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.
Three Rocks Blessed
Dälek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This ordinary revolutionary lived and fought that modern Malay
Mainstay in mainstream, but swam upriver full steam
With no liver
Hard to figure, logistics and logic entangled
Mangled figures in shadows pose no threats
This interlude escapes me, kept my tongue wet
Daily variation varies on technique one speaks
Magnetic poles read like dead sea scrolls
Competish got beat like Rick did Lucy
In sky with diamonds,
Kept in army jacket lining
Sense what that facial structure's hiding
Shifty eyes shift like the sands of time,
Eternal.
Reaching for that dagger in their boot
Or their burner.
Urban turmoil got me coiled like cobra,
Never sober.
My soma thrown off the cliffs of Dover.
3 rocks blessed before them hit the floor
Took the bottle to the chest, til the head said, "No more!"
Pleasures of a man who's poor.
Revel in the pain I endure
Known to utter ramblings of winos off of straight head
Young poor and hated, a darker shade kid.
Caught them eye sores, mad jaded
Kept my vocals gated
Recessive traits emerge when resting on crates
Sipping ancient grapes, altering mindstates
This life on crumbled papes of a street poet
kickin gutter poems, at 8 ohms
Unbalanced chrome speaks my misery
Forgotten history through modern griot
These kids don't rock, speaking on what they have-not.
Swore to God they hot like them weed spots
And quick to pull that glock
But where those skills they got?
Where's my culture?
3 rocks blessed before them hit the floor
Took the bottle to the chest, til the head said, "No more!"
Pleasures of a man who's poor.
Revel in the pain I endure
Transformation of norm to higher apex
Truth got stretched like latex
Their concern now lay on paychecks
Outer lobes got annexed,
Dramas play like Hamlet,
on modern stage.
This script to ears fall vague.
Now look this mess you made
Caused me to invade type Christian on crusade
Should do you in like Cain did Able
And render you disabled
Should wrap this mic cable round your vertebrae
Till your vocal's strained
Some say I'm deranged
I ate the paintchips off the window pane,
Just to dull the pain
Must maintain.
The song "Three Rocks Blessed" by dälek is a powerful piece that expresses the struggles of poverty, oppression, and the search for identity in a society that values materialism and conformity. The opening line "Our slaughter lies in drinking malts and not the porters" is a reference to the idea that people are conditioned to accept surface-level pleasures and distractions instead of confronting the real issues that plague society. The song then delves into the experiences of a revolutionary who tries to swim against the current of mainstream culture and fight for a higher cause. The lines "Caught them eye sores, mad jaded/ Kept my vocals gated/ Recessive traits emerge when resting on crates" suggest the frustration of being judged and misunderstood by society, and how this can lead to self-censorship and a sense of invisibility. These themes are further explored through the references to the biblical story of Cain and Abel and the metaphor of eating paint chips to numb the pain.
The chorus "3 rocks blessed before them hit the floor/ Took the bottle to the chest, til the head said, 'No more!'/ Pleasures of a man who's poor./ Revel in the pain I endure" is a stark reminder of the physical and emotional toll that poverty and addiction can take, but also of the resilience and strength that can be found in facing and surviving these struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Our slaughter lies in drinking malts and not the porters
Our downfall is indulging in small pleasures instead of fighting for what's right
This ordinary revolutionary lived and fought that modern Malay
I am an average person who fights against oppressive systems in modern times
Mainstay in mainstream, but swam upriver full steam
I am part of mainstream culture but strive to go against the current and challenge norms
With no liver
I am fearless and do not let fear hold me back
Hard to figure, logistics and logic entangled
My ideas and actions may seem complex and difficult to understand
Mangled figures in shadows pose no threats
Oppressive figures may hide in the shadows, but they cannot harm me
This interlude escapes me, kept my tongue wet
I am lost in this moment and keep myself distracted with vices
Daily variation varies on technique one speaks
Different people express themselves in different ways
d?k dead verse no rehearse when two meet
My spoken word flows naturally without rehearsal when collaborating with others
Magnetic poles read like dead sea scrolls
Magnetic energy and attraction can reveal history like ancient texts
Competish got beat like Rick did Lucy
My competition was defeated like a famous TV character
In sky with diamonds, Kept in army jacket lining
I hide my valuable possessions in unexpected places to protect them
Sense what that facial structure's hiding
I can sense and read people's true intentions based on their face
Shifty eyes shift like the sands of time, Eternal.
Eyes that lack trust or sincerity constantly change, reflecting the timeless theme of dishonesty
Reaching for that dagger in their boot, Or their burner.
People in urban areas may carry weapons for protection or to intimidate others
Urban turmoil got me coiled like cobra, Never sober.
Living in the city makes me feel tense and paranoid, and I often turn to substances to cope
My soma thrown off the cliffs of Dover.
The substance I use to escape reality has been discarded and left behind
3 rocks blessed before them hit the floor
I take three hits of a drug before I start to feel its effects
Took the bottle to the chest, til the head said, "No more!"
I drank until I couldn't anymore, experiencing both pleasure and pain
Pleasures of a man who's poor.
As a person without wealth, I find pleasure in small indulgences
Revel in the pain I endure
I find significance in experiencing and overcoming struggle
Known to utter ramblings of winos off of straight head
My spoken word may come off as nonsensical, like the ramblings of a drunk person
Young poor and hated, a darker shade kid.
As a young, impoverished person of color, I have faced discrimination
Caught them eye sores, mad jaded
I have been negatively judged and stereotyped by others
Kept my vocals gated
I have held back my voice and expression due to fear or insecurity
Recessive traits emerge when resting on crates
Under pressure or difficult circumstances, my weaknesses may become more prominent
Sipping ancient grapes, altering mindstates
Drinking wine can change one's mood and perception of reality
This life on crumbled papes of a street poet
I live the life of a poet who comes from a difficult, impoverished background
kickin gutter poems, at 8 ohms
I create and share my art in unconventional, informal settings
Unbalanced chrome speaks my misery
My microphone (chrome) reveals my inner pain and struggles
Forgotten history through modern griot
I am like a storyteller (griot) who sheds light on forgotten parts of history through modern art
These kids don't rock, speaking on what they have-not.
These young people may talk about having things they don't actually possess
Swore to God they hot like them weed spots
They are convinced that they are popular and successful, like drug dealers
And quick to pull that glock
They may resort to violence at the slightest hint of disrespect
But where those skills they got?
Despite their boastfulness, they may lack the talent or ability to back up their claims
Where's my culture?
I feel disconnected from my own cultural heritage and am searching for my identity
Transformation of norm to higher apex
I aspire to elevate the status quo to a higher standard
Truth got stretched like latex
The truth has been distorted or exaggerated
Their concern now lay on paychecks
Others prioritize financial gain over moral conviction
Outer lobes got annexed, Dramas play like Hamlet, on modern stage.
My surroundings have been taken over by external factors, and the resulting chaos plays out like a modern version of Hamlet
This script to ears fall vague.
My words may be difficult for others to understand or interpret
Now look this mess you made
I am holding you accountable for the problems that have arisen
Caused me to invade type Christian on crusade
I feel like I have been forced to take action, similar to a religious crusade
Should do you in like Cain did Able
I could harm you like Cain did Abel in the Bible
And render you disabled
I could hurt you in a way that would prevent you from taking action against me
Should wrap this mic cable round your vertebrae
I could use my microphone as a tool to hurt you physically
Till your vocal's strained
I could cause damage to your vocal cords
Some say I'm deranged
Some people may see me as crazy or unstable
I ate the paintchips off the window pane, Just to dull the pain
I have done harmful things to myself in order to cope with emotional pain
Must maintain.
Despite the difficulties I face, I must keep going and persevere
Contributed by Jacob A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Trux Fortuida
That interlude source ever come back to you? It's driving me nuts!
Thanks for keeping this tune up here as well
david chinaski
the guitar at 1:17 desrves a whole song, and a whole 20 songs fucking album
x x
I remember listening to this as a youngster in my room...I couldn't quite grasp the power of it then but I knew it was there. Now all these years later, it's all the more beautiful with new understanding. For those who wanted the lyrics from the interlude/outro - here you go:
"What is to be done about pain?
It's a question which has compelled man, the state, and the arts for much of their common history.
One speaks not of physical pain, whose end is forecast in its beginning, either by cure or death.
But, rather that psychic pain which is the agony of the soul and the mind.
The cry of the tormented is pain's commonest articulation,
without words,
without any meaning except the existence of pain itself.
It pleads for mercy,
and shrieks in the excess of an inability to endure.
Pleadings cease,
and are overtaken by a rage so shattering that it flails the heavens,
and draws back the tormentors in appalled bewilderment that what they have so heedlessly done could produce such clamor..."
Wish I knew the source of the interlude. If anyone knows - please share!
I love you dälek - thank you for making music. And thank you to the poster for putting this back up!
Timothee Bernard
@x x ;)
x x
@Timothee Bernard de rien. :)
Timothee Bernard
Mate i hope you see this someday.
I'm french and I couldn't understand more than maybe 60% of what you just written.
Sometime in 2016 or 2017 while i was on this page, i thought about writing in a comment what I could understand and ask if anyone could help me to fill the gaps but I never dared to do that. I thought that I would never get a response.
I came here just to listen for the song tonight but after a few seconds i watched the comments to see if there was anything new. I had to pause the song to write an ENORMOUS THANK YOU.
You changed my night. Now i'm gonna listen to the song.
gchubarich
amazing