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.
No Question
Dälek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wait for flood waters to recede before we stampede
Live by assassin's creed, transposed to soul of MC
Hands fold and bend knees
Actions seem empty, hollow gesture, remain secular
Speculation of demise tries my patience
Like Whiteboys in Bucktown concerned with race relations
Been 10 years since I spoke of .44 casings
The way time evaporates is just amazing
Await a new dawn, son, but without childish eyes
Expect reality so perhaps we won't shine
Rub away the grit, we still covered in grime
Just past my 3rd deck, I'm hittin' my stride
If it's true what Nas said, then we here to revive
What I spit is hip hop, not yours to decide
While you're writing your blog
I'm straight chillin' outside
What you see as crime, just a means to survive
What you read up in books
I learn from crooks that confide
Original thought is one not derived
Idea of being real is you don't run and hide
Know your role when you speak
I'm the Griot and the Scribe
Boom bap gave me life, gave me breath
(No question)
Spit verse after verse to kill stress
(No question)
Hip hop at the core of this chest
(No question)
It's in how we dressin' in every sentence
Boom bap gave me life, gave me breath
(No question)
Spit verse after verse to kill stress
(No question)
Hip hop at the core of this chest
(No question)
It's in how we dressin' in every sentence
No time to reminisce, would rather resurrect
Respect for this art form, we bless
We viewed as useless
Wicked concept I refuse to accept
Lies used to keep us in check and separate
Succumb to intellect of this learned vagrant
Make direct statements, reflect your own hatred
Little held sacred, life took as payment
I break it down for the laymen
It's the same dream we chasing, same breath we wasting
We tend to lock horns but son, we all poor
A black president don't ensure the sun shine
A rich president represent his own kind
As it stand now, the blind lead the blind
Deconstruct what you fed, formulate, redefine
It's our nature to resist, to confront, redesign
Be it beats of these rhymes
Boom bap gave me life, gave me breath
(No question)
Spit verse after verse to kill stress
(No question)
Hip hop at the core of this chest
(No question)
It's in how we dressin' in every sentence
Boom bap gave me life, gave me breath
(No question)
Spit verse after verse to kill stress
(No question)
Hip hop at the core of this chest
(No question)
It's in how we dressin' in every sentence
Boom bap gave me life, gave me breath
(No question)
Spit verse after verse to kill stress
(No question)
Hip hop at the core of this chest
(No question)
It's in how we dressin' in every sentence
Boom bap gave me life, gave me breath
(No question)
Spit verse after verse to kill stress
(No question)
Hip hop at the core of this chest
(No question)
It's in how we dressin' in every sentence
Boom bap gave me life, gave me breath
(No question)
Spit verse after verse to kill stress
(No question)
Hip hop at the core of this chest
(No question)
It's in how we dressin' in every sentence
Boom bap gave me life, gave me breath
(No question)
Spit verse after verse to kill stress
(No question)
Hip hop at the core of this chest
(No question)
It's in how we dressin' in every sentence
In "No Question," dälek addresses the power dynamics at work in society, from the “same information” we all rely on to the “flood waters” that recede before we “stampede.” The MC examines the secular “assassin’s creed” that he’s transposed to his own work, beckoning his listeners to fold their hands and bend their knees. He critiques those actions -- they seem “empty” and “hollow” -- and expresses frustration with the “speculation of demise,” an apparent attempt to silence dissent.
The melody is set to a beat that is both intoxicating and sobering. With a booming bass and a phantasmal chord progression, “No Question” is as much a poem as it is a musical track. The song positions hip-hop -- and its traditions of boom bap and verse -- at the core of the artist's identity. It gives life, breath, and stress relief even amid a world that seems to be falling apart. Ultimately, dälek makes it clear that hip-hop is much more than music -- it’s a means of survival.
Line by Line Meaning
Rely on same information but my ears don't bleed
I hear the same news just like everyone else, but I am not affected by it emotionally.
Wait for flood waters to recede before we stampede
I choose to be patient and wait for things to settle down before taking action.
Live by assassin's creed, transposed to soul of MC
I follow the principles of an assassin, but in the context of being a rapper.
Hands fold and bend knees
I am praying and showing humility.
Actions seem empty, hollow gesture, remain secular
I feel like my actions don't have any real impact, and I try to avoid any religious or spiritual influence.
Speculation of demise tries my patience
I am tired of hearing about the decline of hip hop music.
Like Whiteboys in Bucktown concerned with race relations
I see people who are not directly affected by certain issues showing fake concern for them, similar to white people in a predominantly black neighborhood.
People just swole with all that rent you raisin'
People are boasting and showing off their wealth that is only temporary.
Been 10 years since I spoke of .44 casings
It's been a long time since I've talked about violence.
The way time evaporates is just amazing
Time passes by so quickly and it's fascinating to me.
Await a new dawn, son, but without childish eyes
I am hoping for a better future, but I am not naive.
Expect reality so perhaps we won't shine
I don't expect things to turn out perfectly, so I won't be disappointed if they don't.
Rub away the grit, we still covered in grime
Even if we try to clean ourselves up, we are still dealing with dirt and grime.
Just past my 3rd deck, I'm hittin' my stride
I am getting better with each album I release.
If it's true what Nas said, then we here to revive
If Nas is correct in saying that hip hop is dead, then we are here to bring it back to life.
What I spit is hip hop, not yours to decide
I am creating true hip hop music and it's not up to others to decide if it is or not.
While you're writing your blog
While others sit and write about hip hop, I am out here living it.
I'm straight chillin' outside
I am enjoying life and not letting things get to me.
What you see as crime, just a means to survive
People who commit crimes are often just trying to get by and survive in a harsh world.
What you read up in books
What you learn from books is not the same as what happens in the real world.
I learn from crooks that confide
I learn more about life from talking to people who have lived it, even if they are considered to be criminals.
Original thought is one not derived
True originality comes from within.
Idea of being real is you don't run and hide
Being true to yourself means standing up for what you believe in and not being afraid to face challenges.
Know your role when you speak
Be aware of your place and your influence when you speak.
I'm the Griot and the Scribe
I am the storyteller and the writer.
Boom bap gave me life, gave me breath
The classic hip hop sound is what inspired me and gave me life.
(No question)
This is a fact and there is no need to question it.
Spit verse after verse to kill stress
Rapping is my way of relieving stress.
Hip hop at the core of this chest
Hip hop is an integral part of who I am.
No time to reminisce, would rather resurrect
I don't want to dwell on the past, but focus on bringing hip hop back to life.
Respect for this art form, we bless
I have a deep respect for hip hop and it is a blessing to be a part of it.
We viewed as useless
People often overlook the value and importance of hip hop culture.
Wicked concept I refuse to accept
I reject the idea that hip hop is not a valid art form.
Lies used to keep us in check and separate
False information is used to control and divide us.
Succumb to intellect of this learned vagrant
I am a knowledgeable and wise wanderer who refuses to be held down by authority or expectations.
Make direct statements, reflect your own hatred
Speak your mind honestly, even if it reveals your own biases or prejudices.
Little held sacred, life took as payment
Many things that were once important to us have been lost or taken away due to the harshness of life.
I break it down for the laymen
I make my music accessible and understandable for the average person.
It's the same dream we chasing, same breath we wasting
We are all striving for the same goals, and we only have a finite amount of time to achieve them.
We tend to lock horns but son, we all poor
We may argue and disagree with each other, but we are all struggling and in need of support.
A black president don't ensure the sun shine
The election of a black president does not guarantee that everything will suddenly get better for people of color.
A rich president represent his own kind
A wealthy president is more likely to represent the interests of the wealthy and privileged, rather than the needs of the working class.
As it stand now, the blind lead the blind
Our current leaders are not providing adequate guidance or support.
Deconstruct what you fed, formulate, redefine
Question what you have been taught, create your own ideas, and redefine what you believe in.
It's our nature to resist, to confront, redesign
As humans, it is in our nature to resist and challenge the status quo, in order to improve and evolve.
Contributed by Scarlett L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ne0ge0
Dälek is "too hip" for what the mainstream has defined as hip-hop. Thank god there are still groups that keep it true like this. I'm copping this new album today and spreading the word.
Stiv One The FLAVORS
the live show is amazing!
Lil Seizures
found these guys on the Ipecac records site, I'm all of a sudden not feeling too white for hip-hop. These guys know how to make some atmospheric shit.
Klax K.
killer!
vivelecorn
Lol it's funny you used a illustration from a artist named Dalek for the image of this video. The Dalek artist and Dalek hip-hop group are totally unrelated I hope you know :-P
Stiv One The FLAVORS
ya it is