people ain't impressed I know
Cause I'm 15 rapping and the kid ain't got no flow
You bozo's drowning in the words I'm spitting
So get the row boat, cause the stream of words gon grow mo' not grow mold
Cause they loco and my mojo is so pro
Yet I'm local and still stroll for more glow
But your ho know that I'm up next, she undressed
Showing her breasts, getting ready for sex
It's like that when you closer to the cash
The broads that used to laugh are ready to give you ass
It's nothing new, it's something you get accustomed to
When people start feeling your crew
cnd feeling the moves that you making
So please don't be mistaken the game is what I'm taking
I'm patient cause other dudes really ancient
cnd really ain't shit, they basic
Minds vacant, my rhymes sacred and I aim straight for greatness

[Hook]
I'm all about my cash and my cream and the dream
Cause it's all a nigga need on the thing
You lose in the booth, I'm the truth
Yeah, I'm young, you my motherfucking seed
I fiend fitteds, stay green in kicks
cin't worried bout none of these greasy chicks
Cause all they want is the cash when you get close
cnd all they see is the cash when you get close

[Verse 2]
I spit facts
You spit shit no one reacts to
Just had to let you know your rhymes wack dude
I'm passed you, matter fact I'm on a scaffold
It's mad true don't act like I ain't catch you
There's mad clues cause you claiming you got mad jewels
cnd tattoos, when I seen you, you ain't have two
You have to cut the bullshit now
Your profile is wild
My pro styles is wild
People know it, they just don't show it
They try to hold it emotions, cuz my deepst notion
Will leave their devotion in commotion
I'm still hoping that Hova hear me flowing
cnd know that I'm cold from the go
cnd that I'm chasing the gold
cnd the goals but the golden globes are also in a
Niggas scope, tryna get in a scope
cnd get scoped by interscope

[Hook]
I'm all about my cash and my cream and the dream
Cause it's all a nigga need on the thing
You lose in the booth, I'm the truth
Yeah, I'm young, you my motherfucking seed
I fiend fitteds, stay green in kicks
cin't worried bout none of these greasy chicks

Cause all they want is the cash when you get close
cnd all they see is the cash when you get close

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to MF DOOM's song "Lemon Grass" are filled with themes of confidence, ambition, and the pursuit of success. In the first verse, he addresses the skeptics who underestimate him because of his age and lack of conventional flow. Despite their doubts, DOOM asserts that his lyrical skills are unmatched, comparing himself to a stream of words that only grow stronger. He describes himself as both local and determined to achieve more recognition. He acknowledges the attention and attraction he receives from women now that he is closer to fame and wealth, emphasizing that he is focused on his own path towards success.

In the hook, DOOM highlights his commitment to acquiring wealth and pursuing his dreams above all else. He dismisses the competition, stating that he is the truth in the booth and asserting his dominance as a rising star. He also expresses a disregard for materialistic women who only care about money and reveals the inherent shallowness in these types of relationships.

The second verse continues with DOOM's blunt assessment of his competitors. He criticizes their weak and unoriginal rhymes while positioning himself above them, metaphorically climbing a scaffold to reach greater heights. He calls out another rapper for falsely claiming to have a lavish lifestyle, pointing out that he witnessed the lack of luxury firsthand. DOOM emphasizes the authenticity of his own style and the recognition he deserves, with hopes that even Jay-Z (Hova) will take notice of his talent and potential. He acknowledges the obstacles and challenges he faces in the music industry, comparing himself to a sniper trying to get a shot at success while navigating the complexities of a major record label (Interscope).

Overall, "Lemon Grass" reflects DOOM's confidence in his abilities as a rapper and his determination to succeed despite the doubts and obstacles he encounters. The lyrics touch on themes of ambition, validation, and the often materialistic nature of the music industry.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey man if Bishop calls or if he comes tell him I ain't here
If Bishop tries to contact me, let him know I'm not available

Why, you don't like Bishop no more?
Why are you suddenly not a fan of Bishop?

Why you asking so many questions man?
Why are you interrogating me?

Cause I like Bishop!
Because I think Bishop is cool!

Cause he's cool huh? Well you just tell Mr. Cool Man if he calls or comes by that I ain't here
If he tries to contact me, let him know I'm not here, even though he thinks he's cool

Lemon GrassMF DOOM Lyrics

Lemon Grass
MF DOOM Lyrics