MF DOOM || The Man Behind The Mask Documentary

Legendary rapper and producer MF DOOM is covered in this documentary. Your favorite rapper's favorite rapper. DOOM is a British-American rapper. He performed and released music under several stage names, most notably MF Doom (stylized in all caps). DOOM debuted during hip hop's golden age of the late 1980s and became a major figure in underground hip hop of the early 21st century. Upon his death, Variety called him "one of the most celebrated, unpredictable and enigmatic figures in independent hip-hop". People have called him The Phantom of the Opera of Hip Hop.

Born in London, Dumile moved with his family to Long Island, New York, at a young age. He began his musical career in 1988 as a member of the trio KMD, performing under the name Zev Love X with his younger brother DJ Subroc and another MC called Rodan. After hearing about the group from 3rd Bass, A&R Dante Ross signed KMD to Elektra Records and their recording debut arrived on 3rd Bass’s song “The Gas Face” from The Cactus Album. Their debut album Mr. Hood was released in 1991 and attained modest success with the singles “Peachfuzz” and “Who Me?” KMD disbanded in 1993.

After taking a hiatus from music, Dumile reemerged in 1998, when he began performing at open mic events while wearing a mask. He adopted the MF Doom persona and rarely made unmasked public appearances thereafter. His metal mask resembles that of Marvel Comics super-villain Doctor Doom, who is depicted rapping on the cover of his 1999 debut solo album Operation: Doomsday. DOOM’s most prolific period was in the early 2000s, when he released four studio albums and two collaborative albums between 2003 and 2005, using the MF Doom moniker as well as the pseudonyms King Geedorah and Viktor Vaughn. In the 2010s, he relocated to London, where he recorded more music.

MF DOOM frequently collaborated with other producers and rappers, most notably Madlib, under the moniker Madvillain. The duo's 2004 album Madvillainy received widespread critical acclaim upon its release and has been cited as DOOM’s magnum opus and a landmark album in hip hop. DOOM’s other notable collaborations include Danger Doom (with Danger Mouse), Doomstarks (with Ghostface Killah), JJ Doom (with Jneiro Jarel), NehruvianDoom (with Bishop Nehru), and Czarface Meets Metal Face (with Czarface).

In 2003, MF DOOM released the King Geedorah album Take Me to Your Leader. Geedorah is credited as producer, but only appears as an MC on four tracks. The majority of vocal tracks feature guest MCs, and the album features several instrumental montages of sampled vocals from old movies and TV shows—a technique employed on most of Doom’s albums. Later in 2003, DOOM released the LP Vaudeville Villain under the moniker Viktor Vaughn (another play on Doctor Doom, whose "real name" is Victor von Doom). In 2004 he released a follow-up LP under the Viktor Vaughn moniker, Venomous Villain. Later in 2004, the second MF Doom album Mm..Food was released by Minnesota-based label Rhymesayers Entertainment. DOOM’s first commercial breakthrough came in 2004, with the album Madvillainy, created with producer Madlib under the group name Madvillain. Released by Stones Throw Records, the album was a critical and commercial success. It has since become known as a MF DOOM masterpiece.

Have a peek below.