Busta Rhymes and Thom Yorke lead tributes to the late MF DOOM

Busta Rhymes and Thom Yorke have led the tributes to hip-hop legend MF DOOM, whose death has just been announced.

MF DOOM’s wife announced that the London-born, US-based rap icon – real name Daniel Dumile – had passed away at the age of 49 at the end of October 2020.

Rhymes, who had collaborated with the MC as far back as 1991, described him as a “God MC” and “incredible human being”, adding that “he figured out something that none of us before him (had) and that was to be completely free!!!”

Yorke, who had hinted previously that he’d love to collaborate with the rapper, and di remix him for Ninja Tune’s offshoot Lex, said he was sad to hear of his passing, Tweeting: “He was a massive inspiration to so many of us,” and referring to his ‘stream of consciousness’ approach to lyrics as a game changer.

Tyler The Creator simply tweeted “safe travels villain”, UK actor and rapper Riz Ahmed described him as “one of a kind” while veteran rap hero Biz Markie declared “RIP to the Metal Faced Terrorist, the gas faced arsonist… hip-hop’s greatest villain.” Yasiin Bey fka Mos Def and Lupe Fiasco also took to social media to pay tribute, the former posting an impromptu cover of his ‘All Caps’ track, while Flying Lotus confirmed he had been working on a new EP with Dumilies. Tim Burgess of the Charlatans also dedicated his first Tim’s Twitter Listening Party of 2021 to MF Doom, choosing his Born Like This album as its subject.

MF DOOM started rapping professionally in the 1980s as part of the group KMD then took on the iron-masked super villain persona that made him famous in mid 90s, apparently inspired by the Marvel character Doctor Doom. As well as highly successful solo outings he also collaborated with Danger Mouse (as DANGERDOOM), Ghostface Killa of the Wu-Tang Clan, Gorillaz, The Avalanches and many more.