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.
Atypical Stereotype
Dälek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't expect progress, the movement's all lateral
Upward climb result in heinous crime
Talkin' Tulsa '21, May 31
Burnt black Wall Street behind some pale sheets
Shit is weak, historically, events remain cyclical
Stories so typical, the tears run dry
Quick to link thought like when tape get spliced
What I call a good time? My hood and three dice
Ol' gold got this kid real nice, I'm a atypical stereotype
Ol' gold got this kid real nice, I'm a atypical stereotype
Truth stay intangible, they treat us like animals
Truth stay intangible, they treat us like animals
Truth stay intangible, they treat us like animals
Truth stay intangible, they treat us like animals
They got enamored with the glamor, lost sight of our plight
Doesn't take proper grammar to be able to write
Harsh truth always heard between the lines I recite
Change the world and I'll change my gripes
Change the world and I'll change my gripes
Sip the Iron wine at such great heights I ain't conscious
Speak for the paupers, griots and the authors
Truth stay intangible, they treat us like animals
Truth stay intangible, they treat us like animals
They got enamored with the glamor, lost sight of our plight
Doesn't take proper grammar to be able to write
Harsh truth always heard
Truth stay intangible, they treat us like animals
Truth stay intangible, they treat us like animals
Change the world and I'll change my gripes
Change the world and I'll change my gripes
Truth stay intangible, they treat us like animals
Sip the iron wine at such great heights I ain't conscious
Speak for the paupers, griots and the authors
Truth stay intangible, they treat us like animals
Truth stay intangible, they treat us like animals
Sip the iron wine at such great heights I ain't conscious
Speak for the paupers, griots and the authors
Truth stay intangible, they treat us like animals
Truth stay intangible, they treat us like animals
Sip the iron wine at such great heights I ain't conscious
Speak for the paupers, griots and the authors
Diseased try to lead? They lost us
Truth stay intangible, they treat us like animals
Truth stay intangible, they treat us like animals
Truth stay intangible, they treat us like animals
Truth stay intangible, they treat us like animals
The lyrics of dälek's song "Atypical Stereotype" deeply criticize the societal treatment of black people, who are perceived as "animals" without "truth" or progress. The movement is "lateral" with expected heinous crimes as the society is indifferent to the struggles of black people. The reference to the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, which was one of the most destructive massacres in the history of the United States, serves as a stark reminder that society has not moved beyond its racist past. The reference to "Burnt black Wall Street behind some pale sheets" refers to the racial violence that destroyed the thriving Black business district in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Furthermore, the artist speaks about the typicality and cyclical nature of the stories told about Black people, which results in a lack of emotion or empathy towards their struggles. The artist sips the "iron wine" to numb the pain of being treated as an outcast within society. The reference to his "hood and three dice" is a representation of the limited options available to Black people, who are often confined to poverty and subject to systemic racism, which limits their opportunities.
In the second half of the song, the artist speaks about the society's loss of sight of the Black population's struggles due to its glamorization of itself. The harsh truth can always be heard between the lines of what he recites, which implies how society should look beyond the superficial and listen to Black voices. The artist concludes the song by stating that society has lost those affected by poverty, or "paupers," storytellers, "griots," and "authors."
Line by Line Meaning
Truth stay intangible, they treat us like animals
The truth is hard to grasp, and society views us as inferior beings
Don't expect progress, the movement's all lateral
There is little improvement being made, and any changes made are minimal
Upward climb result in heinous crime, talkin' Tulsa '21, May 31
While striving for success, there have been instances of terrible violence against marginalized communities, such as the Tulsa Massacre in 1921
Burnt black Wall Street behind some pale sheets, shit is weak, historically, events remain cyclical
The destruction of affluent black communities, like Black Wall Street, is a recurring, cyclical event throughout history
Stories so typical, the tears run dry, sip the iron wine as poetic device
The stories of tragedy and oppression faced by minority groups are common and often result in emotional numbness or fatigue, represented by the metaphor of sipping iron wine
Quick to link thought like when tape get spliced, what I call a good time? My hood and three dice
I am quick to connect ideas like splicing tape, and my idea of having fun is gambling with friends in my neighborhood
Ol' gold got this kid real nice, I'm a atypical stereotype
My love for gold jewelry and flashy material possessions make me stand out as a stereotype, but I am not like the typical person believed to fit that stereotype
They got enamored with the glamor, lost sight of our plight, doesn't take proper grammar to be able to write
Society is distracted by superficial things, ignoring the struggles faced by marginalized groups, and one doesn't need to adhere to proper grammar to express these struggles
Harsh truth always heard between the lines I recite, change the world and I'll change my gripes
Although my lyrics may not be explicit, they convey harsh truths, and I will not have any complaints once the world improves
Sip the Iron wine at such great heights I ain't conscious, speak for the paupers, griots and the authors
Metaphorically drinking iron wine has made me numb to the struggles, but I will still speak out on behalf of those who have suffered and for those who voice their pain through storytelling
Diseased try to lead? They lost us
Those in power who are corrupted or malicious cannot effectively lead or gain support from the people they harm
Contributed by Zoe L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
victor towo lagos
Droga pura, se siente bien, gracias por compartir este tema :)
borracasete records
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm i am a atypical stereotype