I was told that an article on MF DOOM cites my name in reference to being present/having an archive of some of his early pre-mask days...found it:
https://www.vulture.com/article/mf-doom-obituary.html

wow...shout out @CraigSJ for this really beautiful piece in @vulture and thank you for the acknowledgement

tbc, DOOM performed at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, but it was NOT at Words! (open mic), but as secret guest to the Night Train (radio show, 89.9FM) showcase
one of the hosts, Vaz ( https://www.instagram.com/p/CJfCenOrRHp/ ), booked DOOM for his 1st show (that night mentioned in the piece)

This first DOOM show @ the Nuyo was in '98 and further detailed in this thread

more clarification around that bit in the article:

DOOM had already released two singles: "Dead Bent/Gas Drawls/Hey!" and "Greenbacks/Go With The Flow" as 12"s on @koolboblove's Fondle Em label

pardon i forgot to link the add'l details thread to DOOM's first show:
https://twitter.com/AlexGale/status/1345396860995862529
check my replies to @timmhotep (I was in the balcony w wild heads from RYB/TAO + TCK crews)

so it wasn't "later recording" for Bobbito, he had already put out music (w/ Bob)
matter fact, Night Train debuted a tape dub of Non Phixion's "Strange Universe" (DOOM's first guest feature as his new persona) at the Nuyorican that night

with only 5 songs out, there was a lot of lore around DOOM already
he wasn't a community staple, he did his own thing, apart from the underground
I'd put my savings on the fact that DOOM never hit an open mic
he was a voice some knew from a previous era

so in that regard, with only 5 songs out, DOOM hit that stage, as an enigmatic icon/hero of the so called underground
like "oh shit this guy is creating music in his basement somewhere... and it's amazing"
DOOM was already a proven testament to return and reinvention

let it be known that this isn't said to get at Craig's neck or be contrarian about "minor" details
it's important to be true to the actual chronology
it speaks even more to DOOM's shadowy existence being far less a shtick than an actual life reality
pay him or don't see him