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 Mask
MF Doom Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Things in my point of view starting going to
How things looked like
Opposed what things sound like
Ya know what i mean
Before you didn't know what
Emcees looked like
When you see em at party rocking you know so
Before you even knew know what I'm saying
Before videos pre videos you know so
You were going off the sound of the record
Straight skills
See once it started getting more publicized
And you know once hip hop started getting
Money making thing
Then you start getting these corporate ideas
Where you want to put what it looks like
To sell what to sounds what it looks like
We dealing with music so what I did
I came with the angle of
It don't matter what I look like
It don't matter what the artist look like
It's more bout what the artist sound like
Mask really represents the whole rebel
On trying sell a whole human being
More of a sound
At the same time it's something different
You know what I'm saying
It fit's with the theme
Of the theme of the rebel of a villain
Where to him he doesn't care bout the fame
None of that shit
That shit has no consequence
You know what i mean
It's more on the message
On what's being said
So it helps people focus more
On what's being said
It's still entertaining it's still
Like the theater
It has the appeal of you know
Something it can be considered entertaining
That message is still there
That villain represents anybody
Anybody can where the mask
Can be the villain male or female any race
So call race
It's about where you coming from
From your heart what's the message
What you got to say you know what i mean
That's why i mainly chose to bring the mask
Into the fold
In the song "The Mask," MF DOOM discusses the significance of wearing a mask in the world of hip hop and how it represents rebellion against the corporatization of the music industry. He reflects on how, in the early days of rap, artists were judged solely by their skills and the sound of their music. However, as hip hop became more mainstream and money-oriented, the focus shifted to the appearance and marketability of the artists. DOOM, as a rebel and a villain in his own right, chooses to wear a mask to emphasize that it's the message and the artistry that truly matter, not the physical appearance. By donning the mask, he breaks free from the constraints of societal expectations and allows the audience to fully focus on the content of his music.
The mask serves as a symbol of anonymity and universality, representing anyone who wants to express themselves freely without being judged based on their outward appearance. It transcends race, gender, and any other categorization, urging listeners to pay attention to the depth and substance of the artist's words. MF DOOM states that he wears the mask not for fame or recognition but to channel the true essence of his music and deliver a powerful message.
Line by Line Meaning
Yea the whole mask thing really ight
The concept of using a mask is quite significant.
Things in my point of view starting going to
From my perspective, things started to change.
How things looked like
The emphasis on appearance.
Opposed what things sound like
Contrary to the importance of sound.
Ya know what i mean
Do you understand what I'm saying?
Before you didn't know what
Previously, you were unaware of what.
Emcees looked like
How the emcees looked physically.
When you see em at party rocking you know so
When you witness them performing at parties.
Most times you em rock at a show
In most cases, the emcees excelled in live performances.
Before you even knew know what I'm saying
Before fully comprehending my point.
Before videos pre videos you know so
Before the era of music videos.
You were going off the sound of the record
You relied solely on the audio of the record.
Straight skills
Pure talent and abilities.
See once it started getting more publicized
As it became more popular and widely known.
And you know once hip hop started getting
With the commercialization of hip hop.
Money making thing
A profitable industry.
Then you start getting these corporate ideas
Corporate entities began influencing the direction.
Where you want to put what it looks like
Focusing on visual presentation.
To sell what to sounds what it looks like
Using appearances to market the sound.
We dealing with music so what I did
Music being the primary focus, I took a different approach.
I came with the angle of
I introduced the concept of.
It don't matter what I look like
My physical appearance is irrelevant.
It don't matter what the artist looks like
The appearance of the artist is inconsequential.
It's more bout what the artist sounds like
It revolves around the sound the artist produces.
Mask really represents the whole rebel
The mask symbolizes rebellion.
On trying sell a whole human being
Resisting the commodification of the artist.
More of a sound
Emphasizing the auditory experience.
At the same time it's something different
Simultaneously being unique.
You know what I'm saying
Do you understand my point?
It fit with the theme
It aligns with the overall concept.
Of the theme of the rebel of a villain
The concept of a rebellious antagonist.
Where to him he doesn't care bout the fame
The villain disregards fame and popularity.
None of that shit
None of those things matter.
That shit has no consequence
Those things hold no significance.
You know what i mean
Do you understand what I'm implying?
It's more on the message
The focus is on the message conveyed.
On what's being said
The content of the lyrics.
So it helps people focus more
Assisting individuals in directing their attention.
On what's being said
Towards the verbal expression.
It's still entertaining it's still
Remains entertaining and captivating.
Like the theater
Similar to the experience of watching a play.
It has the appeal of you know
It possesses an allure that.
Something it can be considered entertaining
Makes it highly enjoyable.
That message is still there
The underlying message remains present.
That villain represents anybody
The villain archetype represents anyone.
Anybody can wear the mask
Anyone has the ability to assume the character.
Can be the villain male or female any race
The villain can be of any gender or race.
So call race
So-called racial distinctions.
It's about where you coming from
It's about your background and origins.
From your heart what's the message
Expressing sincere emotions and the intended message.
What you got to say you know what i mean
What you have to communicate, understand?
That's why I mainly chose to bring the mask
Hence, my decision to prominently feature the mask.
Into the fold
Within the context or framework.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind