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October 31 In Hip-Hop History: MF DOOM Passes Away At 49

MF DOOM

Photo: Getty Images

It's been four years since we lost the late MF DOOM.

On October 31, 2020, the revered rapper and producer passed away at 49 while he was in a hospital in the UK. According to his wife Jasmine, Doom, born Dumile Daniel Thompson, was taken off life support 10 days after he went into respiratory arrest and collapsed. He reportedly suffered from angioedema, which is a condition that developed due to a negative reaction to blood pressure medication he was previously prescribed. His death was kept under wraps for two months before his wife announced his passing on social media.

"To Dumile, the greatest husband, father, teacher, student, business partner, lover and friend I could ever ask for," Jasmine wrote in her announcement. "Thank you for all the things you have shown, taught and given to me, our children and our family. Thank you for teaching me how to forgive beings and give another chance, not to be so quick to judge and write off. Thank you for showing how not to be afraid to love and be the best person I could ever be. My world will never be the same without you. Words will never express what you and Malachi mean to me, I love both and adore you always."

MF DOOM's cause of death wasn't revealed until last July. His wife told LeedsLive in the UK that she still had questions about the artist's final days at St James's Hospital. Jasmine Dumile said her husband developed several health issues like high blood pressure and kidney disease, which caused anxiety and weight gain. He was prescribed angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which caused breathing problems after he experienced swelling in his throat and tongue. After he was hospitalized, Dumile reportedly told his wife that he was placed in an old room and couldn't reach the buzzer to inform the nurses of his worsening condition. Jasmine couldn't visit him herself due to the strict COVID restrictions.

"I was not able to see him until the 31st (of October) - that's when the respirator was turned off that was helping him breathe," she said.

Prior to his death, MF DOOM six solo albums including MM.. FOOD, which celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this month, and nine collaborative albums with the likes of Czarface, Madlib, Danger Mouse, Bishop Nehru and more. In honor of the anniversary, the estate released a special edition of the album and a full collection containing 20th Anniversary Edition Vinyl, CD, and Cassette, a MF DOOM x @super7 “MM..FOOD” ReAction Figure and Cereal Bowl Set, a “Hoe Cakes” 12-inch reissue and more merch. DOOM's estate also released a Madlib remix of the album's standout track "One Beer" and the official video for "Vomitspit."

Rest in peace MF DOOM.