THE CHRONICLES OF DOOM

Looking back at a late rapper inspired by comics.

Journalist Fernando explores the short and troubled life of the popular masked rapper MF Doom, who died at age 49 in 2020. The London-born Doom was raised in New York and faced challenges early on, including the death of his collaborator brother, Sub, at age 19. The experience doesn’t harden him so much as it breaks his heart. “Some part of DOOM was gone when Sub died,” says a music executive. This dark period, however, compels the rapper to seek a sort of rebirth, adopting the alter ego Doom from the comic book villain Dr. Doom of the Fantastic Four. One comic book fan describes him as “a compelling villain because he’s unabashedly the hero of his own story.” A love of cartoons, escape, and fantasy underscores Doom’s journey. “DOOM also possessed a time machine like his comic-book alias,” the author writes, “taking rap back to the fundamentals of dope beats and clever wordplay.” With the release of the album Madvillainy, Doom becomes “a certified star and no longer simply your rapper’s favorite rapper.”

An insightful celebration of a beloved rapper.