Diggin' in the Crates Crew, also known as D.I.T.C., is a New York-based hip… Read Full Bio ↴Diggin' in the Crates Crew, also known as D.I.T.C., is a New York-based hip-hop collective, deriving its name from the art of seeking out records to sample for production founded in The Bronx, New York City in 1990 and as of 2011, a defunct group. With their dedication to hip-hop purity, members Showbiz & A.G. (Andre the Giant), Diamond D, Lord Finesse, Fat Joe, O.C., Buckwild, and the late Big L have at least one classic album under their belts. Although they never reached the success of their multi-platinum peers, individually they became successful by maintaining their integrity and earning major respect within the rap community.

Lord Finesse (born Robert Hall) is a legendary MC-turned-producer who has produced tracks for Notorious B.I.G. (1997's Ready to Die) and Dr. Dre (1999's Chronic). As a young cocky MC, he would travel to any borough in New York to battle their best rapper and win. He shopped his demo to various record labels and eventually dropped the first of several records, his 1990 classic Funky Technician. The record had a few tracks produced by his good friend Diamond (formerly Diamond D), a former member of the rap group Ultimate Force. One of the oldest members in the D.I.T.C. crew, Diamond got his first whiff of hip-hop DJing for Jazzy Jay of the Zulu Nation in 1979. In the mid-'80s, he was turntable scratching at late-night park parties, often competing with area top DJs (Showbiz was once his nemesis.) In 1992, this DJ, then a producer, showcased New York City's underground talent and his rap skills on his classic debut Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop.

Bronx native Fat Joe became the first Latino rapper in New York to secure a solo deal with a major label with his 1993 debut Representin'. In 1998, his Don Cartagena release went gold (500,000 copies sold). Showbiz & A.G. were the first to adopt the do-it-yourself attitude by releasing their 1992 debut EP, Can I Get a Soul Clap, practically out of the trunk of their cars. Showbiz, a name he stolen from an old Richard Pryor record, pioneered taking an instrumental and looping voices over it. His partner A.G. was known as the Bronx's "punchline" rapper. Through the mid-'90s, he was a prolific producer, producing tracks for primarily underground rap acts. In 1999, A.G. restarted his rap career with his solo CD Dirty Version.

Meanwhile, another Bronx native named Buckwild, who once started out as Lord Finesse's apprentice in his production company, started producing tracks around 1994. He later delivered melodic beats for rap heavyweights like Fat Joe, Notorious B.I.G., Big L, Mic Geronimo, and Big Pun. But it was his first at-bat, producing tracks for O.C.'s Word Life in 1994, that established him as a vital producer in the underground rap scene. O.C., one of hip-hop's most energetic lyricists, was an up-and-coming MC before Word Life. After the album's release, he made numerous guest appearances on other D.I.T.C. members' records while maintaining a low profile.

The final member of D.I.T.C. was Big L, a lyrically ferocious MC with raps deadlier than a snakebite and mannerisms cooler than the uptown pimp he claimed to be on records. Calling himself the flamboyant (meaning "rich") MC, he dropped his classic 1994 record Lifestylez ov da Poor and Dangerous on Columbia. He was gearing up for a comeback, with a second CD due for release on Rawkus, when he was slain on February 15, 1999. The crew came together later that year for a memorial concert at Trammps in New York (anthologized by a series of CD releases), and recorded a self-titled group record in 2000. In 2011 it was reported by Showbiz that the group will no longer release any new material due to musical differences

Time Travel
D.I.T.C. Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mitch was hanging out in Detroit
Taking pictures in abandoned buildings
Under a tarp next to trendy street art
He saw a flywheel with some tarnished gildings
It was a time machine
And Mitch soon found that it still worked
But it had problems to work out for instance
Newscaster David Brinkleys head fell right off

I could make good money on this he thought
Even though it makes time unravel
I'll keep my rates low
Start an interview show

And make a podcast called Discount Time Travel
Yeah

Overall Meaning

The song "Time Travel" by D.I.T.C. is a narrative that describes a character named Mitch, who discovers a time machine in an abandoned building in Detroit. Mitch realizes that the time machine is still functional but has some issues that need to be addressed. Despite the potential dangers of time unraveling, Mitch decides to monetize his discovery by launching a podcast called "Discount Time Travel," where he interviews people from different periods.

The lyrics reflect on the allure of time travel and the potential consequences that come with it. Mitch's decision to exploit the time machine for his financial benefit highlights the human desire for wealth and success, even if it means sacrificing the integrity of the fabric of time. The line "Even though it makes time unravel, I'll keep my rates low" represents the character's willingness to disregard the impact on time and the potential consequences it may cause.

Overall, the song is a commentary on human nature and our desire to control our destiny, even if it means breaking the fundamental laws of the universe. The lyrics touch on the impact of capitalism and how it can warp our morals and values, making us lose sight of the bigger picture.

Line by Line Meaning

Mitch was hanging out in Detroit
The singer Mitch was in Detroit hanging out.

Taking pictures in abandoned buildings
Mitch was taking pictures in abandoned buildings for fun.

Under a tarp next to trendy street art
While exploring some trendy street art, Mitch found himself under a tarp.

He saw a flywheel with some tarnished gildings
Mitch noticed a rusty flywheel with gilded edges.

It was a time machine
To his surprise, Mitch discovered that the flywheel was actually a time machine.

And Mitch soon found that it still worked
Mitch experimented with the time machine, and it actually functioned.

But it had problems to work out for instance
Despite the machine operating, it had glitches, like technical issues with the hosts it brought forward.

Newscaster David Brinkleys head fell right off
One of the hosts that Mitch brought forward, David Brinkley, had his head fall off due to a malfunction or glitch of some sort.

I could make good money on this he thought
Mitch pondered the idea of monetizing his discovery of the functioning time machine.

Even though it makes time unravel
Mitch knew the dangers of using the time machine and how it could disrupt the fabric of time, but he was still considering making money off of it.

I'll keep my rates low
Mitch determined that he would offer his services at an affordable rate.

Start an interview show
Mitch started to plan an interview show for his Discount Time Travel podcast idea.

And make a podcast called Discount Time Travel
The podcast would be called Discount Time Travel, where guests from different eras would be interviewed.

Yeah
Mitch agrees with and is motivated by his plan of monetizing his discovery of the functioning time machine.

Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Joseph Krause

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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