How did MF Doom die? Rapper dead aged 49

MF Doom, the British-born rapper has died at the age of 49, his family confirmed on social media.

The legendary artist's wife said on December 31, that he was "the greatest husband, father, teacher, student, business partner, lover and friend I could ever ask for."

Who was MF Doom?

Daniel Dumile was born on January 9, 1971, in London, England.

Dumile was the son of a Trinidadian mother and a Zimbabwean father.

His family moved to Long Island, New York, when he was a child.

Early in his rap career, Dumile went under the stage name Zevlove X and formed the rap group KMD in 1988, with his younger brother DJ Subroc and another artists named Rodan.

KMD, also known as Kausing Much Damage, signed with Elektra Records in the early 1990s.

In 1991, the Dumile and KMD's debut came on 3rd Bass' song The Gas Face.

That same year the group released their first album Mr. Hood, which featured the hit Peachfuzz and Who Me?.

Dumile went solo in the late 90s, after the death his brother Subroc, and took on a new identity as MF Doom.

He reappeared on the rap scene in 1997 and released his first solo album Operation: Doomsday in 1999.

He is probably best known for 2004's Madvillainy, which was recorded with crate-digging producer Madlib under the moniker Madvillain, and gave the rapper his first entry on the US album chart.

According to Complex, MF Doom "is responsible for some of the most beloved hip-hop albums of all-time, including Mm.. Food and Madvillainy with Madlib."

The rapper hadn't released a solo album since 2009, but "remained active in the decade that followed and released three separate collaborative efforts."

Earlier this month, he released a collaboration with BADBADNOTGOOD called The Chocolate Conquistadors.

Flying Lotus revealed he was working on an EP with MF Doom at the time of the rapper's death.

Flying Lotus, who had worked with Doom previously, was one of the first musicians to take to social media to express his grief.

He wrote: "My souls is crushed. The weight of this moment. I know we are in a pandemic but we have to celebrate DOOM. Just playing the music isn’t good enough.”

“I hate to say this but we were actually working on an EP,” he wrote in response to a fan's question. “There were more songs that I haven’t even heard.” 

How did he die?

No cause of death was provided, only that Dumile had "transitioned" on October 31.

However, the legendary rapped died on October 31, according to his wife Jasmine's Instagram post which was also confirmed by his record label.

"Thank you for all the things you have shown, taught and given to me, our children and our family," Jasmine wrote.

"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."

MF Doom's wife went on to say: "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."

Dumile is survived by his wife Jasmine and two kids.

One of their sons, King Malachi Ezekiel Dumile, was born on 22 February 2003, although he tragically passed away in 2017 at age 14.

Why did MF Doom wear a mask?

MF Doom fashioned himself after the Fantastic Four supervillain Doctor Doom, and began wearing a mask similar to the Marvel Comics villain.

Doctor Doom is even depicted rapping on the cover of the 1999 album Operation Doomsday.

Dumile told the New Yorker that the mask "came out of necessity."

He wanted to create a character with a complete backstory, which he would reference through a series of albums.

"The story was coming together, and it worked and became popular. And now people wanted to see shows, and I'm like, how do I do that?

“I wanted to get onstage and orate, without people thinking about the normal things people think about," Dumile said.

"Like girls being like, ‘Oh, he’s sexy,’ or ‘I don’t want him, he’s ugly,’ and then other dudes sizing you up. A visual always brings a first impression.

"But if there’s going to be a first impression I might as well use it to control the story. So why not do something like throw a mask on?," he added.

"I'm the writer, I'm the director. If I was to go out there without the mask on, they'd be like, 'Who the f*** is this?'"