Their first major hit as Coldcut was the house-inflected People Hold On, featuring a then-unknown Lisa Stansfield. The single took the U.K. by a storm, and the subsequent album featured such luminaries as Junior Reid (on the single "Stop This Crazy Thing") and Queen Latifah.
In 1991 they started their own record label, Ninja Tune, which continues to release groundbreaking and extremely diverse music by a small army of like-minded artists. In 1997 the duo unveiled their own real time video manipulation software, VJamm. Coldcut's current live and DJ sets rely on video as much as records, taking the concept of multimedia performance into largely uncharted territory.
Conceptually, Coldcut owes as much to the ideas of beat writer and cut-up theorist William S. Burroughs, 1970s art / industrial group Throbbing Gristle, and the religious writings of J. R. "Bob" Dobbs as much as to hip-hop originators like Grandmaster Flash or later innovators Double D and Steinski.
Recognizing the power inherent in Burroughs' cut-up technique and its presence in hip hop music, More and Black have relentlessly pushed the D.I.Y. ethic and an understanding of play as a means of fostering greater interaction with and understanding of the world around you. The similarities between this ethos and that of hacking need hardly be stated. Ninja Tune uses a corporate facade to communicate via the marketplace itself, an idea first implemented by Throbbing Gristle via their own Industrial Records imprint.
One of the key aspects of the Ninja Tune ethos, Stealth, implies that their following of DJs and listeners are "agents" in a Burroughsian sense, propagating the D.I.Y. ethic of play as an essentially subversive act by replaying and manipulating media under the radar of mainstream culture. Nowadays Coldcut reach a worldwide audience through their syndicated radio show Solid Steel. Black has recently (2003) worked with Penny Rimbaud (ex Crass) on Crass Agenda's Savage Utopia project.
In 2006, Coldcut released their fifth album, Sound Mirrors. single True Skool featured rapper Roots Manuva and featured an Indian sample from a cult Bollywood era, making the track popular on the bhangra and desi scene and with most of the British Asian urban nation.
More Beats & Pieces
Coldcut Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A la cara
Que nunca se frena y con esto dispara que no hay oponente
O que nadie lo para
Que no te sorprenda con lo que este suena
Que suelta el veneno inyectado en la vena
Lo siento novato sale de mi boca la frase que dice tu
Grupo a la pena
Siento lo que vale
Parece por moda cuando el micro tomo te pregunten como
Y otro grupo sale
Raper feroz ritmo veloz estilo precoz y ni la voz me
Alcanzan
En casa preparo la mierda mas cruda y grabo en la carranza
RI-MA ATREVIDA Y PEGAJOSA
Pero lo dije que cruda tan mierda y por lo tanto olorosa
Y VA OTRO TALENTO QUE GOSA
Hip hopers que nunca salieron fracasan y graban cualquier cosa
EMPEZE Y AL PUBLICO LE INTERESE
NUNCA TROPEZE Y AHORA SOY TODO UN MC
Me siento bien ya no soy ahora el genero de mi se adueรฑa
El perro sigue ladrando y esa es la mejor seรฑa porque
Es mi tendencia ni yo descifro esta ciencia
Tiemblan sus patas cada vez que hago acto de presencia
Tu mientras piensas como darme y asi es que tu entras
No presumo a mi flota pero bรบscame y la encuentras
Que empache rima marca versache y traigo el cache
No levantes manos namas respeto oyendo al h
Sin-necesidad de ponรฉrtelo en cines
Rompo el guines y lo grabo sacrificando los fines
Tu baja la luz cabrรณn que me meto en la caja
Dile al dj que te ponga mi rola que a tu novia mas le cuaja
Ponte lente ha llegado el ente y viene a darte frente
Si no compras este comprende cronicas de un demente
Maรฑa quien sabe demacrado por migraรฑa
Sueno en mexico colombia chile bolivia y espaรฑa
Soรฑador confundido perdido entre lo dormido
Escribiendo cosas para ver si un dia salgo de jodido
Soy un pobre mantenido y formule mi mundo pink
Cogiendo a escondidas y comiendo en el burguer king
Tengo el poder quieres verme en escena llega al cover
Ponme a tu grupo de frente 3 2 1 ring game over
The lyrics of Coldcut's song More Beats & Pieces are actually in Spanish and they are not an original composition, rather it is a cover of a song by Mexican rapper Akil Ammar. The song is a reflection of the rapper's persona and his approach to music. He introduces himself as a fearless rapper who doesn't hold back and shoots directly at his opponents. He aims to surprise the listener with his style and venomous lyrics that flow through his veins. He is unapologetic about his words and takes pride in his craft, stating that he writes and thinks about what is valuable to him when he takes the pen. When he steps on the mic, he is a fierce rapper with a fast-paced style, and his words flow effortlessly.
The next few lines talk about how his music is not just a trend for him, it's a science that he doesn't understand himself. He believes in his abilities and the power of his music, and when he performs, he commands the respect of his audience. He doesn't shy away from competition and challenges others to step up their game. He boasts about his talents and his accomplishments, but he doesn't need to show off his wealth or material possessions. He is content with his modest life and enjoys his time at fast food joints like Burger King.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo sigo siendo la misma persona que suelta la mierda directo
A la cara
Que nunca se frena y con esto dispara que no hay oponente
O que nadie lo para
I am still the same person who speaks the truth directly
To your face
I never hold back and with this, I shoot without competition
Or anyone stopping me
Que no te sorprenda con lo que este suena
Que suelta el veneno inyectado en la vena
Don't be surprised by the way this sounds
It releases venom injected into my veins
Lo siento novato sale de mi boca la frase que dice tu
Grupo a la pena
My apologies, but the phrase that comes out of my mouth
Puts your group to shame
Cada que tomo la pluma escribo me inspiro lo pienso y
Siento lo que vale
Every time I pick up the pen, I write what inspires me
I think and feel what is valuable
Parece por moda cuando el micro tomo te pregunten como
Y otro grupo sale
It seems like a trend when I pick up the mic, and they ask how
And another group comes out
Raper feroz ritmo veloz estilo precoz y ni la voz me
Alcanzan
A fierce rapper with a fast rhythm, a premature style, and even my voice
Can't keep up with me
En casa preparo la mierda mas cruda y grabo en la carranza
I prepare the rawest shit at home and record it in Carranza
RI-MA ATREVIDA Y PEGAJOSA
Pero lo dije que cruda tan mierda y por lo tanto olorosa
Bold and catchy rhymes
But I warned you that it's raw shit and therefore stinky
Y VA OTRO TALENTO QUE GOSA
Hip hopers que nunca salieron fracasan y graban cualquier cosa
And here comes another talent that enjoys it
Hip-hoppers who never made it end up recording anything
EMPEZE Y AL PUBLICO LE INTERESE
NUNCA TROPEZE Y AHORA SOY TODO UN MC
I started, and the public was interested
I never stumbled, and now I'm a full-fledged MC
Me siento bien ya no soy ahora el genero de mi se adueรฑa
El perro sigue ladrando y esa es la mejor seรฑa porque
Es mi tendencia ni yo descifro esta ciencia
Tiemblan sus patas cada vez que hago acto de presencia
I feel good, no longer controlled by my genre
The dog still barks, the best sign because
It's my tendency, and even I can't decipher this science
Its legs tremble every time I show up
Tu mientras piensas como darme y asi es que tu entras
No presumo a mi flota pero bรบscame y la encuentras
While you think about how to get me, that's when you enter
I don't brag about my team, but look for me, and you'll find me
Que empache rima marca versache y traigo el cache
No levantes manos namas respeto oyendo al h
My rhymes are Versace brand, and I come with the cache
Don't raise your hands, just show respect when listening to me
Sin-necesidad de ponรฉrtelo en cines
Rompo el guines y lo grabo sacrificando los fines
No need to make it a movie
I break the record and record it, sacrificing my income
Tu baja la luz cabrรณn que me meto en la caja
Dile al dj que te ponga mi rola que a tu novia mas le cuaja
Turn down the lights, motherfucker, so I can get into the box
Tell the DJ to play my song, which your girlfriend will love the most
Ponte lente ha llegado el ente y viene a darte frente
Si no compras este comprende cronicas de un demente
Put on your glasses, the being has arrived and comes to confront you
If you don't buy this, understand the chronicles of a madman
Maรฑa quien sabe demacrado por migraรฑa
Sueno en mexico colombia chile bolivia y espaรฑa
I don't know, maybe it's due to a migraine
I dream of Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, and Spain
Soรฑador confundido perdido entre lo dormido
Escribiendo cosas para ver si un dia salgo de jodido
A confused dreamer lost among the sleep
Writing things to see if I can get out of this shit one day
Soy un pobre mantenido y formule mi mundo pink
Cogiendo a escondidas y comiendo en el burguer king
I'm a poor, maintained guy, and I created my pink world
Sneaking around and eating at Burger King
Tengo el poder quieres verme en escena llega al cover
Ponme a tu grupo de frente 3 2 1 ring game over
I have the power; if you want to see me on stage, come to the cover
Put me in front of your group: 3, 2, 1, ring-game over
Writer(s): Jonathan More, Matt Black, Kevin Foakes
Contributed by Sydney W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@paulcrisp9861
The mighty COLDCUT still rockin the decks, definitely one of a kind vibe, preferably at high volume ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ง๐ฌ๐ง Dec twenty two
@djangokill65
First saw this video on MTV's AMP back in '97. Still holds up.
@NLB90805
djangokill65 - fucken eh Bubba this tune surely does stand the test of (space)Time!
Love how the Japanese Woman says Ghetto Blaster.
@marcusjacobi7672
still a classic, thx 4 uploading
@lupercal40k
Very hard to find this video in it's entirety thanks for uploading it.
@noelhefele
Glad to have had it!
@darling_danke_schoen
Still the best
@djkreezz
Il me remue ce morceau !
@noelhefele
me too!
@NeuralNetProcessor
Always loved how the cuckoo clock cartoon matches the music