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".
Modern Day Mugging
MF DOOM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nowadays get way payed is the pet phrase
Set the stage, preferably night time
Daylight reserved for research and writin' rhymes
Things is harder than the tarnish on the garnish
And his gold seems to ?, gosh darn-it we, we hold heat
Goin' all out to the fullest, all dipped
Black electric tape over the hole in the handle
If you hold it right and hit 'em with it they can't tell
But still, you gotta be careful
Dudes be so scared they cop pleas by the earful
V personally favors, "please don't kill me"
Empty out your pockets and I probably wont willy
But if you don't hurry up and shut up, I'll kill ya
So lay down and count to a hundred loud will ya?
When the nickle gleam like its greased up
Thugs turn to icicles, hard rocks freeze up
This could all be a distraction just to buy time to blast you
So keep something to cut in case you has to
If he was on the island he'd probably rob a millionaire
And be known for wilin' out like Bob Dylan here
These clever war tips
You wont get from cats who never wore skips
Now lets get down to brass tacks
Follow procedure and count stacks like NASDAQ
Don't be caught snoozin'
In the early morning hours from a long night of boozing
Stick 'em up chump, you know what this is
Do the right thing you might live to see your kids
All he said was "c'mon don't shoot!"
So shook I think he shit his Sean Jean suit
Why you starin'? run your chain like an errand
And your girls earrings, and what you wearin'
Survival tactics for when things get too gritty
He feels its his duty to the people of the city
Just so long as nobody get hurt
It keep your average citizen on point and alert
And don't forget to check her d-cup
Now I bust how he got this duck for his re-up
Then he's back on the bricks, smokin indo'
Never let a handy fiend fix your broken window
Oh, who wanna hate the witty lurker
Who follow y'all on the late, dressed like a city worker
Ok miss, come up off that bracelet
Just got your hair did don't make me waste it
So, go to hades get the devil for his stash
But no old ladies unless you're sure they carry mad cash
Like the one from the liquor store
He watched her for weeks now, ready for the quick score
Before he told her whore get on the floor
She pulled out and let off like quick draw McGraw
Damn yo, he lucky, she barely nicked the camo
He would've let her have it, if he had the ammo
Its all in good fun, true
Moral of the story son duke
Senior citizens'll bust their guns too
The lyrics of "Modern Day Mugging" by MF DOOM depict a character who is no longer the straight-A student he once was. Instead, he has turned to a life of crime in order to make money. The song highlights the contrast between his past and present, as he now reserves daylight for researching and writing rhymes, while his nights are dedicated to criminal activity.
The lyrics also delve into the harsh realities of this criminal lifestyle. The singer finds that things have become increasingly difficult, illustrated by the comparison of tarnished gold. Despite this, he carries a gun with no bullets or clip, relying on fear to intimidate his victims. The character shows a preference for non-violence, giving the command "please don't kill me" in hopes of emptying out his victim's pockets without causing harm. However, he also implies that if pressured, he is not afraid to resort to violence.
The song delves into survival tactics and the character's motivations. He believes it is his duty to protect the people of the city and keep them vigilant, as long as nobody gets hurt. The lyrics also touch on the character's interactions with various individuals he encounters during his criminal activities, including potential targets and even a senior citizen who is willing to use firearms.
Overall, "Modern Day Mugging" reflects the conflicted mindset and lifestyle of an individual who has turned to crime as a means of survival and financial gain in a harsh urban environment.
Line by Line Meaning
He used to get straight A's
He was once successful and achieving high grades in school
Nowadays get way payed is the pet phrase
Nowadays, the focus is on making a lot of money
Set the stage, preferably night time
Preferably, the activities take place at night to create an atmosphere
Daylight reserved for research and writin' rhymes
During the day, he focuses on studying and writing rhymes
Things is harder than the tarnish on the garnish
The challenges he faces are more difficult than the stains on decorative items
And his gold seems to ?, gosh darn-it we, we hold heat
The value of his possessions is uncertain, but he and his crew carry weapons
Goin' all out to the fullest, all dipped
They are going all out and fully prepared for any situation
Chrome four-fiddith, no bullets no clip
A chrome gun with no bullets or magazine inserted
Black electric tape over the hole in the handle
The hole in the handle is covered with black electric tape
If you hold it right and hit 'em with it they can't tell
By holding the gun properly and striking with it, the victim won't suspect it's empty
But still, you gotta be careful
Despite the precautions, one must remain cautious
Dudes be so scared they cop pleas by the earful
Some individuals are so frightened that they plead excessively
V personally favors, "please don't kill me"
He prefers when the victim pleads for their life
Empty out your pockets and I probably wont willy
If the victim empties their pockets, he likely won't harm them
But if you don't hurry up and shut up, I'll kill ya
If the victim doesn't comply quickly and remain silent, he will harm them
So lay down and count to a hundred loud will ya?
He instructs the victim to lay down and audibly count to a hundred
When the nickle gleam like its greased up
When the nickel-plated gun glistens as if it's been oiled
Thugs turn to icicles, hard rocks freeze up
The intimidating criminals become paralyzed with fear
This could all be a distraction just to buy time to blast you
The robbery might be a diversion to create an opportunity for a surprise attack
So keep something to cut in case you has to
It's important to carry a weapon in case a violent situation arises
If he was on the island he'd probably rob a millionaire
If he were stranded on an island, he would likely target a wealthy person
And be known for wilin' out like Bob Dylan here
He would gain a notorious reputation for being wild and rebellious like Bob Dylan
These clever war tips
These are clever strategies for engagement in illegal activities
You wont get from cats who never wore skips
You won't learn these tactics from inexperienced individuals
Now lets get down to brass tacks
Now it's time to focus on practical details
Follow procedure and count stacks like NASDAQ
Follow the proper steps and count money stacks like a stock exchange
Don't be caught snoozin'
Don't be caught unaware or unprepared
In the early morning hours from a long night of boozing
In the early morning, after a night of heavy drinking
Stick 'em up chump, you know what this is
Raise your hands, fool, you know the situation
Do the right thing you might live to see your kids
If you comply and do as instructed, you might survive to see your children
All he said was "c'mon don't shoot!"
All the victim pleaded was not to be shot
So shook I think he shit his Sean Jean suit
He was so terrified that he may have defecated in his designer suit
Why you starin'? run your chain like an errand
Stop staring and hand over your necklace as if it's a simple task
And your girls earrings, and what you wearin'
Also, give up your girlfriend's earrings and any valuable clothing
Survival tactics for when things get too gritty
These are strategies to ensure survival when the situation becomes dangerous
He feels its his duty to the people of the city
He believes it's his responsibility to protect the citizens of the city
Just so long as nobody get hurt
As long as no one is harmed in the process
It keep your average citizen on point and alert
This keeps ordinary people vigilant and aware
And don't forget to check her d-cup
Also, make sure to search the victim's bra for hidden items
Now I bust how he got this duck for his re-up
He reveals how he acquired a particular supply through an illegal transaction
Then he's back on the bricks, smokin indo'
Afterward, he returns to the streets, smoking marijuana
Never let a handy fiend fix your broken window
Never allow a drug addict to repair your damaged window
Oh, who wanna hate the witty lurker
Who wants to dislike the clever observer
Who follow y'all on the late, dressed like a city worker
Who tracks your movements during the night, disguised as a municipal employee
Ok miss, come up off that bracelet
Alright, miss, hand over that bracelet
Just got your hair did don't make me waste it
You just got your hair done, don't make me ruin it
So, go to hades get the devil for his stash
Go to hell and retrieve the devil's hidden drugs
But no old ladies unless you're sure they carry mad cash
But don't target elderly women unless you're certain they have a significant amount of money
Like the one from the liquor store
Similar to the one he observed at the liquor store
He watched her for weeks now, ready for the quick score
He observed her for weeks and is now prepared for a quick robbery
Before he told her whore get on the floor
Before he commanded her to get on the floor
She pulled out and let off like quick draw McGraw
Instead, she unexpectedly drew a weapon and shot like a fast-shooting fictional character
Damn yo, he lucky, she barely nicked the camo
He's fortunate, she only slightly grazed his camouflage clothing
He would've let her have it, if he had the ammo
He would have retaliated if he had the ammunition
Its all in good fun, true
It's all part of the thrill and excitement, indeed
Moral of the story son duke
The lesson to take away, young man
Senior citizens'll bust their guns too
Even elderly individuals are capable of using firearms
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: D Dumile, Nathaniel W. Gosman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind