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".
Saffron
MF Doom Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lone masked manhunter, the
World's Greatest Detective
Delivers three agents of a foreign power-"
"-Appreciate all the trouble you went
To you must understand the
Experiments we've been conducting here
Are against our will"
Robbery in the history of New York
And a one man job at that!"
"So, you know who I am"
"Now, how did you figure it out?"
"If you would permit me to light my
Pipe it might become clearer to you"
The lyrics of MF DOOM's song "Saffron" describe the actions of a lone masked manhunter, who is also known as the world's greatest detective. As the darkness gives way to morning, the manhunter delivers three agents of a foreign power, possibly as part of some mission. However, the lyrics take a sudden turn and mention some experiments being conducted against the agents' will. It's unclear if the manhunter was involved in these experiments or if he is just delivering the agents to justice.
The lyrics then jump to a man talking about a big robbery, which he calls the biggest and boldest in the history of New York. He suggests that it was a one man job, indicating that he could be the lone masked manhunter from earlier in the song. The manhunter then reveals his identity to the other man, who is surprised and asks how he figured it out. The manhunter suggests that if he were allowed to light his pipe, he could provide some clarity.
The song's lyrics are cryptic and open to interpretation, but it's clear that MF DOOM has created a complex narrative with characters that are shrouded in mystery. The manhunter is particularly interesting since he seems to have multiple identities, including that of a detective and a criminal mastermind. The song creates a sense of tension and intrigue, making it an engaging listen.
Line by Line Meaning
The darkness falls away to morning as a
The night ends, making way for the morning sun.
Lone masked manhunter, the
A solitary vigilante, hidden behind a mask.
World's Greatest Detective
Acknowledging the hero's master abilities of deduction.
Delivers three agents of a foreign power-
The detective hands over foreign spies to the authorities.
-Appreciate all the trouble you went
Grateful for the surveillance the spies did.
To you must understand the
The spies had no choice but to follow orders.
Experiments we've been conducting here
Research that the spies were forced to partake in.
Are against our will"
The spies claim the experiments were not voluntary.
Ha ha hahahaha, the biggest and boldest
A laugh of satisfaction from a man who just performed a grand scheme.
Robbery in the history of New York
The man committed the greatest robbery in the city's history.
And a one man job at that!"
The man boasts of having done it alone.
"So, you know who I am"
The man acknowledges that he is known.
"Now, how did you figure it out?"
The man is curious as to how the detective got to him.
"If you would permit me to light my
If the man is allowed to smoke, his explanation will become clearer.
Pipe it might become clearer to you"
The man thinks smoking his pipe will help clarify his motives.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DANIEL DUMILE THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind