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".
Red and Gold
MF DOOM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Clown kid got pounded in with the Timberlands
They left him trembling, he was not remembering
Never tuck your denim in just to floss an emblem
Some would debate you, "Wait, the fella ate gelatin
Or he been listening in to what his weathermen's was telling him"
When I could feel it in my melanin, it's compelling
Us to break them off, no reassembling
Fuck with you frequently like how phases of the moon would do
You could gather 'round like it was an eclipse
Just don't look directly to the bitch, you may be blinded by the scripts
Pass the L, the lass tells us an absurd tale
All hail, King Geedorah, the third rail
700 volts holds rap to a standstill
Fool ignore the rule, fuck up and get his man killed
Two bottles of Dom got his hands filled
And so goes the days of our lives as the hourglass sand spill
And built with Passion and a glass of the 'Ze
(And the lights went down and hey!)
And I knew it was the last day Wig-Twisting Season
When some could get their wigs twisted back within reason
Mostly with these crimes of treason
And you'll be lucky if there's no squeezing even this evening
From how he's feeling, thrilling choice of flow is sick
He's the villain with the million dollar voice-throw trick
He's like a ventriloquist, with his fist in the speaker's back
Couldn't think of no uniquer track, nope, sneak attack
It don't really matter how big them is so much as a nipple
Cause you could have a chick with D-Triple
'Cept the nipple little, just hot off the griddle
Like how he do monkey rhymers, like Monkey-in-the-Middle by his damn self
Ain't no average MC ahead of me
Getting cheddar instead of the probably better pedigree
With nicknames, sick games as Rick James
Messy games, sci-fly such as Jesse James
Blast, I figure, ass-hawking ass titty licker
Last one to walk up in, fast-talking city slicker
Got bagged cause of the dirty chick with make-up
Bail out quick for the 7:30 wake-up
My only backup was an A-cup, as far as May
To when the leaves turn red and gold to Nimrod earth day
All else? Worthless to say
(And the lights went down and hey!)
That's when I knew it was the first day Wig-Twisting Season
When some could get their wigs twisted back within reasoning
Mostly with these crimes of treason men
And y'all be lucky if there's no squeezing even this evening
It's like a mosquito, the much sweeter resent the act
I been bent back since my Physical went back
Since, Cultured more of my kin
And for them I keep an L rolled in this hellhole
Hold your head, use your head and hold, or be dead and cold
In the worsest way, soon as the leaves show red and gold
To 'round Nimrod release day
And all else? Needless to say
Wait a motherfucking minute! true facts presented
The names was probably changed just to protect who ain't in it
The XP was three-quarters tinted, 4/5ths was converted
The way his shit was twisted? Ask him if it hurted
Wig-Twisting Season
When some could get their wigs twisted back within reasoning
Mostly with these crimes of lying, and fronting, and cheating
All types of different styles of treason
The lyrics to MF DOOM's Red and Gold are cryptic and full of references and wordplay. The opening lines set the scene for a violent encounter, where someone gets beaten up and loses their memory. The singer warns against flossing and trying too hard to impress others with brands or emblems on clothing - this might make you a target for violence. The line "When I could feel it in my melanin, it's compelling" suggests that the singer is black, and the violence and danger they face may be because of their race. The singer encourages others to break off from society's rules and expectations, to not be constrained by science-fiction or theater - this may be a call to reject mainstream culture and embrace their own unique identity.
The song then shifts to a new verse where a woman tells a story about King Geedorah, who represents power and danger. The singer warns against ignoring the rules of this world, as it could lead to death. They also acknowledge the fleeting nature of time, and how it passes like sand in an hourglass. They also refer to their love of "Passion and a glass of 'Ze", indicating a taste for high-end champagne.
In the final verse, the singer references "Wig-Twisting Season", which could mean many things - perhaps a time of year when things go wrong, or a metaphor for changing one's identity. They warn against deception and betrayal, and end with a call to hold onto one's dignity and avoid being caught up in negativity and treachery.
Overall, the song seems to be a warning against following the crowd, and a call to embrace one's individuality and resist being dragged down by society's expectations. The references to violence and danger suggest that this message is especially relevant for people who are marginalized or oppressed.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember when, last past November when
Recalling a past event from November
Clown kid got pounded in with the Timberlands
Someone got brutally beaten up with Timberland boots
They left him trembling, he was not remembering
The victim was traumatized and couldn't remember what happened
Never tuck your denim in just to floss an emblem
Don't wear your jeans a certain way just to show off a logo
Some would debate you, "Wait, the fella ate gelatin
Some may argue that the person in question isn't who they seem
Or he been listening in to what his weathermen's was telling him"
Or they may be getting their info from unreliable sources
When I could feel it in my melanin, it's compelling
The singer feels a strong urge to take action based on their identity
Us to break them off, no reassembling
They feel the need to dismantle something or someone permanently
No science-fiction to no theater near you, coming soon to
This isn't a movie or a play, it's real life and it's happening soon
Fuck with you frequently like how phases of the moon would do
They will mess with you often and unpredictably
You could gather 'round like it was an eclipse
People may come together to witness something rare or unusual
Just don't look directly to the bitch, you may be blinded by the scripts
But beware, because what they see may be damaging to them
Pass the L, the lass tells us an absurd tale
Someone passes them a joint and someone else tells a ridiculous story
All hail, King Geedorah, the third rail
A reference to MF DOOM's alter ego and their significance
700 volts holds rap to a standstill
A metaphor for how powerful and influential they are
Fool ignore the rule, fuck up and get his man killed
Ignoring rules or betraying them can result in death/failure
Two bottles of Dom got his hands filled
They have expensive champagne in their hands
And so goes the days of our lives as the hourglass sand spill
Life continues to pass by, like sand falling through an hourglass
And built with Passion and a glass of the 'Ze
They create and innovate with passion and a glass of Cristal
(And the lights went down and hey!)
Something is about to change
And I knew it was the last day Wig-Twisting Season
Referring to some kind of violent event
When some could get their wigs twisted back within reason
When some could get retribution justified by reason
Mostly with these crimes of treason
Referring to betrayal/breaking of trust
And you'll be lucky if there's no squeezing even this evening
And someone may still face consequences tonight
From how he's feeling, thrilling choice of flow is sick
They're feeling good and confident about their unique flow
He's the villain with the million dollar voice-throw trick
They're portraying themselves as a villain with a valuable skill
He's like a ventriloquist, with his fist in the speaker's back
They have full control over their music like a puppeteer
Couldn't think of no uniquer track, nope, sneak attack
They pride themselves on their unique sound and approach
It don't really matter how big them is so much as a nipple
Size doesn't matter as much as a small detail
Cause you could have a chick with D-Triple
Even someone with large breasts could still lack that attention to detail
'Cept the nipple little, just hot off the griddle
Except for a small detail that's been overlooked or ignored
Like how he do monkey rhymers, like Monkey-in-the-Middle by his damn self
They don't rely on others to create their music and metaphorically act as both the monkey and person in the middle
Ain't no average MC ahead of me
They aren't an average rapper - they're something more
Getting cheddar instead of the probably better pedigree
They're focused on making money instead of pursuing higher education
With nicknames, sick games as Rick James
They play with names and titles, similar to how Rick James was known for playing with language
Messy games, sci-fly such as Jesse James
They're creating messy situations, just like the chaotic life of Jesse James
Blast, I figure, ass-hawking ass titty licker
They make a crude insult directed at someone who's supposed to be their friend or ally
Last one to walk up in, fast-talking city slicker
They're describing someone who's overly confident and pushy
Got bagged cause of the dirty chick with make-up
Someone got in trouble because of a woman who wears too much makeup
Bail out quick for the 7:30 wake-up
They need to leave quickly to avoid trouble or arrest
My only backup was an A-cup, as far as May
The only support they had was a woman with small breasts, referencing the month of May, which associates with new beginnings and fresh starts
To when the leaves turn red and gold to Nimrod earth day
Referencing a specific time of the year when nature changes
All else? Worthless to say
Everything else is unimportant or unworthy of mention
That's when I knew it was the first day Wig-Twisting Season
Referring to another violent event about to take place
Mostly with these crimes of treason men
Betrayal or breaking of trust is again a focal point
And y'all be lucky if there's no squeezing even this evening
Someone may still face consequences tonight
It's like a mosquito, the much sweeter resent the act
People may resent someone who they find too sweet or fake
I been bent back since my Physical went back
They've been struggling since they lost their physical form or status
Since, Cultured more of my kin
Since then, they've learned and grown with their peers
And for them I keep an L rolled in this hellhole
For their friends and peers, they always have a joint ready despite their difficult situation
Hold your head, use your head and hold, or be dead and cold
They need to stay strong and smart in order to survive
In the worsest way, soon as the leaves show red and gold
Things will get worse soon, signaled by the changing of seasons
To 'round Nimrod release day
Nimrod release day is a reference to a specific date and event
And all else? Needless to say
Everything else is unimportant or unnecessary to say
Wait a motherfucking minute! true facts presented
They question the validity of what they've just heard
The names was probably changed just to protect who ain't in it
The names in the story were changed to protect people's identities
The XP was three-quarters tinted, 4/5ths was converted
They provide specific details about a car used in the story
The way his shit was twisted? Ask him if it hurted
They make a crude joke about twisting someone's hair
Wig-Twisting Season
The title of the song that refers to some kind of violent time of year
When some could get their wigs twisted back within reasoning
When some could get what they deserve for their actions
Mostly with these crimes of lying, and fronting, and cheating
Referring to some of the things that people get punished for during this violent time of year
All types of different styles of treason
Betrayal, breaking of trust, or other types of disloyalty
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Daniel Dumile Thompson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind