The estate of MF DOOM has issued another request for Now-Again Records founder Eothen “Egon” Alapatt to return several of the late rapper’s handwritten notebooks
In a post shared across both Instagram and Twitter on Wednesday, DOOM’s widow Jasmine Dumile shared a series of Gmail screenshots that shows communications between Alapatt, herself, and DOOM under his Karlo Metal-Franks pseudonym.
“Any word from [redacted] on my belongings. I really need those notebooks," reads one email to Alapatt back in August 2016. "I have no idea where [redacted] is,” Alapatt responded. “As I told [redacted] when she contacted me… He disappeared when his family sold the building, which, from what I understand, has been gutted. I know from working with [redacted] that they carted away dumpsters full of stuff.” The redacted party in the emails allegedly told Dumile that Alapatt had the handwritten notebooks, which contained lyrics written by DOOM.
DOOM or his wife once again emailed Alapatt in January 2017, although no response from him was shown. “I also come to find out my notebooks are in your possession," reads the email in the second screenshot. "Let me know the cost of storage so we can promptly reclaim these items. I do appreciate the safe keeping and return of ALL the notebooks and any other property belong to DOOM in your possession.” The emails predate DOOM’s death in October 2020.
In a statement shared with Complex last year, Dumile claimed the precious rhyme books from the late rapper were in the possession of Alapatt. “We can confirm Eothen ‘Egon’ Alapatt is illegally in possession of rhyme books owned by MF DOOM,” Dumile stated. “There have been many unsuccessful attempts to get these back prior to DOOM’s passing. We had hoped after DOOM transitioned Egon would do the right thing and return the books to the family but he has continued to ignore these requests. Unfortunately, Egon is not the only former associate abusing the likeness, art and life’s work of DOOM, more will be said at the appropriate time.”
