British-American rapper MF DOOM (real name Daniel Dumile) has been confirmed dead via an Instagram post from his wife Jasmine, on 31 December 2020. The heartfelt tribute spoke of his kind nature and role as a mentor to her and their children. It also mentioned their son King Malachi Ezekiel Dumiel who passed away in 2017 aged just 14.

The message sparked some initial confusion among fans, as it was stated within the post that Dumile “Transitioned October 31 2020.” Twitter was abuzz with wildly different theories moments after the crushing announcement was made, with denial at the rapper’s loss being a common thread. The combination of the word “transitioned” and the date being listed as two months prior to the formal statement, had fans wondering if he had actually died.

Any doubt was soon removed, when Dumile’s representative, Richie Abbott, confirmed to Rolling Stone that the rapper had indeed passed away on October 31. The reason for the delay in the announcement has not yet been provided, nor has a cause of death been revealed.

MF DOOM was highly respected in his field, known as much for his enigmatic use of a mask during performances as he was for his complex and highly skilled rhyming. His life outside of the spotlight was fraught with tragedy, enduring the deaths of his younger brother DJ Subroc, and son Malachi. 

Through it all, his music prevailed, dropping six solo studio albums and six collaborative studio albums, as well as touring consistently during his career. His iconic mask was modelled after Marvel comics villain, Dr Doom and became a key part of his stage persona and the music itself. 

His endurance and skill as a rapper earned him a legion of loyal fans who are devastated by this news. Friends and colleagues from the hip hop community have also taken to Twitter to mourn his loss and express their condolences to Jasmine and his children. His tragic death leaves a notable hole in the world of hip hop music, and is a loss that will be keenly felt by many.

Author: Harley Houghton

Harley Houghton is a writer and blogger, based in Melbourne, Australia. Her passions include music, especially metal, gaming and comics. Check out her blog www.harleysmadhouse.com and follow her on Twitter.