The Greatest Mystery in Hip Hop - Facts and Rumors about Rodan / Mr Fantastik, MF Doom and the gang

Who is Rodan?


Rodan starts at 2:00 or so.

Lyrically juicy and enticing, combining speed an intelligence like nothing I've ever again seen in the rap world.  For many, the first time he appeared on a rap track was with the rap group M.I.C. (Monsta Island Czars).  MIC's members included MF Grimm (aka Jet Jaguar).

Rodan stands for this (from Wikipedia):

Rodan (ラドン Radon^?) is a fictional Japanese mutated pterosaur introduced in Rodan, a 1956 release from Toho Studios, the company that produced the Godzilla series. Like Godzilla and Anguirus, he is designed after a type of prehistoric reptile (the Japanese name "Radon" is a contraction of "pteranodon"). Radon is usually referred to as "Rodan" in the United States, possibly to avoid confusion with the atomic element Radon; any time his name is written in English in Japan, it is written as Rodan. He is occasionally portrayed as a rival and enemy of Godzilla, but is usually depicted as one of Godzilla's allies, much like Anguirus.

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So that is a pretty interesting name.  Rodan appears in the film Ghidrah, for which King Geedorah (one of MF Doom's alter egos) was named.  Rodan was also a band in the mid 90's, though I doubt there's a connection.


Also appearing in the mid 90's was KMD, a rap trio consisting of Zev Love X (real name: Daniel Dumile, later MF Doom), DJ Subroc, Zev's younger brother, and Rodan.  Rodan (fka Jade 1), according to the wiki article, was replaced by Onyx the Birthstone Kid.  All of the members of this group were very young, and were black Muslims active in their community, seeking to inspire "a positive Kause in a Much Damaged Society".  Rodan left the group to finish high school!

It appears while recording Black Bastards, their second album, that Onyx left the group, potentially because of the group's departure from lighthearted rap to more songs about drinking, drugs and sex.  Subroc was killed (RIP) at the young age of 20 (he was hit by a car) before the album was released.


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MIC ERA


After his brother's death and subsequent problems releasing his album, Dumile fell off the hip hop map from "1994 to 1997, living 'damn near homeless', walking the streets of Manhattan, sleeping on benches." (WIKIPEDIA)


He moved to Atlanta, GA in the late 90s.  Dumile was wounded but ready to return to hip hop.  Black Bastards had been bootlegged and turned out to be a cult classic.  He became MF DOOM, first wearing a sock on his head, then later a mask, and never being photographed without it.  He then began to release albums:

• 1999: Operation: Doomsday
• 2003: Take Me to Your Leader (as King Geedorah)
• 2003: Vaudeville Villain (as Viktor Vaughn)
• 2004: Venomous Villain (as Viktor Vaughn)

• Monsta Island Czars
  Released	March 3, 2003

   

On Take Me to your Leader, each rapper in the MIC crew chose their rap name based on a Godzilla character.  It is not clear to me if Rodan chose his name at this point or if he already went by this name previously (wikipedia can be tricky as a source).  In any event, Rodan is featured on this album, as is Mr Fantastik--who appears to be a slower-flowing Rodan.

As for Rodan, there is a lot of speculation.  One rumor:  "i had to ask a good source, and i was told mr.fantastik is a gully street dood u don't wanna meet.lol seriously he said making music is the last thing he thinking about. so that would probably explain why he is so lo key "


But if this above quote is true, then how did this happen:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT-400sF99E


Youtube user RONOMICAL posted a bunch of new Rodan lyrics over top-40 type beats.  Same raw style and seemingly quite angry.  Some subtle and some not-so-subtle digs to MF Doom involved (Doom spurned him on a project?).  Ronomical posted these videos in 2012!  For what reason?  He was not doing it to build up youtube karma, because he stopped posting after about 10 videos.  He mentions that you can download the mixtape but provides no links.  Alas, this hot trail looks like a dead end.


Doom went on to release a bunch of well known albums.


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Current ERA:


DOOM was born in UK,  and has now returned to his roots.  Did the JJ Doom project, supposedly working on Madvillain 2, and a project with young phenom Bishop Nehru.


Could Rodan/Fantastik be lurking somewhere, working on a mega-project in secret, and dropping it soon?


As much as DOOM hides himself behind the mask, it appears that Rodan has done a much better job at preserving his anonymity.


Other possible names Rodan might be going by:
Rondan
Jade 1 
Mr Fantastik
DJ Cucumber Slice
DJ Pocket
Big Jim
Little Lord Fauntleroy
Devastatin' Dave the Turntable Slave
Kooley C aka Calvin Puckett
Radric Davis
Earthquake

Rumors of who he might be:
Kevrok
Onyx
Del the Funkee Homosapien
RZA
GZA
Darc Mind
Dr. Moreau

To me, none of these seem right though.  I'm clearly missing some big piece of this puzzle.

Update:
Post here for posterity
https://www.reddit.com/r/UnsolvedMysteries/comments/1oy98t/greatest_mystery_in_hiphop_who_is_mr/