Friday Afternoon Video: Happy Birthday, MF Doom!

Daniel Dumile, better known by the stage name MF Doom, was born on this day 38 years ago to a Trinidadean mother and a Zimbabwean father. And although he was born in London, Dumile moved to Long Island as a child and later became one of the most interesting and exciting voices in American hip-hop.

Originally rapping under the name Zev Love X, Dumile took the stage name MF Doom after his younger brother was killed in a car accident. Distraught by the loss and unable to perform without a mask or stocking over his face, Dumile -- who was heavily influenced by Marvel comic books, the character of Doctor Doom in particular -- began performing as M(etal) F(ace) Doom (after the "Dum" in Dumile). He eventually adopted a metal mask akin to the one that the supervillain Doctor Doom wears and now wears the mask at all times, never performing or being photographed without it.

These days, MF Doom does much more than just rap. Aside from collaborating with Madlib (in the group Madvillain) and DJ Danger Mouse (in the group Doctor Danger), he does voiceover work with the Cartoon Network's [adult swim], providing character voices on The Boondocks and Perfect Hair Forever.

With his last album as MF Doom released in 2005, Dumile is expected to release a new album in 2009 titled Born Into This. What does any of this have to do with Houston? Nothing. But who doesn't like a dude that raps in a metal mask?