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.
Gutter Tactics
Dälek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Acts to cause havoc, words weave with static
Streets tattered, preachers turned addicts
Knowledge subtracted, equation is tragic
Gutter tactics backed with mathematics
Acts to cause havoc, words weave with static
Streets tattered, preachers turned addicts
I've had it with these half-assed kids
They ain't ready, son, they talk all that shit
They already done, you ask who I is?
One in a million, intellect bred on bricks
That your feet is on
Bet your breath that your text bounce off
Chest like Teflon, that's my word god
Misspeak, catch a left from this southpaw
Bleed histories of Mayan kings and outlaws
Out-thought master strategists with quicker wit
Go toe-to-toe with the illest pugilist
Chose to rip microphones, deliver iller diatribe
I'd dissect KRS to ensure we survive
Times desperate, culture infested
Can't rock original style with a template
Memories cemented of where I first felt this
Soul set to rest on C-ment, seen as deviant
Designed as militant, blinded by my sun only
See our silhouette, attack on all fronts
Gutter tactics backed with mathematics
Acts to cause havoc, words weave with static
Streets tattered, preachers turned addicts
Knowledge subtracted, equation is tragic
Gutter tactics backed with mathematics
Acts to cause havoc, words weave with static
Streets tattered, preachers turned addicts
Knowledge subtracted, equation is tragic
I've had it with these half-assed kids
Only concerned with material
Inferior insight, rhymes superficial
Serial mental produce paragraphs for instrumentals
Now isn't that simple? Lyrics aimed at temple
Now who do I resemble? At window holding rifle
Attempts to stifle, thwarted with assorted left
And right fists, only know to resist
As these situations shift
Politicians lose grip on the multitudes and masses
Explanations get graphic, ghastly acts occur regular
They feed off the jugular, jungle warfare turned urban combat
Conversations tapped, operations turned black
Too late to turn back
Survival is how well we adapt to change in habitat
The intelligence they lack are the concepts we grasp
Pains of our past etched in man's fiber
History transcribed by hands of these liars
Gutter tactics backed with mathematics
Acts to cause havoc, words weave with static
Streets tattered, preachers turned addicts
Knowledge subtracted, equation is tragic
Gutter tactics backed with mathematics
Acts to cause havoc, words weave with static
Streets tattered, preachers turned addicts
Knowledge subtracted, equation is tragic
Gutter tactics backed with mathematics
Acts to cause havoc, words weave with static
Streets tattered, preachers turned addicts
Knowledge subtracted, equation is tragic
Gutter tactics backed with mathematics
Acts to cause havoc, words weave with static
Streets tattered, preachers turned addicts
Knowledge subtracted, equation is tragic
The lyrics of dälek's song Gutter Tactics convey a message of frustration with the current state of society, particularly with regards to the lack of intelligence and understanding. The phrase "gutter tactics backed with mathematics" suggests a juxtaposition between street smarts and intellectualism, as if these two things ought to be mutually exclusive. The act to cause havoc is described as weaving words with static, indicating a sense of confusion or lack of clarity, just as the streets are "tattered" and preachers have been turned into addicts. This bleak outlook is underscored by the final line of the chorus, "knowledge subtracted, equation is tragic."
The rest of the lyrics continue in this vein, with the rapper expressing his frustration at "half-assed kids" who talk big but lack substance. He describes himself as "one in a million," someone who has been intellectually "bred on bricks" rather than by more traditional means. He underscores his toughness and ability to withstand criticism by describing his chest as being like Teflon: nothing sticks. Despite all this, the rapper acknowledges the gravity of the situation, and warns that if politicians keep losing their grip on society, the consequences could be dire. The song's final line, "knowledge subtracted, equation is tragic," again highlights the sense of loss or decay that pervades the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Gutter tactics backed with mathematics
Using cunning and deception in combination with mathematical precision
Acts to cause havoc, words weave with static
Causing chaos with language that is distorted and unclear
Streets tattered, preachers turned addicts
The streets are in disrepair and even those who are supposed to be moral leaders have succumbed to addiction
Knowledge subtracted, equation is tragic
When knowledge is taken away, the result is a terrible outcome
I've had it with these half-assed kids
I am fed up with these inexperienced youngsters
They ain't ready, son, they talk all that shit
They are not prepared and are just saying empty words
Bet your breath that your text bounce off
You can be sure that your words will have no effect
Chest like Teflon, that's my word god
My chest is impenetrable, I swear it
Misspeak, catch a left from this southpaw
If you make a mistake, you'll feel the punch of my left fist
Bleed histories of Mayan kings and outlaws
Recounting tales of powerful rulers and rebels who challenged authority
Out-thought master strategists with quicker wit
Using intelligence to outmaneuver those who are supposed to be the most skilled at strategy
Go toe-to-toe with the illest pugilist
I am ready to face off with the toughest fighters
Chose to rip microphones, deliver iller diatribe
I choose to use my voice to deliver more powerful messages
I'd dissect KRS to ensure we survive
Even legendary MCs like KRS-One must be analyzed to ensure the survival of the culture
Times desperate, culture infested
Things are dire, and the very culture itself is infiltrated by corruption
Can't rock original style with a template
Innovation is impossible when you are following a set formula
Memories cemented of where I first felt this
I remember clearly where I first realized the importance of this issue
Soul set to rest on C-ment, seen as deviant
My soul is at peace on the pavement, even though society sees me as a troublemaker
Designed as militant, blinded by my sun only
I was born to be a warrior, focused only on my own path
See our silhouette, attack on all fronts
Our presence is a shadowy threat, and we are ready to defend ourselves from all sides
Only concerned with material
Their focus is solely on acquiring possessions
Inferior insight, rhymes superficial
Their understanding is lacking, and their lyrics are shallow
Serial mental produce paragraphs for instrumentals
Creating repetitive, unoriginal lyrics to match simple beats
Now isn't that simple? Lyrics aimed at temple
Isn't that too easy? Lyrics that only aim to please the masses
Now who do I resemble? At window holding rifle
Who do I look like? A person holding a gun and looking out the window
Attempts to stifle, thwarted with assorted left
Attempts to silence us are met with counterattacks from various directions
And right fists, only know to resist
We only know how to fight back
As these situations shift
As circumstances change
Politicians lose grip on the multitudes and masses
Leaders are no longer able to control the people
Explanations get graphic, ghastly acts occur regular
The explanations become more vivid as gruesome acts happen frequently
They feed off the jugular, jungle warfare turned urban combat
They thrive on others' vulnerability, and conflicts that used to happen in the wilderness are now happening in the cities
Conversations tapped, operations turned black
Our discussions are being monitored, and our actions are becoming more covert
Too late to turn back
We have reached a point of no return
Survival is how well we adapt to change in habitat
Our ability to adapt to our environment is what determines whether we survive
The intelligence they lack are the concepts we grasp
What they are missing in intelligence is what we understand
Pains of our past etched in man's fiber
Our collective past experiences are deeply ingrained in our being
History transcribed by hands of these liars
The story of our past is being told by those who are not truthful
Contributed by Bella O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
charlie z
this still rocks, a standout, was so awesome live as well.
D
so fuckin underrated
Jason Loewenstein
This is a fucking masterpiece.
William Pine
Asphalt for Eden coming....