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
Devils Advocate
DJ Shadow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Friend there is nothing wrong with a beat
It's used in every type of song
Whether it's a march, a waltz, a polka, a tango
But rock and roll is a different type of thing
For it is a mixture and confusion of beats
That jangles the nerves
The impulsive beats of our bodies and the spirit
And the pure unprovoked music
Has been domesticated for a problem
Rock music must give birth to orgasm in revolution
The heavy rock music now in style
Motivates you and entirely gives you
A sexual feeling, a girl can be turned on
By the music, it releases her inhibitions
The beat of the drum has always been
A factor of fertility rights, the girl realizes
Her sexuality through the music
And through the beat
Sex, sex
But they said that there was something
That got to them more than the words of the songs
And that was the beat, the beat
Louder and faster, louder and faster, louder and faster
It hooks young people, hadden
It become a part of this generation
And there lives are ruined
We need to shake ourself of this filtly beat
Music and words that produces
Revolution sex and drugs
The same beat produces the same evil incarnations
Even if we tie the words Jesus saves to it
Let's have our vile and get rid of this trash
Smash thouse filthy records get rid of them
The lyrics to DJ Shadow's song "Devils Advocate" reveal a complex critique of rock music and the way it affects listeners. The opening lines acknowledge that there's nothing inherently wrong with a beat, as it's present in all kinds of music, but then goes on to suggest that rock music is different in the way it combines beats and rhythms in a way that's jarring and unsettling. This jangling quality is described as "impulsive," evoking the way in which rock music can tap into our most basic, instinctual drives.
The lyrics go on to suggest that rock music has been "domesticated" in some way, made more polite and less raw, and that this is a problem. The song argues that rock music should be about revolution, about shaking people out of their complacency and inspiring them to action. The repetition of the word "sex" throughout the song draws a connection between these primal, instinctual drives and the revolutionary potential of rock music.
At the same time, the song acknowledges that there's a darker side to this connection between rock music and sexuality. The music can be so powerful that it "hooks" young people and ruins their lives, leading them down a path of drugs and other destructive behaviors. The song ultimately suggests that the way to counteract this negative influence is to "smash those filthy records" and get rid of the music altogether.
Line by Line Meaning
Now, may I say to you?
Allow me to communicate a message to you.
Friend there is nothing wrong with a beat
A beat itself is not morally objectionable.
It's used in every type of song
A beat is a common element in various genres of music.
Whether it's a march, a waltz, a polka, a tango
Different styles of music utilize a beat as a foundational element.
But rock and roll is a different type of thing
Rock and roll is a unique and distinct genre.
For it is a mixture and confusion of beats
Rock and roll music often includes a complex and varied arrangement of beats.
That jangles the nerves
The beats in rock music can produce a jarring or unsettling sensation.
The impulsive beats of our bodies and the spirit
The natural rhythms of our bodies and spirits are reflected in beats.
And the pure unprovoked music
Music that is created without a particular purpose or message.
Has been domesticated for a problem
Music is often repurposed to fit a specific agenda or message.
Rock music must give birth to orgasm in revolution
Rock music must have a transformative impact on society and produce significant change.
The heavy rock music now in style
The current trend in rock music is characterized by a particularly intense and aggressive sound.
Motivates you and entirely gives you
Rock music can inspire strong emotions and create a sense of total immersion.
A sexual feeling, a girl can be turned on
Rock music can create a sense of sexual arousal, particularly in young women.
By the music, it releases her inhibitions
Rock music can cause a person to feel more free and uninhibited.
The beat of the drum has always been
The drumbeat has traditionally played an important role in various cultural rituals.
A factor of fertility rights, the girl realizes
The drumbeat can be associated with sexual awakening and empowerment for women.
Her sexuality through the music
Music can help a person better understand and explore their sexuality.
And through the beat
The rhythm is an essential part of this sexual awakening.
Sex, sex
The strong sexual themes in rock music are emphasized.
But they said that there was something
Critics argue that there is an underlying issue with rock music.
That got to them more than the words of the songs
The beats and rhythms in rock music have a more significant impact than the lyrics themselves.
And that was the beat, the beat
The central issue with rock music is the persistent, overwhelming beat and rhythm.
Louder and faster, louder and faster, louder and faster
Rock music is often characterized by a gradual increase in volume and tempo.
It hooks young people, hadden
Rock music has a powerful and compelling effect, particularly on young people.
It become a part of this generation
Rock music has become an integral cultural touchstone for many young people.
And there lives are ruined
Critics believe that rock music can have a detrimental impact on young people's lives.
We need to shake ourself of this filtly beat
Society should repudiate and reject the corrupting beat and rhythm of rock music.
Music and words that produces
Music and lyrics have the potential to generate particular outcomes or responses.
Revolution sex and drugs
Rock music can incite revolutionary or rebellious behavior, encourage sexual behavior, or promote drug use.
The same beat produces the same evil incarnations
Regardless of the message or lyrics, the persistent beat and rhythm of rock music will always have corrupting effects.
Even if we tie the words Jesus saves to it
Even religious language or themes cannot redeem rock music.
Let's have our vile and get rid of this trash
We should reject and dispose of rock music entirely.
Contributed by Mason J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rowlandbuck2703
This deserves more views.
Louder and faster louder and faster
@JDLesemajeste
The sermon sample is from the "Marked For Death: Can America Survive" album/sermon by Dr. Jack Van Impe. In the sermon he quotes Jeff Godwin's "The Devil's Disciples". If you don't know, now you know...
@H4ckRn00B
Wow, DJ Shadow himself didn't wanna say where he got it from. do you have a link to to that album.
@Wilshy
I really can't get enough of Shadow. Him and Krush get me through the day. Crazy DJs.
@abigasm
DJ shadow was awesome in his trip-hop days
@TwitchDeMetaphysical
GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAARRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@leeperryismerry
gotta be one of the best Shadow tunes shame he went crap :(
@jefferyn
this is sooo jack dangers, MBM...
@AaronfromQueens
@odantoro Dude, thank you so much! I think you are right, I found another video here where he says "The beat!" in his distinctive way. I was at a comedy show where one girl was reading from Jeff Godwin's "The Devil's Disciples" and he used a bunch of the same phrases and logic, so I thought that was it, but his voice is not nearly as interesting as Van Impe's.
@JohnBadgerager
nothing against you, your awesome for posting this song, just all the haters who make posts about "Old Shadow" being better than "New Shadow"