MF DOOM
The super villain and underground hip-hop legend MF DOOM sadly passed away October 2020, but following his death I have found myself re-listening to his music.
My first introduction to MF DOOM was when he featured on “November Has Come” on the Gorillaz album, “Demon Days”. At the time I thought it was such a raw track featuring this mystery man’s underground, unpolished vocals - he was a true throwback to the 90s underground mixtape budget mic sound. However, it wasn’t until four years later when I attended art college that the hip-hop skater students introduced me to MF DOOM’s music properly. I loved what I heard but I was more compelled by what I saw…
Madvillain
The first time I actually saw an image of MF DOOM was the iconic “Madvillain” collaboration album with Madlib. I was struck by the album artwork of the gladiator masked man with some unamused eyes looking straight back at me. There is something so arthouse and minimalist, especially with the welcome a splash of colour in the form of an orange square in the corner. I was curious to know the mystery of who was under the mask. Side note all my life I have had a small fear and bit of discomfort of masked people - but I think this fear was added to the appeal that drew me in.
The man staring back at me was a character and I needed to find his origin story. I have always enjoyed the use of visual personas and characters within music, just like how Gorrilaz formed a whole cartoon band with the craziest backstories to open up the context of the musical subjects.
This album is one I would love to own the vinyl and to have it spinning in the record player (that I also don’t own yet) as well as having the sleeve framed as wall art.
The Super Villain’s Master Plan
In 1999 the public was introduced to the super villain MF DOOM and he came in with an old-school sound and a flow that fluidly bent through reality and fiction. His lyrical content didn’t follow any of the existing trends at the time that were within the hip-hop/rap culture, and instead he opted for creating his own universe that was mixed with reality, where he was the super villain in a morning show cartoon. This has packaged his work up to be timeless - throwing back to old school production and samples truly lasting the test of time.
Under The Mask
Before MF DOOM was born, Daniel Dumile was known as Zev Love X and was one-third of 90s Hip-Hop trio KMD (Kausing Much Damage) with his younger brother DJ Subroc and Onyx the Birthstone Kid. Unfortunately, DJ Subroc died after being hit by a car whilst attempting to cross a New York highway. Zev Lov X pushed on finishing what they started that became the album, “Black Bastards”, the content was darker in tone but most shockingly was the artwork which featured a cartoon of a black caricature being hung by a noose. They were unexpectedly dropped from Elektra Records and Zev Love X disappeared.
After a few years hiatus, Daniel Dumile re-emerged as the metal-faced super villain MF DOOM. “MF” standing for Metal Fingers (when producing) and Metal Face (when rapping) “DOOM” is a direct inspiration from the metal Marvel supervillain Doctor Doom.
“So, the mask really represents the whole like, to rebel against trying to sell the product as a human being.” - MF DOOM
I find this quote fascinating in the fact that he was able to completely detach himself from the limelight when the mask came off. He took his own personality out of his art and replaced it with characters that can have larger than life personalities, ideas and concepts, on a track that can live forever. This also made him untouchable - he is so private, he has no stress from media or personal diss attacks from other rappers, and could just live normally whilst the mask was off.
Zev Love X
Legacy and Final Thoughts
His legacy will live on as he has influenced and inspired two decades of rappers, remember he is “your favourite rapper's favourite rapper”. I’m just excited for the next charismatic and talented characters to come out of the music industry.
The most direct inspiration that comes to mind is Captain Murphy, the Cult Leader created by Flying Lotus on the album Duality. MF DOOM does make an appearance on the track “Between Friends” under another persona Viktor Vaughn with Earl Sweatshirt, who is an MF DOOM superfan and has adopted his abstract rhyming style from.
Legends never truly die and if not imitated he will be credited to a large amount of hip-hop we listen to today.
In need of some artwork for your music project or merchandise?
If you are in need of some standout artwork to help entice people to listen to your new album or looking for a fresh design for some new merch, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me for a free initial chat!
Music plays such a massive part in all our lives, emotions and memories so I’m sure I will be breaking down another musician who has inspired me visually as well as sonically. So stay tuned.
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