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".

Poo‐Putt Platter
MF DOOM Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I tripped a lot out here in the woods lately

This is a platter of, this makes an, an exceptionally good late night's snack and also a dandy fly swatter
Ah, my eyes are going, I can't hit it

Nothing comes between me and my masters

(What is it father?)

These footprints were by, by the flying monkey men
(But they've been restrained in the Valley since we made the pig feet)
Yes, that is what disturbs me

He'd probably get indigestion
You will go
(I don't think so
Take them)

This jungle is dangerous Trapper
You will need assistance
(I know what I'm doing)

You risked your life for us, thanks

I lost an arm
(Good)
Stop it father
(Stand back
Return to the house)
No

What the?
Now Trapper, perhaps you will listen

Overall Meaning

The opening line of "Poo-Putt Platter" is a reference to MF DOOM's outdoor lifestyle, specifically his time spent in the forest. The following lines are spoken by a character in the song who is describing a plate of food that is good for both eating and killing flies. The line "my eyes are going, I can't hit it" suggests that the character is failing in their attempts to swat the flies due to their deteriorating vision.

The line "nothing comes between me and my masters" can be interpreted in a few different ways, depending on the context. It could be a metaphorical statement about the character's loyalty to those they serve, or it could refer to the fact that they have no obstacles standing in the way of their relationship with their masters. The subsequent lines about footprints and flying monkey men are a bit more challenging to interpret, but they suggest that something mysterious and potentially dangerous is going on.

Later in the song, a character referred to as "Trapper" insists that they don't need any help in navigating the jungle, despite being warned about its danger. This hubris leads to Trapper losing an arm, a development that is met with approval by another character in the song. The closing line suggests that Trapper has finally learned a lesson and is willing to listen to others.

Line by Line Meaning

I tripped a lot out here in the woods lately
I have been frequently stumbling in the forest recently.

This is a platter of, this makes an, an exceptionally good late night's snack and also a dandy fly swatter
This food is not only delicious but can also be used as a tool to swat flies.

Ah, my eyes are going, I can't hit it
My vision is deteriorating and I am having trouble hitting my target.

Nothing comes between me and my masters
I am fully devoted to my leaders and nothing can sway my loyalty.

(What is it father?)
(What is the matter, father?)

These footprints were by, by the flying monkey men
These tracks were made by the elusive flying monkeys.

(But they've been restrained in the Valley since we made the pig feet)
(But we thought we had trapped them in the Valley when we created the pig feet.)

Yes, that is what disturbs me
This realization is unsettling to me.

He'd probably get indigestion
He would most likely suffer from indigestion if he were to eat this food.

You will go
You are expected to leave now.

(I don't think so
(I do not agree with that statement.

Take them)
Please take these items with you.

This jungle is dangerous Trapper
This forest is high-risk and unsafe, Trapper.

You will need assistance
You should receive help and support.

(I know what I'm doing)
(I am aware of the risks and capable of handling them.)

You risked your life for us, thanks
You put yourself in danger to help us, thank you.

I lost an arm
I have suffered an amputation.

(Good)
(That is positive news.)

Stop it father
Please desist, father.