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.
Tarnished
Dälek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Split chest to concrete to clear sinus
Letters curve like true writers
Respect due to Phase2
Bombs grew from angst of knuckled fighters
The ones who fell in urban combat
the ones who never cared to adapt
The ones who made a real impact
The ones who molded exactly where these thought sat.
Verses amplified acoustically through wires
Makes perfect sense in mind with liquored virus
It all makes sense when mind's on liquored virus
Traveled under soil with Osiris
Birth and death of modern world on the Tigris
Why fight this?
Okt nigga why you even mic this?
Most the rest of world don't even like us
Ink flow from pen to raw papyrus
12 straight hours doing work ain't even tired
Tried and hung from sycamore
cause i attempt to play Picasso for the poor
No one wants to hear this lion's roar
No one wants to hear a lion's roar
Attempts on life are insured
With truths i spit on tours
Bourge muthafukas expect us on all fours
Use brute force when i need to underscore
the perfect paragraph always hit block raw
Hits blocks (raw).
Endure the everyday, remain tarnished
truth is all tarnished
Corner stoops is all tarnished
Even when it's strength we try to harness
My mental stay tarnished
The way we act on streets is all tarnished
Even when we meek we still tarnished
All the words we speak is mad tarnished
The core of man tarnished
They say at best we tamed savage
this train of thought kept collective souls all ravished
Raised a weary fist to catch my breath above the gutter
gave away our hope and dignity as not to smother
We still suffer!
Tragedy at times results in stutter
Stability off kilter
Resist within oppression
the struggle is our weapon
Perhaps this is the blessing
Existence as the lesson.
Ink flow from pen to raw papyrus
12 straight hours doing work ain't even tired
Tried and hung from sycamore
cause i attempt to play Picasso for the poor
No one wants to hear this lion's roar
No one wants to hear a lion's roar
Attempts on life are insured
With truths i spit on tours
Bourge muthafukas expect us on all fours
No need to mention where we is or where we at
Instead i reminisce on all my peoples that we lost Black
The ones who molded exactly where these thought sat
The ones who taught me how to act
The ones who fell in urban combat
the ones who never cared to adapt
The ones in life who always felt trapped
The ones who made a real impact
The ones who had the qualities your average man lacks
Commit their memories to wax
In fact commit their very tarnished essence to the core of (this track).
Endure the everyday, remain tarnished
truth is all tarnished
Corner stoops is all tarnished
Even when it's strength we try to harness
My mental stay tarnished
The way we act on streets is all tarnished
Even when we meek we still tarnished
All the words we speak is mad tarnished
The core of man tarnished
Endure the everyday, remain tarnished
truth is all tarnished
Corner stoops is all tarnished
Even when it's strength we try to harness
My mental stay tarnished
The way we act on streets is all tarnished
Even when we meek we still tarnished
All the words we speak is mad tarnished
The core of man tarnished
The song “Tarnished” by dälek is a commentary on the endurance of everyday struggles, and the tarnished nature of urban life. The lyrics speak about adapting to daylight and pushing through physical pain, while also acknowledging the impact of those who fell in urban combat and felt trapped in life. The verses are “amplified acoustically through wires,” reflecting on the power of words and the influence of liquor. The song grapples with the complexity of modern life, referencing the birth and death of the modern world on the Tigris River and questioning why people fight and try to force others on all fours. The core of man is tarnished, a reflection of the challenges of living in an unjust society.
The song also pays tribute to those who have passed away and made an impact, including the ones who “molded exactly where these thought sat,” and those who “taught me how to act.” The lyrics are a reminder to commit their memories to wax and preserve their essence. The repetition of the phrase “endure the everyday, remain tarnished” reinforces the idea that life is a constant struggle, and the true test of strength is not in overcoming adversity, but in enduring it with resilience and persistence.
Overall, “Tarnished” is a powerful reflection on the gritty reality of urban life and the human condition.
Line by Line Meaning
Adapt to daylight that breaks over roofs on horizon
Adjust to the morning light that shines over the rooftops on the horizon.
Split chest to concrete to clear sinus
Hit your chest on concrete to clear your sinuses.
Letters curve like true writers
The letters in the writing curve authentically, like a true writer.
Respect due to Phase2
Pay respect to the graffiti artist known as Phase2.
Bombs grew from angst of knuckled fighters
Bombs developed from the anguish of those who fight with their fists.
The ones who fell in urban combat
Refers to those who lost their lives fighting in an urban environment.
the ones who never cared to adapt
Refers to those who choose not to adjust to new circumstances.
The ones in life who always felt trapped
Refers to individuals who constantly feel confined in life.
The ones who made a real impact
Refers to those who made a significant difference in the world.
The ones who molded exactly where these thought sat.
Refers to those who shaped the very places where these thoughts are formulated.
Verses amplified acoustically through wires
The lyrics of the song are made louder through the use of electronic amplification.
Makes perfect sense in mind with liquored virus
The lyrics make sense when under the influence of alcohol.
It all makes sense when mind's on liquored virus
The lyrics make sense when under the influence of alcohol.
Traveled under soil with Osiris
Refers to the myth of the Egyptian god Osiris traveling underground.
Birth and death of modern world on the Tigris
The rise and fall of civilization happened in the region of the Tigris River.
Why fight this?
Why oppose this belief or idea?
Okt nigga why you even mic this?
Why even bother recording this song?
Most the rest of world don't even like us
Most of the world doesn't have a favorable opinion of us.
Ink flow from pen to raw papyrus
The ink flows from the pen to an unprocessed form of paper.
12 straight hours doing work ain't even tired
Working for 12 hours straight without feeling tired.
Tried and hung from sycamore
Refers to a hanging from a Sycamore tree as punishment or execution.
cause i attempt to play Picasso for the poor
Trying to create art that speaks to and uplifts the impoverished community.
No one wants to hear this lion's roar
No one wants to listen to the strength and power of your voice.
Attempts on life are insured
Life-threatening situations are guaranteed to happen.
With truths i spit on tours
Speaking truth while on tour.
Bourge muthafukas expect us on all fours
The bourgeoisie expect subservience from us.
Use brute force when i need to underscore
Use extreme physical strength to emphasize a point.
the perfect paragraph always hit block raw
The ideal paragraph has a raw and unedited quality to it.
Hits blocks (raw).
The paragraph has an unpolished and unrefined quality.
Endure the everyday, remain tarnished
Persist through mundane and difficult circumstances, while still remaining flawed.
truth is all tarnished
The truth, like everything else, is flawed and imperfect.
Corner stoops is all tarnished
Street corners are also imperfect and flawed.
Even when it's strength we try to harness
Even when we try to embody strength, our flaws show.
My mental stay tarnished
My mind remains imperfect and flawed.
The way we act on streets is all tarnished
The way we behave in urban areas is also flawed and imperfect.
Even when we meek we still tarnished
Even when we are mild-mannered or submissive, we still have flaws.
All the words we speak is mad tarnished
The words we say are also flawed and imperfect.
The core of man tarnished
The essence of humanity is also flawed and imperfect.
They say at best we tamed savage
Society believes that at most, we can only control and contain our primitive nature.
this train of thought kept collective souls all ravished
This way of thinking has left many people feeling deprived or damaged.
Raised a weary fist to catch my breath above the gutter
Raising a tired hand for a moment of respite from the harsh living conditions.
gave away our hope and dignity as not to smother
Abandoning our aspirations and self-respect to avoid being suffocated by the oppressive system.
We still suffer!
We continue to experience pain and hardship.
Tragedy at times results in stutter
Experiencing traumatic events can cause speech impediments.
Stability off kilter
The situation is unstable and imbalanced.
Resist within oppression
Fighting against oppressive systems from within.
the struggle is our weapon
The act of resisting is itself a form of defense and rebellion.
Perhaps this is the blessing
Maybe the struggle is a gift in disguise.
Existence as the lesson.
The very act of living teaches us lessons.
No need to mention where we is or where we at
There's no need to state our location.
Instead i reminisce on all my peoples that we lost Black
Instead, I remember the Black people we have lost.
The ones who taught me how to act
Refers to those who taught us how to behave in certain situations.
The ones who had the qualities your average man lacks
Refers to individuals who possessed unique and exceptional qualities.
Commit their memories to wax
Preserving their memories through recorded music.
In fact commit their very tarnished essence to the core of (this track).
In fact, incorporate their flawed qualities into the very essence of this song.
Contributed by Maria H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
chuck norris
true turntablism, this songs an artistic masterpiece
gdlavery
I love the scratching on this track, you don't hear enough of it it in hip-hop today.
Lucasart328
Yah
Lloyd Bennett
Both Isis and Dalek are on the label Ipecac Recordings, which is Mike Patton's record label. If you want to find some amazing, interesting and original music, check out his label.
Liam Hares
Can't believe I've been sleeping on these guys. Beautifully dark.
Devoted Chaos
157 likes - 0 dislikes. I can understand this sound is amazing.
cybercrow87
Found these guys through isis and immediately bought a few cds. good stuff.
Ess Jackson
masterpiece
Jay Blast
Is it wrong to listen to it all fucking day cant stop greetings from tj mexico
paluka82
@urmumsbaps That is sort of a obvious when it comes to label affiliation. I think there is more to it though. I see it as two different styles that started from the same philosophy. Both isis and dalek contain the same evolving sound with similar politically driven lyrics. The sound is a whole. It is impossible to experience it at sole moments. They both begin at the gutter and attempt to push us out of it.