DJ Shadow spent his teenage years in Davis, California and was a DJ at the community radio station KDVS. During his time as a radio disc jockey, DJ Shadow was significant in developing the experimental instrumental hip-hop style associated with the California-based Solesides record label. His early singles for the label, including In/Flux and Lost and Found (S.F.L.), were genre-bending works of art merging elements of funk, rock, hip-hop, ambient, jazz, soul, and used-bin found records. DJ Shadow is often cited as a leading creator of trip-hop, though this is a label he strongly contests.
Although he previously released a couple of original works (during 1991-1992 for Hollywood Records) by the time Mo' Wax's James Lavelle contacted him about releasing In/Flux on the fledgling imprint, it wasn't until his distribution association with Mo' Wax that his sound began to mature and cohere.
Shadow's first full-length work, Endtroducing....., was released in late 1996 to immense critical acclaim. Following the success of this album, he acted as a shadow producer for Rage Against The Machine for their album, Evil Empire. It is said he influenced the solo on their song "Bulls On Parade". Endtroducing... made the Guinness World Records book for "First Completely Sampled Album" in 2001. Preemptive Strike, a compilation of early singles, followed in early 1998. Later that year, Shadow produced tracks for Psyence Fiction, the debut album by U.N.K.L.E., a long-time Mo' Wax production team that gained superstar guests including Thom Yorke (of Radiohead), Richard Ashcroft (of The Verve), Mike D (of the Beastie Boys) and others. His next project came in 1999, with the transformation of Solesides into a new label, Quannum Projects. Nearly six years after his debut production album, his second album, The Private Press, was released in June 2002. In the same year, the movie "Scratch" (2001, Doug Pray) was released to DVD with DJ Shadow appearing several times throughout the movie.
The documentary films "Dark Days" and "Wisconsin Death Trip" feature music of DJ Shadow while "Scratch" features an interview and more music.
DJ Shadow has also collaborated with fellow artist Cut Chemist. Together they have made two CDs entitled Brainfreeze and Product Placement. These albums fuse jazz, funk, and soul in the framework of a cohesive concept. The second of these (Product Placement) followed a very similar pattern to the first, but using remixes/other versions of the songs in roughly the same order.
In the year 2004, Shadow released his feature length DVD, In Tune and On Time. The DVD features a live performance in London, emphasizing intricate visuals.
In 2005, Shadow released a Deluxe Edition of his first album, Endtroducing.... and a new album, titled "The Outsider" in 2006.
While Shadow's earlier works, especially 'Endtroducing.....', are known for their innovation in genres such as hip-hop, ambient, and trip-hop, his fourth full length album, The Outsider, had several tracks dedicated to Hyphy. This decision has been controversial, leaving many fans feeling alienated. DJ Shadow addressed this point in an August, 2006 interview, in which stated, "Repeat Endtroducing over and over again? That was never, ever in the game plan. Fuck that. So I think it's time for certain fans to decide if they are fans of the album, or the artist."
Also in 2005, Brian Udelhofen began work on the Shadow Percussion Project, an attempt to adapt some of the tracks from Endtroducing... for a live performance group. The result was largely successful and well-received by DJ Shadow himself.
In 2007 DJ Shadow was contacted by the Hollywood Bowl to do a show featuring Freeze with Cut Chemist. However, not wanting to repeat old material DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist came up with a whole new routine entitled The Hard Sell. In 2007 and 2008 they went on The Hard Sell tour and were accompanied on stage by two large video screens with visuals created for the tour.
Discography
Solo Albums
* 1996 - Endtroducing.....
* 1998 - Preemptive Strike
* 2000 - Dark Days
* 2002 - The Private Press
* 2003 - The Private Repress (Japanese Remix Album)
* 2004 - In Tune and On Time
* 2005 - Endtroducing... (2xCD Deluxe Edition)
* 2006 - The Outsider
* 2007 - The 4-Track Era Vol.1 Best of the KMEL Mixes
* 2007 - The 4-Track Era Vol.2 Best of the Remixes and Megamixes (1990-1992)
* 2011 - The Less You Know, the Better
with Q Bert
* 1997 - Camel Bobsled Race (Q-Bert Mega Mix) CD-EP
with UNKLE
* 1998 - Psyence Fiction
with Cut Chemist
* 1999 - Brainfreeze
* 2001 - Product Placement
* 2004 - Product Placement on Tour
* 2005 - Freeze
* 2008 - The Hard Sell
with Dan The Automator
* 1998 - Bombay the Hard Way: Guns, Cars and Sitars
3 Freaks
DJ Shadow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yea..Turf Talk...Uh Oh...Bay Area..LETS GO!
(Keak Da Sneak)
Keak sneak and a...turf talk and a.../
dos in da trunk and u gone get da shit/
if u think its almost over its not/
1 in to 2 know what im saying it dont matter just dont bite it aight/
me no pay 4 nuttin im spending a bitches paper/
tired ass game and nigga wit no buisness/
lets start something Ah turf lets look at these chicks/
(Hook)
Turf Talk and Keak Da Sneak(x8)
We Need 3...man we need Freaks
Its Her Booty (x6)
(Turf)
Rock Wit It or Not/
If i cant get in da club...da club in da parking lot/
Man...my stomach aint ache'n/
but ima boss i dont pay too much for nathan/
know you bought it, knocked it, and recopped it/
dat turf and keak TURN IT UP AND KNOCK IT!/
turf got flows he got murda ink/
i two peace a nigga up out dis treat/
they can talk but let'em touch ya/
dirty niggaz keep heat up under they blubba/
before da rap game...hood rich/
hate a nigga but boy another bad bitch/
i aint gotta ask man i know already/
a real hood nigga wouldnt be dat pretty/
i aint here for no problems/
but let there be less bite'n and slop'n/
HOOK
(Keak)
3 in da house Jack Tripper he had 2/
but i keep something thick online like what it do/
its Keak Da Sneak baby and did i mention im crazy/
even Joe can even see dat u aint forever my lady/
i got need and my wants is up to u popin tags/
and beleave me dat 3 is better then two/
so i oh i skeet skurt figure 8 man...
3 freaks came on fire for Da Bay!
Hook
(Outro)
The song "3 Freaks" by DJ Shadow featuring Keak da Sneak and Turf Talk is an anthem for the Bay Area, celebrating the party culture and the importance of having multiple partners. The opening lines, "Hello! Hold it down for da Bay," set the tone for the rest of the track, which features Keak da Sneak and Turf Talk rapping about their lifestyle, including fast cars with "dos in the trunk," not paying for anything, and going after multiple women.
The hook repeats "We need 3...man we need Freaks, It's her booty" as the main focus and showcasing the importance of having multiple partners. They also mention the importance of staying away from people who bite other's rhymes and being real hood niggas. Keak da Sneak notes that he is "crazy" and that having three partners is better than just two. The song ends with the trio celebrating that "3 freaks came on fire for Da Bay!"
Overall, "3 Freaks" is a typical rap song that glamorizes the party culture and the importance of having money and multiple partners. The Bay Area is also glorified in the song, with the artists showcasing their pride in the region and the party culture.
Line by Line Meaning
HELLO!
Greetings!
Hold It Down for da Bay
Representing the Bay Area and keeping it real for their hometown.
Keak sneak and a...turf talk and a.../
Keak da Sneak and Turf Talk are here and ready to get the party started.
dos in da trunk and u gone get da shit/
If you mess with them, they'll make sure you regret it.
if u think its almost over its not/
Don't assume the party is about to end anytime soon.
1 in to 2 know what im saying it dont matter just dont bite it aight/
They don't care how many people are there as long as everyone is having a good time and not copying them.
i pulled up jumped in da scraper/
They rolled up and got into their car.
me no pay 4 nuttin im spending a bitches paper/
They don't spend their own money, they use what they get from the ladies.
tired ass game and nigga wit no buisness/
They're tired of playing games with people who aren't serious.
lets start something Ah turf lets look at these chicks/
They want to start something fun and check out the ladies in the party.
Rock Wit It or Not/
They want people to join in and enjoy the music.
If i cant get in da club...da club in da parking lot/
If they're not allowed in the club, they'll make their own party in the parking lot.
Man...my stomach aint ache'n/
They're not hungry or aching for anything.
but ima boss i dont pay too much for nathan/
As a boss, they don't waste their money on unnecessary things.
know you bought it, knocked it, and recopped it/
They know that people have bought, used, and repurchased the music of Turf Talk and Keak da Sneak.
dat turf and keak TURN IT UP AND KNOCK IT!/
They want people to turn up the music and enjoy their beats.
turf got flows he got murda ink/
Turf Talk has amazing rap skills and represents Murda Ink.
i two peace a nigga up out dis treat/
They can take on anyone and will knock them out.
they can talk but let'em touch ya/
People can talk all they want, but if they touch them, they're in for a world of pain.
dirty niggaz keep heat up under they blubba/
They keep weapons hidden under their clothes in case of emergencies.
before da rap game...hood rich/
They were rich even before they made it in the music industry.
hate a nigga but boy another bad bitch/
They don't like other men, but they love chasing after beautiful women.
i aint gotta ask man i know already/
They don't need to ask because they already know the answer.
a real hood nigga wouldnt be dat pretty/
They don't trust people who look too good and pretty.
i aint here for no problems/
They're not looking for any trouble or arguments.
but let there be less bite'n and slop'n/
They want people to stop copying their styles and just enjoy the music together.
We Need 3...man we need Freaks
They're looking for three women to join their party and have fun.
Its Her Booty (x6)
The focus is on the woman's amazing curves and they can't help but admire it.
3 in da house Jack Tripper he had 2/
They're referencing the show 'Three's Company' where a man lived with two women.
but i keep something thick online like what it do/
They have a thick woman online that they're interested in.
its Keak Da Sneak baby and did i mention im crazy/
Keak da Sneak is reminding everyone of his name and that he's a bit wild and crazy.
even Joe can even see dat u aint forever my lady/
Even Joe, a common name for a man, can see that the woman they're interested in is not going to be with them forever.
i got need and my wants is up to u popin tags/
They have needs and wants, and it's up to the woman to fulfill them by spoiling them with expensive items.
and beleave me dat 3 is better then two/
They want to party with three women instead of two because it's more fun.
so i oh i skeet skurt figure 8 man...
They're excited about the fun they're going to have and can't wait to dance and party with the ladies.
3 freaks came on fire for Da Bay!
Three women joined the party and everyone had a great time in the Bay Area.
Contributed by Cole O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.