He was 49 years old.
No cause of death was reported and CNN has contacted his record label and representatives to ask about the delay in announcing his death.
He began the note by addressing the rapper, whose real name was Daniel Dumile, with his last name.
“The best husband, father, teacher, student, business partner, lover and friend I could ever ask for,” the note said, “Thank you for all the things you have shown, taught, and given to me, our children, and our family. . “
Several well-known artists went on social media to mourn his death.
Born in London in 1971, he moved with his family to Long Island, New York, as a child, and began acting and producing hip hop as a teenager under the name Zev Love X.
He and his younger brother Dingilizwe, known as DJ Subroc, formed the group KMD and in 1991 released a critically acclaimed debut album, “Mr. Hood”.
His second album was set for release in 1993, when Dumile’s brother died after being hit by a car.
Five years later, the rapper re-emerged as Metal Face Doom, wearing a mask from the model of the Marvel villain, Dr. Doom, and released a solo album entitled “Operation: Doomsday”.
“I wanted to go on stage and pray, without people thinking about the normal things people think. As if the girls were saying, ‘Oh, it’s sexy’ or ‘I don’t want it, it’s ugly’, and then other guys you, ”Dumile said. “A visual always produces a first impression. But if there is a first impression, you could also use it to control the story. Why not do something like throw a mask?”
He became well known for his intellectual, intellectual, and intricate rhyming style, which he showed on six solo albums and five collaborative projects, including Danger Mouse and Ghostface Killah.
In 2017 his 14-year-old son, King Malachi Ezekiel Dumile, died.
The rapper’s wife referred to this loss when announcing the death of her husband.
“Words will never express what you and Malachi mean to me, I love you both and I always adore you,” he wrote. “May ALL continue to bless you, our family and the planet.”