MF Doom, the masked rapper and producer who revolutionized underground hip-hop with his intricate rhymes and eclectic beats, died on October 31, 2020, at the age of 49. His death was announced by his wife Jasmine on December 31, 2020, on his Instagram account, but the cause of his death remained a mystery for nearly three years. Now, a new report has revealed that MF Doom died of a rare and severe reaction to a blood pressure medication that he was prescribed by a doctor in Leeds, England.
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A Tragic Turn of Events
According to Live For Live Music, MF Doom, whose real name was Daniel Dumile, was visiting his family in Leeds in October 2020, when he started feeling unwell. He went to see a doctor at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, who diagnosed him with hypertension and prescribed him a drug called aliskiren. Aliskiren is an antihypertensive medication that lowers blood pressure by inhibiting an enzyme called renin. However, aliskiren can also cause serious side effects in some people, such as angioedema, which is a swelling of the face, tongue, throat, or other parts of the body.
Unfortunately, MF Doom was one of those people who had a rare and severe reaction to aliskiren. Within hours of taking the drug, he developed angioedema that obstructed his airway and caused him to suffocate. He was rushed to the hospital, but it was too late to save him. He died of hypoxic brain injury, which is a condition where the brain is starved of oxygen.
An Apology from the Hospital
The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has issued an apology to MF Doom’s family for his death. The trust said that it was unaware of the potential risk of aliskiren for patients like MF Doom, who had a history of allergies and asthma. The trust also said that it has changed its prescribing guidelines for aliskiren and has informed other health care providers about the dangers of the drug.
MF Doom’s wife Jasmine said that she accepted the apology from the hospital, but she also expressed her frustration and grief over losing her husband. She said that MF Doom was “the greatest husband, father, teacher, student, business partner, lover and friend I could ever ask for” and that his death was “a huge loss for the hip-hop community and the world”.
A Legacy of Innovation and Influence
MF Doom was born in London in 1971, but moved to New York as a child. He started his rap career as Zev Love X in the group KMD in the late 1980s. After his brother and bandmate DJ Subroc died in 1993, he disappeared from the music scene for several years. He reemerged in 1997 as MF Doom, wearing a metal mask inspired by the Marvel villain Doctor Doom. He released his debut solo album Operation: Doomsday in 1999 and went on to create a prolific and diverse body of work that spanned genres and styles.
MF Doom collaborated with many artists, such as Madlib (as Madvillain), Danger Mouse (as Danger Doom), Ghostface Killah (as DOOMSTARKS), Flying Lotus (as Captain Murphy), Gorillaz, Radiohead, and more. He also produced several instrumental albums under different aliases, such as Metal Fingers (Special Herbs series), King Geedorah (Take Me to Your Leader), and Viktor Vaughn (Vaudeville Villain). He was known for his complex and witty lyrics, his obscure and eclectic samples, and his unconventional flow and delivery.
MF Doom influenced many other rappers and producers, such as Tyler, The Creator, Earl Sweatshirt, Joey Bada$$, Aesop Rock, El-P, Open Mike Eagle, and more. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest MCs of all time and one of the most original and innovative artists in hip-hop history.
MF Doom’s death was mourned by fans and peers alike. Many tributes were paid to him on social media and in music. His legacy lives on through his music and his impact on hip-hop culture.
