Mysterious, mask-wearing rap star MF DOOM has reportedly died. According to the rapper's wife, Jasmine Dumile, DOOM (born Daniel Dumile) died on October 31st. His wife made his death public today (Dec. 31) via a post dedicated to Dumile on his Instagram page.
"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"
As news of DOOM's death spread, Hip-Hop luminaries reacted with shock and sadness. Tributes poured in across social media for MF DOOM, who began his career in the late 1980s as Zev Love X in the rap trio KMD. After the death of his brother Subroc, Dumile re-emerged almost a decade later as the mask-wearing lyrical virtuoso MF DOOM. He would spend the next two decades carving out a unique career as an independent rapper and producer known for reinvention and constant collaboration with peers such as Madlib and, most recently, the instrumental group BADBADNOTGOOD.
"NO WORDS 😢" Pete Rock posted on Instagram. Frequent collaborator Ghostface wrote: "R.I.P To my Brother @mfdoom #speachless"
You can read some of the reactions to news of MF DOOM's passing below.