MF DOOM Cause of Death Revealed: A Tragic End for a Hip-Hop Legend

MF DOOM, the mysterious and mythologized masked rapper who turned himself into an underground superstar, has died at 49, his family said in a statement on Thursday. The statement said he died on October 31, 2020, though the news hadn’t been announced until now.

MF DOOM, whose real name was Daniel Dumile, was born in London and raised on Long Island. He started his rap career as a teenager in the late 1980s, forming the group KMD with his younger brother, Dingilizwe. But his career cratered in 1993 after his brother was struck and killed by a car and the group’s label canceled the release of their second album, “Black Bastards.”

Dumile disappeared from the scene for years, later saying he was “damn near homeless, walking the streets of Manhattan, sleeping on benches.” He reemerged in the late ’90s and had reinvented himself as MF DOOM, wearing a metal mask and styling himself as a comic book villain. (The “MF” stands for “Metal Face.”)

On acclaimed albums like “Operation: Doomsday” and “Madvillainy,” a collaboration with the producer Madlib under the name Madvillain, Doom created his own hip-hop universe of alter egos, inside jokes, and free-association rhymes. Doom shunned the spotlight and shrouded himself in more mystery as his fame grew.

He never appeared in public without his mask, and sometimes used so-called “Doomposters” at his concerts — sending out another person in his mask to lip-sync his lyrics before unsuspecting fans.

MF DOOM Cause of Death: How Did He Die?

MF Doom died on October 31, 2020, at the age of 49. His death was not announced until December 31, 2020, by his wife Jasmine Dumile on his Instagram account. She did not disclose the cause of death at the time, but paid tribute to him as “the greatest husband, father, teacher, student, business partner, lover, and friend I could ever ask for.”

Jasmine Dumile revealed the rapper’s cause of death in an interview. She said that he died from angioedema, a rare and severe allergic reaction to a blood pressure medication that he had started taking a few weeks before his death. She said that he had suffered from kidney disease and high blood pressure for most of his life and that he had been hospitalized several times in the past year.

She said that he was feeling better and was working on new music before his condition suddenly deteriorated on the day of his death. She said that he died peacefully in his sleep at a hospital in Leeds, England, where he had been living since 2010.

Why Did MF DOOM’s Family Wait to Announce His Death?

The reason why MF DOOM’s family waited two months to announce his death is not clear. His wife Jasmine Dumile wrote in a post on the MF Doom Instagram page: “Thank you for showing how not to be afraid to love and be the best person I could ever be. My world will never be the same without you.” The full caption is below:

“To Dumile

The greatest husband, father, teacher, student, business partner, lover and friend I could ever ask for. Thank you for all the things you have shown, taught and given to me, our children and our family. Thank you for teaching me how to forgive beings and give another chance, not to be so quick to judge and write off. Thank you for showing how not to be afraid to love and be the best person I could ever be. My world will never be the same without you. Words will never express what you and Malachi mean to me, I love both and adore you always. May THE ALL continue to bless you, our family and the planet.

All my Love

Jasmine

Transitioned October 31, 2020″

 

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A post shared by MF DOOM. ALL CAPS. (@mfdoom)

Some fans have speculated that the delay was part of Doom’s persona as a secretive and elusive artist who liked to keep his fans guessing. Others have suggested that it was a way of respecting his privacy and allowing his family time to grieve.

However, Leeds Live reported that Dumile’s family had been struggling to get his body repatriated to the United States due to travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Dumile had lived in the US for most of his life, but he never gained American citizenship.

In 2010, he was denied reentry after returning from an international tour for his sixth and final solo album, Born Like This (2009). He relocated to London and, in his final years, worked mostly in collaboration with other artists.

How Did MF DOOM’s Fans React to His Death?

MF DOOM’s fans were shocked and saddened by the news of his death, which came as a surprise to many who had no idea that he had been ill or that he had passed away months ago. Many expressed their admiration and appreciation for his music and his influence on hip-hop culture.

Some of the tributes came from fellow artists who had worked with or been inspired by Doom, such as Tyler, the Creator, Flying Lotus, Q-Tip, El-P, Questlove, and Thom Yorke. They praised his creativity, originality, and lyricism, and shared their memories of collaborating with him or meeting him.

Others paid homage to Doom by sharing their favorite songs, albums, or verses from his extensive discography. Some also created artworks, memes, or playlists to honor his legacy. Many used the hashtag #RIPMFDOOM or #ALLCAPSWHENYOUSPELLTHEMANSNAME, a reference to one of his lyrics.

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What is MF DOOM’s Legacy?

MF DOOM’s legacy is that of a hip-hop legend who defied conventions and expectations and created a unique and influential body of work that spanned genres and generations. He was a master of wordplay, storytelling, and humor, who used his mask and his aliases to craft a persona that was both mysterious and relatable.

He was also a prolific and versatile producer, who sampled from a wide range of sources, such as cartoons, movies, comics, and video games. He collaborated with some of the most acclaimed and innovative artists in the industry, such as Madlib, Danger Mouse, Ghostface Killah, J Dilla, Gorillaz, and Radiohead.

He was admired and respected by his peers and fans alike, who recognized him as one of the greatest MCs of all time. He influenced countless artists who followed in his footsteps, such as Earl Sweatshirt, Joey Bada$$, Kendrick Lamar, and Denzel Curry.

He was a pioneer of underground and alternative hip hop, who challenged the mainstream and stayed true to his vision. He was a genius and a villain, a hero, and an antihero. He was MF DOOM.