MF DOOM: Long Island to Leeds
Long Island to Leeds: Adam Batty reveals a new podcast exploring the mythology of DOOM's time in the UK
The mythology surrounding MF DOOM and his untimely passing resonated even more strongly with UK fans upon their slow realisation that he spent his final years over here... in Leeds.
MF DOOM: Long Island To Leeds is a new podcast that explores the story of this period in his life, as he came full circle back to the country he was born in. It's very much a labour of love from writer, producer and presenter, Adam Batty, whose mind was blown by the connection between one of his heroes and his own hometown.
"We all know the story that in 2010 he was expelled from the US, and all but disappeared. But the lesser known part of that story involves him setting up in my hometown of Leeds, for reasons nobody really fully understands.
"The initial idea for the project came to me just after the news of his death, before we knew that he lived in Leeds. I always found him a fascinating character. You know, I love him as a rapper, but just as a figure as well. I knew there was crossover appeal prior to his death, but what I really noticed after was this outpouring of grief from people like Thom Yorke, Damon Albarn, people who you wouldn't necessarily expect."
"It kind of felt like he'd been living next door to me. Going to the same coffee shops and bars as me. Have I been stood next to him at a gig? Sat next to him in the cinema?
"Mystique is such an important element of DOOM. In many ways it's his greatest asset and his anonymity is what allowed him to live in relative obscurIty, in a place like Leeds.
Don't expect clear cut answers. This is DOOM we're talking about, remember.
"We don't find out the truth - the mystery is what makes it so exciting. As curious as I was to understand why he was in Leeds, I was also super keen to preserve that air of mystery.
"I co-host the show with Afrodeutsche and we've got a cast of well-known fans and people as guests. Romesh Ranganathan is one of the biggest ambassadors for hip hop in the UK, and he really does love DOOM. MC Paul Barman is on there, who spent a lot of time with DOOM in New York in the early 2000s.
We've got Juice Aleem on there, who's also a massive comic book nerd.
It's such an unusual story, this massive American figure in this quiet British setting, so it felt true to the spirit of the show to get as many British voices on as we could. We've got a really cool soundtrack from Matt Helders of Arctic Monkeys, he's a massive hip hop head. It was good to get him involved because the podcast is made in Sheffield, too - places that normally don't tell stories like this, it's not London.
The last years of his life were tragic, and sad, and horrible. But it's a story that means a lot to us, and it's a real celebration of DOOM and his work. I feel like we've adopted him as one of our own."
His legacy already seems woven into the fabric of the city despite the murkiness of his presence there.
"We're trying to get a blue plaque made to mark him being here, and that Leeds was a part of his life. There's already a beautiful mural dedicated to him on the side of Belgrave Music Hall. There's always a chatter about DOOM when you queue for gigs there. I feel like the city, or we as fans, owe it to him to make that happen."
MF DOOM: Long Island to Leeds was made by Persephonica and is available on BBC Sounds now.
