Hip-hop star MF Doom has died, his family confirmed on social media. The London-born musician - real name Daniel Dumile - was known for his sharp, intricate rhymes and his signature mask, which he never removed in public. In a post on the rapper's Instagram account, his wife Jasmine confirmed his death. A number of artists have paid tribute to MF Doom including Run The Jewels and Tyler, The Creator.
In a note addressed to the rapper, his wife paid tribute to "the greatest husband, father, teacher, student, business partner, lover and friend I could ever ask for". His representatives confirmed his death to Rolling Stone magazine. No cause of death was disclosed.
MF Doom moved to New York as a child before, as a teenager, performing in hip-hop group KMD. Following the loss of his younger brother and bandmate DJ Subroc, he left the music and becoming near homeless. But, in 1997, he remerged at open mic events in Manhattan, wearing tights over his face. He protected his anonymity for the rest of his career, adopting a mask based on the Marvel villain Doctor Doom for all his public appearances.
His debut, Operation: Doomsday, was released in 1999, and he followed it up with an almost non-stop outpouring of music. As well as six solo albums, he produced a wealth of bootlegs, compilations, collaborations, mixtapes and instrumental albums - including the influential, 10-part Special Herbs series.
Probably best known for 2004's Madvillainy, which was recorded with crate-digging producer Madlib under the moniker Madvillain, it gave the rapper his first entry on the US album chart.
Another high-profiled collaboration was with Danger Doom, alongside DJ Danger Mouse. He appeared with Damon Albarn's Gorillaz on their UK number one album Demon Days.
Other collaborators included Ghostface Killah, Flying Lotus, The Avalanches and Radiohead.
One of hip-hop's most respected MCs, many others lined up to pay tribute after news of his death broke on New Year's Eve.
"RIP to another Giant, your favourite MC's MC... MF DOOM," wrote A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip on Twitter. "Crushing news."
El-P of Run The Jewels added: "He was a writer's writer. Grateful I got to know you a little, king. Proud to be your fan. Thank you for keeping it weird and raw always. You inspired us all and always will."
"All u ever needed in hip-hop was this record," Flying Lotus tweeted alongside the album cover to Madvillainy. "My soul is crushed."
Apple Music presenter Zane Lowe said: "Rest In Peace to the great MF Doom. A true artist who gifted us with eternal innovation and creativity."
Tyler, The Creator wrote on Twitter: "Safe travels villain". The Sleaford Mods said: "RIP MF DOOM. Sleep well mate."
He was 49.
