Madlib Says He "Still Can't Believe" That MF DOOM Died

BY Josiah HughesPublished Jan 29, 2021

Last year ended with the devastating news that MF DOOM had passed away in October. The tributes have poured in as the artist's incomparable career was appreciated by a new generation. But to those closest to him, the news of his passing still just doesn't feel right. 

In a new interview, DOOM's frequent collaborator and Madvillain partner Madlib said that he still hasn't really been able to accept that the rapper born Daniel Dumile is gone. Speaking with NPR, Madlib explained that he found out about DOOM's passing at the same time as everyone else. 

"His family's very private, so they probably didn't know how to approach that one. I still can't believe that he died. That's weird," he said. "We talked like once or twice a year, but that's how it's always been. We talked last year and everything seemed fine… It was mostly me sending him beats, he rarely sent me stuff. But yeah we checked in, whether it was music or not, talking about our kids or whatever."

Of course, we've since learned that there are 11 finished songs for the sequel to MadvillainyDOOM's family has given Madlib and Stones Throw Records' their blessing to release the songs should they see fit.

Read Exclaim!'s 2004 interview with MF DOOM.

Madlib's new album with Four Tet, Sound Ancestors, is out today, and you can hear it below.

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