Lupe Fiasco released his tribute through a freestyle rap, in which he shared sorrow for MF DOOM’s passing, the contributions the departed artist made to the music industry, and the impact he has on Lupe Fiasco personally. Emotional and expressive, the closing lyrics captured the impact of MF DOOM’s passing; “Crying like a grown man… we’ll take it from here, look how far you brought us.”

To whom it may concern:

I ask and propose that from this point forward all rappers from everywhere and from every style and every level in the craft refer to “Similes” as “Dumiles”
Pronounced “Doom-ah-lays”

A small gesture for a fallen master.

MF DOOM

Can I get a 2nd?

— TAPE TAPE & HOUSE EP NOW PLAYING (@LupeFiasco) December 31, 2020

Alongside the rap, Lupe Fiasco expressed his grief through a series of tweets.. “To whom it may concern: I ask and propose that from this point forward all rappers from everywhere and from every style and every level in the craft refer to ‘Similes’ as ‘Dumiles’ […] A small gesture for a fallen master. MF DOOM Folded hands,” the artist wrote in his first tweet.

Thanx DOOM…I learned so much from you about the art of rapping. Studied and analyzed you for years as recently as a few days ago. I wish I could’ve met you to tell you that. …here’s some raps…rest easy…Amin… pic.twitter.com/1njyEArfzT — TAPE TAPE & HOUSE EP NOW PLAYING (@LupeFiasco) January 1, 2021

He went onto express his personal gratitude to the departed rapper. “Thanx DOOM…I learned so much from you about the art of rapping. Studied and analysed you for years as recently as a few days ago. I wish I could’ve met you to tell you that. Folded hands…here’s some raps…rest easy…Amin…”

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A post shared by MF DOOM. ALL CAPS. (@mfdoom)

MF DOOM’s departure was announced publicly through Instagram by his wife Jasmine. “To Dumile. The greatest husband, father, teacher, student, business partner, lover and friend I could ever ask for. 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,” she wrote.

“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. May THE ALL continue to bless you, our family and the planet.”

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<LINK IN BIO> Blood Orange x 박혜진 @parkhyyejin Call Me Freestyle

A post shared by Blood Orange (@devhynes) on Sep 16, 2020 at 7:58am PDT

Blood Orange has released a plethora of successful tracks and collaborated with a diverse set of names such as Tinashe, Toro y Moi, A$AP Rocky and Mariah Carey. His most recent collaboration with Park Hye Jin delivers everything from distorted vocals to a lullaby-like piano melody. When Park Hye Jin’s voice comes in, rapping over Hynes in Korean, the result is transcendental. The track is busy, but in classic Blood Orange style, all its disparate elements come together to form something beautiful.

Blood Orange, whose real name is Devonté Hynes, has been creating music since 2004. His first project was a dance-punk band called Test Icicles. When they performed live, Hynes, the bands guitarist and occasional vocalist, would writhe around on stage clad in dark clothing delivering grungy guitar lines.

He then left the band to pursue a solo career under the alias Lightspeed Champion. His EP Falling Off The Lavender Bridge was a collection of quirky songs with ‘well manicured strings and acoustic guitars’. Songs like Midnight Surprise had a Kooks like feel to them, all-be-it with far more unconventional lyrics.

In 2009, just after Hynes moved to New York,  he decided to put Lightspeed champion on the back burner and focus on a new project. This would be far more R&B and electronic in sound. His debut single Dinner was produced with Chris Taylor from Grizzly Bear and epitomised the artists new direction. The bright synth pattern and percussive beat is foot-tapping and dreamy, reminiscent of 80’s electronica but more gentle.

The instrumentation in this track, and also in his 2011 debut EP Coastal Groove, is a world away from his work with the Test Icicles and as Lightspeed Champion. The upbeat rhythm of songs like Forget It and Champagne Coast give them a pop like feel that was never present in Hynes’ previous endeavours.

His second EP, Cupid Deluxe, was a solid album that displayed a musical comfortability which had felt lacking when Hynes was working under the moniker of Lightspeed Champion. In standout track Your Not Good Enough, Hynes’ breathy vocals work perfectly with the jazzy bass line and maracas. In the followup to this he wrote some music for the motion picture Palo Alto, his dreamy R&B style fitting perfectly with the hazy visuals of a Californian summer.