Shadows of Tomorrow: Intersection Magazine's 2012 DOOM BUGGIES Feature Photographer Alex de Mora (The Witzard Interview)
Honestly, it doesn't even feel like there's a proper way to elegize an eccentric and extremely talented artist such as MF DOOM, who meant so much to so many of us for so many years for so many different reasons as truly unique as DOOM himself. So, what better way to pay tribute to The Man, The Myth, THE MASK himself than by speaking to those closest to him? With a heavy heart, I proudly present Shadows of Tomorrow; a new recurring column in tribute to DOOM in an effort to re-tell the tall tales, strange stories, and lesser-known tidbits of The Metal Face Villain himself. R.I.P. Daniel "MF DOOM" Dumile Thompson.
"I'll easily spend two thousand dollars on one of those. Every kid wants to have a remote controlled car, but back when I was a kid, we couldn't afford it. One day, I said OK, I'm gonna treat myself and [threw] down 500 dollars for one of these. It was a T-Maxx from the Traxxas company," MF DOOM told Intersection Magazine in 2012.
Tom Hall conducted said interview with DOOM primarily focused on his then-recent album, Key to The Kuffs, as JJ DOOM with Jneiro Jarel—but, also, touched on his affinity for collecting remote control cars. Upon DOOM's untimely passing, we saw a post on Twitter by Giovanni Martinez (@slimyburrito) about said RC-based DOOM feature; with some help from our friends here on The Internet, we were able to track down the photographer himself, Alex de Mora. Alex photographed DOOM and his son, King Malachi Ezekiel Dumile, for the aforementioned Intersection Magazine feature, as well as one with DOOM and a reptile for Juke Magazine. We recently spoke with Alex de Mora about both photoshoots, his experiences, and relationship with DOOM.
I. How did you initially get the gig to photograph MF DOOM and his son, King Malachi Ezekiel Dumile, for Intersection Magazine?
Alex de Mora: I was commissioned to photograph DOOM for both Intersection Magazine & Juke Magazine, who were run by the same company.
II. When and where did said photo shoot with DOOM & Malachi actually take place?
de Mora: The shoot took place [at] Haggerston [Park] BMX Track in East London in 2012. I, also, photographed him in a reptile shop in Crystal Palace in South London.
III. What did you learn about remote control cars and DOOM's affinity for collecting and racing them that fateful day?
de Mora: This is a long time ago, but I remember he was super-excited and brought his own car along with him. It's a blurry memory, but I remember lying on the [ground,] as he raced cars over jumps for shots and him spinning the wheels on his car in the dirt, so we could get these cool dust clouds in the pictures.
IV. What do you recall of your interaction with both DOOM & Malachi from behind the camera?
de Mora: I worked with DOOM twice and he was friendly both times and it's clear he was a family man by bringing his son along to the BMX track. I took photos of them together, posing in a typical family-style, but, obviously, with a rapper in a metal mask, it had a bit of a different vibe to it. He was intense, but funny. For example, we saw a passerby with this huge dog and asked if we could use it for a couple shots—DOOM had loads of fun holding the dog and getting his son to stand with him for the pictures.
V. Do you remember which album or project DOOM was promoting or actively working on at the time?
de Mora: I can't remember exactly, maybe, JJ DOOM—but I do remember it was all arranged through Lex Records.
VI. What would you say are amongst your fondest memories of MF DOOM & King Malachi Ezekiel Dumile?
de Mora: I guess, it's the wholesome side of DOOM mixed with his masked persona that makes it such an amazing memory. Seeing a rapper in a metal mask hanging out in East London [on] a BMX track, messing around, acting like any normal guy was pretty bizarre. The fact that he brought his son along, who seemed like the sweetest kid, just added to it all. He wasn't your typical rapper, that's for sure. An incredible artist. R.I.P.
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