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".
The Final Hour
MF Doom Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She said "Excuse me"
And you be illin with the wordplay
He said "Thank you very much I'm billing till Thursday"
Once heard a beat drum it sounded like a sloppy knock
Whoever was on the mic speech is pure poppy cock
These go back to the days of pop lock
Where the girls wore jellies and played hop scotch
Older broads used to wear tennises and sloppy socks
APB the 3 headed with the fancy crown
Last seen headed towards a city in shanty town
All of a sudden can't be found
Safe and sound mouth on the nipple panties down
Put a choke hold on the monster from Ogopogo
Whoever did they vocals
And also they so-so logo
That's a no-no
Through the wheels of steel phono
Geedorah no deals pro bono
"Ah!"
The opening line of MF DOOM's song The Final Hour signals a sense of urgency, announcing the approaching end of time for the people of Earth. In the following verse, he uses his signature wordplay to recount a variety of hip hop tropes and cultural references from the past. He alludes to the days of pop locks, rumors of deaths from pop rocks, and girls wearing jellies while playing hopscotch. Through these references, he reflects on the evolution of hip hop and how cultural trends have changed over time.
MF DOOM then references an elusive group called the 3 headed with a fancy crown, who were last seen heading towards a shanty town. He describes the group as suddenly disappearing and being unable to be found. He then interjects with a graphic reference to oral sex and chokes up the monster from Ogopogo, a mythical creature from Canadian folklore. MF DOOM then critiques the vocals of an unnamed artist and their lackluster logo, making it clear that he will never compromise or do any deals for free.
In summary, the lyrics of "The Final Hour" reveal MF DOOM's introspective take on the past, present, and potential end of hip hop's cultural significance. It showcases DOOM's unique style of wordplay, cultural references, and metaphors, while also allowing room for critique and reflection.
Line by Line Meaning
She said "Excuse me"
A woman politely requests attention from her surroundings
And you be illin with the wordplay
The singer is impressed by the clever use of language by the subject
He said "Thank you very much I'm billing till Thursday"
A man expresses his gratitude and reveals his financial situation until a certain date
Once heard a beat drum it sounded like a sloppy knock
The artist recalls a time they heard a poor quality drum beat
Whoever was on the mic speech is pure poppy cock
The artist believes that the person speaking through the microphone is talking nonsense
These go back to the days of pop lock
The subject matter is reminiscent of a time of pop lock dancing
Even back to rumors that Mikey died off pop rocks
The singer references an old rumor about a person named Mikey dying from eating pop rocks
Where the girls wore jellies and played hop scotch
The artist describes a time when girls wore jelly shoes and played a hopscotch game
Older broads used to wear tennises and sloppy socks
Mature women used to wear tennis shoes and unkempt socks
APB the 3 headed with the fancy crown
The police are on the lookout for a group of people wearing crowns
Last seen headed towards a city in shanty town
The group was last sighted moving towards a poor part of the city
All of a sudden can't be found
The group has suddenly vanished and can't be located
Safe and sound mouth on the nipple panties down
The group is safe and content, engaging in inappropriate behavior
Put a choke hold on the monster from Ogopogo
An aggressive action is taken towards the mythical monster named Ogopogo
Whoever did they vocals
The person who provided the vocals is unknown
And also they so-so logo
The logo used by the artist is unremarkable
That's a no-no
The subpar logo is not acceptable
Through the wheels of steel phono
The sound is played through a DJ's turntable
Geedorah no deals pro bono
The singer is unwilling to provide free services
"Ah!"
An exclamation of emphasis or surprise
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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