MF Doom, the legendary British-American rapper and producer, 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. She did not reveal the cause of his death at the time, but praised him as “the greatest husband, father, teacher, student, business partner, lover and friend I could ever ask for”.
However, an inquest into his death has shed new light on the circumstances that led to his passing. According to BBC News, MF Doom died from a lack of oxygen to his brain after a reaction to a prescribed blood pressure medication. He also suffered from high blood pressure and kidney disease, according to NME.
Contents
The Final Days of MF Doom
MF Doom, whose real name was Daniel Dumile, was born in London in 1971 and moved to New York as a child. He began his rap career in the late 1980s as Zev Love X, a member of the group KMD. After the death of his brother and bandmate DJ Subroc in 1993, he disappeared from the music scene for several years.
He reemerged in the late 1990s with a new persona: MF Doom, a masked supervillain inspired by the Marvel Comics character Doctor Doom. He wore a metal mask that covered his entire face and never revealed his identity in public. He released several acclaimed solo albums and collaborated with artists such as Madlib, Danger Mouse, Ghostface Killah and Gorillaz.
In 2010, he was denied reentry to the United States after returning from an international tour. He relocated to London and continued to work on various projects with other artists. He also performed live shows in Europe and Asia.
In October 2020, he was admitted to St James’s Hospital in Leeds after experiencing swelling in his face and throat. This was caused by angioedema, a condition that causes sudden swelling often due to an allergic reaction. He was prescribed a drug called lisinopril to lower his blood pressure and reduce the swelling.
However, he had an adverse reaction to the drug and developed severe breathing difficulties. He was transferred to the intensive care unit and placed on a ventilator. He never regained consciousness and died on October 31.
The Hospital’s Apology and Investigation
The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs St James’s Hospital, has apologised for MF Doom’s death and admitted that there were “missed opportunities” during his treatment. According to The Guardian, an investigation found that there were delays in diagnosing his condition, administering the drug and monitoring its effects.
The trust said that it had “put in place a number of actions” to prevent similar incidents from happening again. It also offered its condolences to MF Doom’s family and fans.
MF Doom’s wife Jasmine said that she was “devastated” by his death and that he was “a loving husband and father”. She also thanked the hospital staff for their efforts to save him.
The Legacy of MF Doom
MF Doom is widely regarded as one of the most influential and innovative rappers of all time. His complex wordplay, intricate rhymes and unique style have inspired generations of hip-hop artists and fans. He is also known for his prolific output, releasing dozens of albums under various aliases and collaborations.
His death has been mourned by many prominent figures in the music industry and beyond. Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest called him “your favourite MC’s MC”. El-P of Run The Jewels said he was “a writer’s writer”. Tyler, The Creator said he was “glad i got to tell you i loved you”.
MF Doom’s music lives on as a testament to his genius and creativity. His mask remains a symbol of his mystery and mystique. His legacy is immortalised by his fans who chant his name: “All caps when you spell the man name”.
