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".
Gunfight
MF Doom Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
About a quarter to noon
Might as well have been a quarter to DOOM
Strapped with my six-shooter
Next to my six pack
My sawed-off, slung over my right shoulder
Hung on my back
Heavy artillery weigh down my belt strap
Without the clack clacking crack
Of the hammer slamming down into action
On the chest of any courageous brave soul
Who wanna come test The West
Select the weapon you want
But don’t mess with the best
We promise we can lay ‘em to rest
Make sure they sleepin’ in a closed casket
With skills that’s, obviously
The most murderous
I paint the bullseye, just show me the target
There’s a vest that can stop this
Ain’t been invented yet
If I got ya in my sights, it’s a fair bet
The back of your shirt’s prob'ly wet
And it ain’t just sweat!
(It’s a gunfight)
Ya life on the line with your rep
(It’s a gunfight)
High noon, fight to the death
(It’s a gunfight)
Don’t bring no knives, no fists
(It’s a gunfight)
Squatting, proper aim
Laying on the strong beer
Matching pair o' nickel six poppers
Thrown in our gear see a pure Iroquois
To feed black bellies seeds in need
44’s before the black talons, black stallions
Back o' wagon’s rations holding
For the cash in
What’s the haps, bust the caps
It’s a rap attack
Factor that it could be a trap crack
Catch him at the river bed, nakedly wretched
Blood’ll flow downstream as they shiver
Better check it i’ll be up ahead aways
Hold your fire, stay out the light
Stagecoach wide open, something ain’t right
Shot in the back, felt two hot leds enter me
Enter 12 shells, horse fell
Sent Hell, six enemies
Surrounded by militia
They ‘bout to unmask me
Lastly blew her a kiss and
Made plan B gasted blasphemy
(It’s a gunfight)
Ya life on the line with your rep
(It’s a gunfight)
High noon, fight to the death
(It’s a gunfight)
Don’t bring no knives, no fists
(It’s a gunfight)
Dipped out the saloon about a quarter to five
Jittery but the whiskey put
The jitters behind me
I've been sipping since 12: 50
Now tipsy and blindly
I come into the city square
You see Ol' Black Jack
Oh, oh, you got me you got me
(It’s a gunfight)
Ya life on the line with your rep
(It’s a gunfight)
High noon, fight to the death
(It’s a gunfight)
Don’t bring no knives, no fists
(It’s a gunfight)
The lyrics to MF DOOM's song "Gunfight" depict a wild west gun duel scenario, where the singer is armed and ready to defend themselves. The lyrics set the scene of a western saloon, with the singer stepping out about a quarter to noon, feeling prepared and confident. They are armed with a six-shooter and a six-pack of beer, with a sawed-off shotgun slung over their shoulder. The heavy artillery they carry symbolizes their determination to protect themselves and their reputation.
The lyrics emphasize the singer's lethal abilities, stating that no one can kill them without facing the consequence of the hammer slamming into action and taking their life. They challenge anyone who dares to test their skills, claiming to be the best and promising to make sure their enemies sleep in a closed casket. The idea of a gunfight becomes a metaphor for life and reputation, with high stakes and the potential for death.
The second verse introduces a group of individuals armed with .44 caliber guns, referred to as "black talons" and riding black stallions. They carry these weapons for rations and cash, indicating a dangerous and desperate lifestyle. As the singer encounters this group, they face a trap and are shot in the back. The verse ends with the singer surrounded by enemies, about to be unmasked. They blow a final kiss and make a plan B, prepared to face the consequences of their actions in this gunfight.
In the third verse, the singer dips out of the saloon around a quarter to five, having consumed whiskey and feeling tipsy. They enter the city square, encountering the formidable figure of Ol' Black Jack. The song ends on a cliffhanger, leaving the outcome of the gunfight uncertain.
Overall, "Gunfight" explores themes of self-defense, reputation, and the high stakes of a dangerous lifestyle. It uses the metaphor of a gunfight to represent the challenges and risks we face in life.
Line by Line Meaning
I step out the saloon
I walk out of the bar
About a quarter to noon
Around 11:45 AM
Might as well have been a quarter to DOOM
It was almost time for the inevitable chaos
Strapped with my six-shooter
Carrying my revolver
Next to my six pack
Beside my pack of beer
My sawed-off, slung over my right shoulder
My short-barreled shotgun hanging from my right shoulder
Hung on my back
Resting on my back
Heavy artillery weigh down my belt strap
My belt is burdened with powerful weapons
Ain’t gon' be no killing me
No one will successfully murder me
Without the clack clacking crack
Without the sound of the hammer hitting the gun
Of the hammer slamming down into action
The hammer striking the gun to make it ready
On the chest of any courageous brave soul
Aiming at the heart of a fearless person
Who wanna come test The West
Anyone wanting to challenge the dangerous Wild West
Select the weapon you want
Choose the weapon of your preference
But don’t mess with the best
But don't challenge the most skilled
We promise we can lay ‘em to rest
We assure you we can kill them
Make sure they sleepin’ in a closed casket
Ensure that they will be buried in a closed coffin
With skills that’s, obviously
With talent that is clearly evident
The most murderous
The most deadly
I paint the bullseye, just show me the target
I mark the exact spot to aim, just reveal the target
There’s a vest that can stop this
There's no protective vest that can prevent this
Ain’t been invented yet
It hasn't been created till now
If I got ya in my sights, it’s a fair bet
If I have you in my view, it's highly likely
The back of your shirt’s prob'ly wet
Your back is likely soaked, and it's not just sweat
And it ain’t just sweat!
And it's not solely due to perspiration!
Squatting, proper aim
Crouching down, aiming accurately
Laying on the strong beer
Drinking heavily
Matching pair o' nickel six poppers
Two nickel-plated revolvers that fit together
Thrown in our gear see a pure Iroquois
Included in our equipment is a genuine Iroquois
To feed black bellies seeds in need
To provide resources to hungry individuals
44’s before the black talons, black stallions
.44 caliber pistols come first before sinister claws and dark horses
Back o' wagon’s rations holding
Storing provisions at the back of the wagon
For the cash in
To secure the money
What’s the haps, bust the caps
What's happening? Shoot the guns!
It’s a rap attack
It's a sudden and aggressive confrontation
Factor that it could be a trap crack
Consider the possibility that it might be a clever setup
Catch him at the river bed, nakedly wretched
Capture him at the river, completely vulnerable
Blood’ll flow downstream as they shiver
Blood will flow downstream while they tremble in fear
Better check it i’ll be up ahead aways
You better investigate, I'll be a little further ahead
Hold your fire, stay out the light
Don't shoot, hide from the spotlight
Stagecoach wide open, something ain’t right
The stagecoach is exposed, something is wrong
Shot in the back, felt two hot leds enter me
Shot from behind, felt two warm bullets penetrate me
Enter 12 shells, horse fell
Enter twelve rounds, horse collapsed
Sent Hell, six enemies
Sent hell upon six adversaries
Surrounded by militia
Encircled by a group of armed soldiers
They ‘bout to unmask me
They are about to reveal my identity
Lastly blew her a kiss and
Finally, I blew her a goodbye kiss
Made plan B gasted blasphemy
Came up with an alternative plan, shocking their expectations
Dipped out the saloon about a quarter to five
Left the bar around 4:45 PM
Jittery but the whiskey put
Nervous, but the whiskey calmed me down
The jitters behind me
Leave the nervousness in the past
I've been sipping since 12: 50
I've been drinking since 12:50 PM
Now tipsy and blindly
Now drunk and unaware
I come into the city square
I enter the central area of the town
You see Ol' Black Jack
You notice Old Black Jack
Oh, oh, you got me you got me
Oh, oh, you caught me, you caught me
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Lateef Kenneth Daumont, Timothy Jerome Parker, Ethan Lull Parsonage, Daniel Dumile Thompson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jackory McSimmonds
This is the song that got me into MF DOOM when I first played Skate 3 as a kid. This song is still flames
RIP DOOM
Motorhead41
Amazing how a sick video game can amplify an artist's popularity. Love this damn song!
Vincetta Cox
The nostalgia of skate 3 is hitting me harder than falling in Hall of meat
STEEZY TREV
Undisputed best mode in the game
kubsons 07
RIP DOOM why is this not on spotify
Phillip Addington
My first exposure to MF DOOM all the way back in middle school playing skate 3.
Long live The Villain
Alex Crook
DOOM kils every song I've ever heard him feature on as if it was on his own album.
james chrismen
Listen to shadows of tomorrow
Rabbit
The best song I've ever stuck in my head hell yeah I love it
Sr Meezeekz
RIP MF DOOM 😥