MF Doom has had a street renamed after him in New York, commemorating what the musician brought to the city.
Doom, who was born in London, was raised in New York and lived there for most of his life. However, after a European tour in 2010, the rapper was refused entry to the States and settled permanently in England.
The renaming has been granted permission after his old schoolmate, Dr Patrick C. Graham, put pressure on the relevant authorities in Long Beach to remember their local hero. The road is now called ‘KMD – MF DOOM Way’, and it is situated between Long Beach Boulevard and Riverside Boulevard.
This area is where he spent his childhood, and the ‘KMD’ part of its name refers to the hip-hop group that started his career back in the early ’90s.
In a statement, Graham proudly said: “His hip-hop lyricism represents some of the culture’s best linguistic metaphors, garnering intergenerational and interracial admiration. His life and art symbolise the resilience we need in our present context.”
Meanwhile, Long Beach city manager Donna Gayden said: “MF DOOM left an indelible mark on the music industry and on the lives of people across the globe. Long Beach is proud to bestow this honour in his memory and proud that he [once] called our City home.”