a menacing metal face mask, allowed him to remain one step removed from the music industry, the press, and even his fans, to the point that when the world first learned last week that he had passed away, he had already been dead for months. Infamous for allegedly sending “Doomposters” in his signature mask to appear on his behalf at clubs and concerts, he retained a somewhat adversarial relationship with the people who consumed (and loved) his music, unwilling to lift the veil on one of underground hip-hop’s most beloved creators.

What follows is a list of songs from across Daniel Dumile’s oeuvre—not necessarily his “best” work, but selections from his discography that exemplify his clever word play, unique style, and universe-building. Far from exhaustive, consider it a starting point to understanding why an MC with zero platinum or gold albums, without anything that could be considered a hit, could leave such an indelible mark on hip-hop.

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