dälek's music is dark, noisy and atmospheric, equally inspired by industrial music like Einstürzende Neubauten, the layered noise of My Bloody Valentine and the dense sound collages of Public Enemy. Their sound is often constructed through sampling and a musical base atypical of most hip-hop, making it difficult for people to classify their sound. They have been described as trip hop, glitch-hop, and metal-shoegaze-hip-hop, as well as criticized for their broad range of sound.
MC dälek described the group's music to the Chicago Sun-Times:
“It's purely hiphop, in the purest sense. If you listen to what hiphop has historically been, it was all about digging in different crates and finding different sounds, and finding different influences to create. If Afrika Bambaataa wasn't influenced by Kraftwerk, we wouldn't have 'Planet Rock'. So, in that sense, what we do is strictly hiphop.”
“If there is a difference, it's that the palette of sounds we work with is more varied than what has been called hiphop in the last 10 years. Somehow, as hiphop grew, it's been put into this box. I think it's funny when people are like "That's not hiphop. It's this and this and this." You can try to rationalize it as whatever you want to rationalize it as."
Studio albums:
• Negro Necro Nekros (1998)
• From Filthy Tongue of Gods and Griots (2002)
• Absence (2004)
• Abandoned Language (2007)
• Gutter Tactics (2009)
• Untitled (2010)
• Asphalt for Eden (2016)
• Endangered Philosophies (2017)
• Precipice (2022)
Collaborations, EPs and compilations:
• Megaton / Classic Homicide (2000) Split collaboration with Techno Animal.
• Ruin It (2002) In collaboration with Kid 606.
• Dälek vs. Velma (2002) Split collaboration with Velma.
• Derbe Respect, Alder (2004) In collaboration with Faust.
• Streets All Amped (2006)
• My Education vs. Dälek (2007) In collaboration with My Education.
• Deadverse Massive Vol. 1 (2007) Rarities 1999-2006.
• Griots and Gods - Les Eurockeennes Festival Belfort (2010) Live collaboration with The Young Gods.
(Subversive Script)
Dälek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What you fear nigga? I peeped you ball that fist.
You can't walk these streets cause you ain't equipped
What you fear nigga? I peeped you ball that fist.
You can't walk these streets cause you ain't equipped
What you fear nigga? We deep from Bronx to Bricks
We speak that deadverse, subversive script!
1.
Equate physical with first light and last breath
Obtained impossible from incept of this quest
Cave your puffed chest if you act like you best
Flow monosyllabic 'til you prove intellect
Ingest filthy water to survive this trek
Weary of these kids with clear eyes who inspect
First draft of manuscripts never reach depths
The kid who tagged along that you thought of as pest
Grew to 5'6" with thick skin
Hispanic
Dome contains wisdom within words we manic
My anger seems standard
I've grimaced since youth
A smile's of no use when it's death we speak to.
2.
Subdued speech pattern now seems familiar
Fear derived from ignorance makes sense in circumstance
Advanced gesture tell tale
Draw line in sand
Mistake to reawake ones who claim to understand
Remain rugged eyes open
Clench first fist over hand
Mental stay potent 'till gasps of broken man
Eyes keep focusing
Styles you noticing
Diseased because I am.
chorus:
What you fear nigga? I peeped you ball that fist.
You can't walk these streets cause you ain't equipped
What you fear nigga? I peeped you ball that fist.
You can't walk these streets cause you ain't equipped
What you fear nigga? I peeped you ball that fist.
You can't walk these streets cause you ain't equipped
What you fear nigga? We deep from Bronx to Bricks
We speak that deadverse, subversive script!
What you fear nigga? I peeped you ball that fist.
You can't walk these streets cause you ain't equipped
What you fear nigga? I peeped you ball that fist.
You can't walk these streets cause you ain't equipped
What you fear nigga? We deep from Bronx to Bricks
We speak that deadverse, subversive script!
chorus:
What you fear nigga? I peeped you ball that fist.
You can't walk these streets cause you ain't equipped
What you fear nigga? I peeped you ball that fist.
You can't walk these streets cause you ain't equipped
What you fear nigga? I peeped you ball that fist.
You can't walk these streets cause you ain't equipped
What you fear nigga? We deep from Bronx to Bricks
We speak that deadverse, subversive script!
The lyrics to dälek's song "Subversive Script" are a commentary on the experiences of an urban individual who has grown up around poverty, violence, and discrimination. The chorus confronts an individual who is posturing for a fight, questioning what they have to fear and asserting that they are ill-equipped to handle the realities of the streets. The lyrics continue to delve into the struggles of life in the Bronx and other urban settings, riddled with obstacles such as ignorance, inequality, and oppression. The verse describes the pressure to prove one's intellect in a society that undermines education, and the difficulty of expressing oneself through creative mediums such as writing or art. The song ultimately calls for a resistance against the system that holds back those who grow up in the Bronx and similar marginalized communities.
The use of the phrase "deadverse" in the chorus is a nod to the name of dälek's record label Deadverse Recordings. The song also features a sample from the 1991 film "New Jack City," a searing critique of inner-city life, drug culture, and police brutality. Additionally, the track's beat was produced by Oktopus, a member of the avant-garde hip-hop group cLOUDDEAD.
Line by Line Meaning
Equate physical with first light and last breath
Consider the importance of our physical existence from birth until death
Obtained impossible from incept of this quest
Achieved the unachievable from the beginning of this journey
Cave your puffed chest if you act like you best
Bring down your ego if you try to assert dominance
Flow monosyllabic 'til you prove intellect
Speak simply until you prove your intelligence
Ingest filthy water to survive this trek
Endure hardship to survive this difficult journey
Weary of these kids with clear eyes who inspect
We are cautious of those who seem innocent and curious
First draft of manuscripts never reach depths
Our ideas are often not fully realized in the first draft
The kid who tagged along that you thought of as pest
The outcast who was once ignored has grown powerful
Grew to 5'6" with thick skin
Hispanic
The outcast who was once ignored is now a strong, resilient, Hispanic person
Dome contains wisdom within words we manic
Our minds hold deep knowledge that we express through passionate speech
My anger seems standard
I've grimaced since youth
Our anger has been a constant emotion since childhood
A smile's of no use when it's death we speak to.
Optimism is not helpful in situations where we are discussing death and serious subjects
Subdued speech pattern now seems familiar
Our quiet way of speaking is now recognized by those around us
Fear derived from ignorance makes sense in circumstance
We understand why fear arises from not knowing and unfamiliar situations
Advanced gesture tell tale
Draw line in sand
Our actions reveal our intentions and we are taking a strong stance
Mistake to reawake ones who claim to understand
It is unwise to try to convince those who believe they already comprehend
Remain rugged eyes open
Clench first fist over hand
We stay alert and prepared for conflict
Mental stay potent 'till gasps of broken man
Our mindset remains strong until the end of a situation
Eyes keep focusing
Styles you noticing
Diseased because I am.
We remain vigilant, and our unique approach to things seems to unsettle others
What you fear nigga? I peeped you ball that fist.
You can't walk these streets cause you ain't equipped
What you fear nigga? We deep from Bronx to Bricks
We speak that deadverse, subversive script!
We know you are scared because we saw you clench your fist.
You are not ready to face the challenges of these streets.
We come from the Bronx to the Bricks, speaking our unconventional style.
Contributed by Kayla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kwanjaisa
I know the instrumental in the hook uses a guitar, but sounds like someone getting whipped and screaming. Amazing
@analfissure9477
@@alice-zn2dc ew
@JettBrando
It’s Joshua Booth from All Natural Lemon & Lime Flavors. He used guitar synth sounds, but this sample is also taken from a rehearsal, so it’s extra noisy and chaotic. It’s my bass in there, too.
@vepply
@@analfissure9477 @Anal Fissure
@charliehayes5537
@@JettBrandono way ! that’s so interesting, Love all natural filters… great shoegaze band
@geoffroyclop6234
@@JettBrando I actually remember seeing that it was a sample from a Silent Hill game I think? Well at least it was some horror game, it was submitted on whosampled and it really sounded like it was the origin of the sound, but it disappeared from the site.
@Cesnakas951
2002 ??? HOLY SHIT! This could easily be released even today and would still bang
@gustavvaip1600
i quess one benefit of being an estonian is that i have the ä letter on my keyboard
@sawtoothiandi
i believe 'brexit' is providing benefits to estonia now too lol
@jamieburns1207
i'd like to thank the industrial hip hop playlist for showing me this shitshow