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.
Classical Homicide
Dälek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In subdued tones I speak of the flesh which entombs our inner core
Who the blessed? Invade airwaves type Moors (wars)
Sore from travels to unmarked thresholds, grapple truths untold lying in whispers it figures.
He who snickers doesn't see final melody
Shattered splinters, melodic in their own unrest
Remind me of Osiris, made liars of us all
For 364 days I learned to crawl
Shed my last skin searching for angel with broken wing
Will she sing that e minor hymn? For those of us who sin?
For those of us who sin?
Within dirty sanctum became brethren's anthem
Jesus Christ a Black man walks the earth still
Forgot to speak the real, Struggle's fate not sealed.
I appeal to nil, never one, not one, none.
Amplify brainwaves to condense my thought
Bends the dark
Why question my art?
Shunned by rays of Amon Ra,
Darkness exposes every soul's flaw
I forever remain raw, unpolished
Drunk off knowledge of knowing I'm dumb
Now remain none's sum, while inner eyes' stay numb
We all shall succumb to eternal sleep,
For now I'll just yawn and speak on ill gutter beats
Watch falling leaves, walk on knees,
Down graveled path vocalize own epitaph
Evoke on path towards inner, nonlinear
Lay head mongst sinners
Solitude falls winter
Appauled at visual surrounding
Kept my bearings non-grounded
Liquid language kept frozen 40 oz's
How many Mc's know who Faust is?
Pardon original, Manuscript fit text type tailored suit
Felt effects at root through vein type heron' you shoot
Euphoric, saw banks of Tigris and Euphrates
Fertile Crescent hold more lessons than taught by deities
Vonsciousness is leaving me
Seen that same sage turn page on habitual
Perform tectonic rituals,
Broke abacus to calculate coordanates
But can't afford rent.... It makes no sense.
Forgot our days in shackles? You concentrate on battles?
I lecture graduates discussing Kant till they leave baffled.
Amplify brainwaves to condense my thought
Bends the dark
Why question my art?
The lyrics of Dälek's song Classical Homicide delve deep into introspection and explore themes of identity, struggle, and mortality. In the opening lines, the singer acknowledges their own subterranean nature and emphasizes the importance of maintaining their own language even when surrounded by ruins. The theme of introspection continues as the singer reflects on the flesh that encloses their inner core and questions who among them is blessed.
The song then shifts to a more politicized tone as the singer discusses the wars that invade airwaves and the truths that remain untold. The singer notes the irony of those who snicker and fail to see the final melody, which may be read as a commentary on society's lack of insight into the consequences of war and the pain it causes. The image of shattered splinters that are melodic in their own unrest recalls the myth of Osiris and the idea that lies and deception made liars of us all.
As the song continues, the singer bemoans the sense of urgency to resurrect the dead and seeks an angel with a broken wing to offer guidance to those who sin. The verse about "Jesus Christ a Black man walks the earth still" stands out as a powerful statement on the need for representation and equity in society. The final lines of the song are somewhat enigmatic, as the singer references their art and brainwaves being amplified to condense their thought, and then questions the need for others to question their art.
Line by Line Meaning
Subterranean maintain own tongue mongst ruins
Speaking in hushed tones about the physical body that entombs our innermost self, in a world that is destroyed and decayed.
Who the blessed? Invade airwaves type Moors (wars)
Asking who is privileged enough to control the media and spread their message, reminiscent of the Moors' invasion of Europe.
Sore from travels to unmarked thresholds, grapple truths untold lying in whispers it figures.
Tired from exploring uncharted territory in search of hidden truths that are only revealed in secret whispers.
He who snickers doesn't see final melody
Those who take pleasure in others' suffering are blind to the ultimate destiny of all people.
Shattered splinters, melodic in their own unrest
The broken fragments of our world create a hauntingly beautiful cacophony in their own destruction.
Remind me of Osiris, made liars of us all
The destruction and deceit in our world is reminiscent of the Egyptian god Osiris, who was betrayed and dismembered by his own brother.
For 364 days I learned to crawl
Almost every day is a struggle against the oppressive forces of society.
Appalled by sense of urgency to resurrect the dead
Surprised and disgusted by the pressure to revive lost causes and failed attempts.
Shed my last skin searching for angel with broken wing
Letting go of past identities and searching for someone who is imperfect and vulnerable, like ourselves.
Will she sing that e minor hymn? For those of us who sin?
Asking whether the angel with the broken wing will sing a mournful tune for those who are considered sinners and outcasts.
Within dirty sanctum became brethren's anthem
Huddled together in a less than desirable place, we have created our own rallying cry.
Jesus Christ a Black man walks the earth still
Imagining that Jesus is still with us, still suffering from the same injustices that plague black people today.
Forgot to speak the real, Struggle's fate not sealed.
Neglecting to communicate the harsh reality of the constant battle that we face, but recognizing that our fate is not fixed.
I appeal to nil, never one, not one, none.
Feeling like no one is listening, no one understands, and there is no one to appeal to.
Amplify brainwaves to condense my thought
Attempting to focus and sharpen my thoughts through intense concentration.
Bends the dark
The darkness of this world can be manipulated and used for our own purposes.
Why question my art?
Asking why my expression and creativity is being scrutinized and doubted.
Shunned by rays of Amon Ra,
Feeling rejected and unworthy in the face of the power and glory of the ancient Egyptian god.
Darkness exposes every soul's flaw
When hidden in the darkness, the faults and shortcomings of each person are revealed.
I forever remain raw, unpolished
I will never conform to society's expectations or be refined and polished to their liking.
Drunk off knowledge of knowing I'm dumb
Being intoxicated by the realization that I know very little in the grand scheme of things.
Now remain none's sum, while inner eyes' stay numb
Realizing that I don't add up to anyone else's expectations and yet remain unaware of my own inner feelings.
We all shall succumb to eternal sleep,
We will all eventually die and be at peace.
For now I'll just yawn and speak on ill gutter beats
For the time being, I will remain unimpressed and continue creating music that is unconventional and gritty.
Watch falling leaves, walk on knees,
Taking the time to appreciate the beauty of nature and living humbly and gratefully.
Down graveled path vocalize own epitaph
Walking through a difficult path and speaking my own definitive statement of the life I have lived.
Evoke on path towards inner, nonlinear
Stimulating the path towards understanding myself in a multi-dimensional, non-linear manner.
Lay head mongst sinners
Resting or finding companionship among those who are considered outcasts or impure.
Solitude falls winter
The sense of loneliness and isolation feels as cold and bleak as the winter season.
Appauled at visual surrounding
Feeling disgusted and overwhelmed by the visual environment around me.
Kept my bearings non-grounded
Intentionally keeping myself unsteady and unanchored, never completely at rest or settled.
Liquid language kept frozen 40 oz's
Using language and storytelling to cope with the harsh reality of life, often while drinking cheap alcohol.
How many Mc's know who Faust is?
Questioning how many rappers know about or understand this classical literary reference.
Pardon original, Manuscript fit text type tailored suit
Requesting forgiveness for being unique and unconventional, while acknowledging that my style and message fit well within the rap genre.
Felt effects at root through vein type heron' you shoot
Experiencing the negative effects of substance abuse that originate from deep within, much like a heroin addict who injects into their veins.
Euphoric, saw banks of Tigris and Euphrates
Experiencing intense happiness and joy, so much so that I saw the ancient Mesopotamian riverbanks in my mind's eye.
Fertile Crescent hold more lessons than taught by deities
Realizing that the ancient cradle of civilization holds more knowledge and wisdom than even the most powerful and revered gods.
Vonsciousness is leaving me
Feeling like my consciousness is slipping away or being lost altogether.
Seen that same sage turn page on habitual
Observing a wise person turn away from their previous routines and habits.
Perform tectonic rituals,
Engaging in powerful and transformative practices that cause enormous shifts in one's life.
Broke abacus to calculate coordanates
Breaking away from conventional methods of calculation and decision-making in order to navigate difficult situations.
But can't afford rent.... It makes no sense.
Struggling to make ends meet and feeling like my financial situation is illogical and unfair.
Forgot our days in shackles? You concentrate on battles?
Reminding others not to forget the history of oppression and slavery, and questioning why people are so focused on fighting among themselves instead of fighting against the real enemy.
I lecture graduates discussing Kant till they leave baffled.
Talking to educated people and discussing philosophical concepts such as Kant until they become confused and disoriented.
Amplify brainwaves to condense my thought
Continuing to focus and concentrate my thoughts through intense mental effort.
Bends the dark
Utilizing the darkness to our advantage and pushing back against it.
Why question my art?
Challenging those who might question the validity or integrity of my artistic expression.
Contributed by Maya G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.