London-born, Long Island-raised rapper MF DOOM, real name Daniel Dumile, is one of hip-hop's few remaining mysteries. From his insistence on wearing a mask to the way he retains total controls of how and when fans see him, he's an underground legend in a way few others in his field have managed. Perhaps more than anyone else in the last two decades, DOOM has had a lasting effect on the way people interpret and perform rap.
His distinctive approach to flowing on top of production, whether it be his own, Madlib's or anyone else lucky enough to get him on one of their beats, is often imitated, never replicated. The list of younger artists who are influenced by him is extensive, and he's still going strong 30 years after he debuted as an artist as part of KMD. To celebrate his infallible legacy, watch these 10 essential deep-cut DOOM videos.
MF Doom, Madlib, and Stones Throw On Muchmusic TV
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It’s not common to see so much of Stones Throw hanging out on video, and Muchmusic’s segment on the L.A. label is a must-watch for this very reason. Seeing J Rocc, Peanut Butter Wolf, Madlib, and DOOM digging through records exemplifies what brought these artists together in the first place. “Now I feel like I found my partner,” DOOM says of Madlib, who he still needs to get in the studio with for the long overdue Madvillainy 2.
Young MF DOOM Speaking to the Senate
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Before we knew him as MF DOOM, the masked rapper was Zev Love X, one-half of KMD. In this video, from 1991, a teenage DOOM is speaking at a Senate hearing about the importance of the “Motor Voter” bill, which would allow people to register to vote at the DMV when they get a driver’s license. The bill was eventually vetoed by George H.W. Bush. His face might not be recognizable to newer fans who know him only with the mask, but that voice is unmistakable.
The Island Tour
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In this video, you get to enjoy the wonder that is spending time with DOOM. In a rare on camera look, the masked villain takes us through a journey across the sea and mountains on a remote island. He reflects on his current whereabouts and music, appropriately wrapped in ambiguity, as the beat to “Lively Hood” featuring Ghostface rocks in the background. In his limited capacity, DOOM will always dictate the relationship and accessibility he has with his fans. With his Dumile laced Islanders jersey, it was DOOM not on some rap shit, just some DOOM shit. It’s mad intimate, which is why he does it in such small doses. DOOM seems to be in his most candid on and island. He is an island.
The NPR Interview
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Despite his enigmatic nature, DOOM has a surprising amount of interviews worth checking out. Even better yet, a lot of them see him dissecting his own work in detail, helping fans understand his often complex rhymes and flows. His interview with NPR in 2005 is no different, even if it’s difficult to hear what he’s saying sometimes thanks to the background music.
Summarizing everything he’s worked on from his work in the late ‘80s all the way up to the Mm.. Food and Madvillainy era, it’s the perfect interview to get to grips with his prolific, and immensely interesting career.
Tyler and Earl Meeting DOOM
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All of Odd Future's early tour videos are incredible, as these young kids travel the world, meet their idols, and skate their way across different countries. This one in particular, from the 2013 Earlwolf summer tour in Europe, sees Tyler and Earl almost lost for words as they meet MF DOOM backstage and then watch him perform at Reading Festival in the UK. There's a pretty good chance DOOM is your favorite rapper's favorite rapper, and Earl seems especially awed to meet him IRL.
KMD's Debut Performance
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Any diehard fan of DOOM is aware of his earliest work with KMD, rapping unmasked as Zev Love X, but this absolute gem of a video is still underappreciated. Unearthed back in 2012, this video of KMD’s first ever live performance, from all the way back in 1990, is absolutely fascinating. DOOM’s style still isn’t fully formed, and the production he’s rapping over isn’t anywhere near as interesting as what he’d go on to utilize in his later material, but it offers an unmissable glimpse at an artist honing his craft.
Mos Def Rapping DOOM
DOOM’s influence can be felt across a wide spectrum of rappers, but few showcase their love for the masked villain and his distinct style more than Yasiin Bey, aka Mos Def. The Brooklyn rapper has spoke at length about his appreciation for the Long Island legend, but he really went the extra mile with his enthusiastic performance of “All Caps.” His tribute holds its own, easily keeping up with the intricately interwoven rhyme schemes and really proving that he knows his shit when it comes to his peer.
DOOM's Interview with Benji B
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Benji B always gets an interesting interview out of his subjects, but he really goes a step further in his 2012 interview with DOOM. The fascinating half-hour interview features a number of tantalizing teases that have yet to come to fruition, but it remains a must-listen regardless. With mentions of the long-delayed Madvilliany 2, his thoughts on Earl Sweatshirt, and why he firmly believes J Dilla changed the game for the better, this interview is just as interesting as it is frustrating.
Now, seriously, where the hell is Madvilliany 2?!
The Stretch & Bobbito Freestyle
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DOOM is one of the best rappers ever, so hearing him rap in a different context to his recorded albums is always interesting. This 1997 freestyle on WKCR sees him completely in the zone, fully at grips with his idiosyncratic cadence, swerving on and off beat in a way that just sounds so right. No one is capable of matching his often avant-garde approach to rapping, and this lengthy freestyle (just audio, sorry) offers up plenty of proof as to why that is.
The RBMA Interview
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For those seeking a primer on what DOOM is all about, you'd be hard pressed to do better than his 2011 Red Bull Music Academy interview. Spanning his early career with KMD, his enigmatic solo persona, and even his work with Madlib, the interview is a broad look at both Doom's winding journey and his internal motivations. DOOM's dense, atmospheric, narrative-heavy music has always set him apart from mainstream hip-hop, and in his RBMA interview he reveals that his inspirations often come from outside the genre.
"The idea of having different characters is really just to get the storyline across, you know? Coming from one particular character makes, to me, the story boring. I get that mainly from novels and that style of writing or movies where there's multiple characters who carry the storyline," he says. "I think a lot of times in hip-hop especially artists get kind of pigeonholed into being 'the guy,' and it's kind of limiting in a way."
