MF Doom death: Groundbreaking rapper dies aged 49

An official cause of death has not been revealed

MF Doom death: Groundbreaking rapper dies aged 49 (Getty Images)

British-born rapper MF Doom has died, according to a statement released by his family. He was 49.

An official cause of death has not been revealed.

"The greatest husband, father, teacher, student, business partner, lover, and friend I could ever ask for," Doom's wife Jasmine wrote on the rapper’s Instagram page. 

"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," the statement continues. "Words will never express what you and Malachi mean to me, I love both and adore you always. May THE ALL continue to bless you, our family and the planet."

According to Doom's wife, the rapper died on 31 October. 

Born Daniel Dumile in London, Doom got his start in the group KMD in the late 1980s with his younger brother DJ Subroc and an MC called Rodan, who was later replaced by Onyx the Birthstone Kid.

As MF Doom, an identity he adopted in the late-1990s, the rapper wore a mask reminiscent of Marvel Comics super-villain Doctor Doom.

Doom's commercial breakthrough came in 2004 with the album Madvillainy, which he created with producer Madlib under the group name Madvillain. Over the course of his career, Doom collaborated with DJ Danger Mouse, Gorillaz, Ghostface Killah, Parallel Thought, Beth Gibbons of Portishead, Earl Sweatshirt, Flying Lotus, Thundercat and more.

Doom's final release was 2009's Born Like This.