MF DOOM‘s handwritten notebooks have been returned to his widow, ending a dispute between his widow, Jasmine Dumile Thompson, and his former A&R, Eothen “Egon” Alapatt.
- Read More: MF DOOM, 1971 – 2020: world-building rap hero who styled himself as a supervillain
In 2023, Thompson filed a lawsuit against the former A&R, alleging copyright infringement, fraud, intentional misrepresentation and unjust enrichment. The complaint, which was written along with Gas Drawls – the LLC that controls the late rapper’s intellectual property- arose shortly after DOOM’s death in 2020 when Alapatt obtained a number of DOOM’s handwritten notebooks.
Now, the dispute has been resolved and the notebooks have been returned to Thompson. MF DOOM’s official Instagram, which is managed by his estate, shared the news – and each party gave a statement.
“We are relieved to bring this chapter to a close,” Thompson said on behalf of her family. “Over the years, there have been many public narratives concerning this matter, some of which have been misrepresented or unfairly magnified.
“While differences did arise along the way, we acknowledge that Egon preserved DOOM’s invaluable notebooks and are grateful to now have them returned as part of this resolution. As a family, our focus remains steadfast on celebrating DOOM’s extraordinary legacy — his unparalleled artistry and his lasting impact on music and culture. We hope that this resolution serves as a step forward in continuing to honour his memory.”
Alapatt added: “DOOM was a dear friend to me and one of the most important artists I’ve ever known. I bought DOOM’s notebooks and kept them safe for years to ensure his powerful musical legacy could be preserved.
“My only goal has always been to showcase DOOM’s lasting musical genius, and the resolution Jasmine and I have reached regarding DOOM’s notebooks represents a significant triumph in protecting the genesis of a once-in-a-lifetime talent. I am proud to have played a role in saving some precious markers of DOOM’s life in music and trust Jasmine to determine the next steps for his notebooks.”
The beloved underground rapper — whose real name was Daniel Dumile — died on October 31, 2020, aged 49. In July 2023, his widow confirmed that he passed away from a condition known as angioedema, a rare and severe reaction to his blood pressure medication.
At around the same time, Leeds Hospital apologised to the rapper’s family after being questioned about the quality of his care prior to his death.
DOOM’s wife claimed that it was negligence by the staff at the Leeds hospital that led to his eventual passing, and alleged that those working at St James’ Hospital at the time failed to check on her husband frequently.
Since his death, various figures from across the music industry have come together to keep the rapper’s legacy alive. This includes a posthumous feature on ‘Cheat Codes’ – an album made by Danger Mouse and Black Thought – and plans for a biography, called The Chronicles of DOOM: Unraveling Rap’s Masked Iconoclast.
