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
Holy Calamity
DJ Shadow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All you ever gonna be's
Another great fan of me, break
Bear witness
Bear witness
Bear witness
All you ever gonna be's
Another great fan of me, break
[?]
This is a journey
This is a journey
This is a journey, journey
There it is
Bear witness
Bear witness
If you never been [?]
Bear witness
Holy calamity, scream insanity
All you ever gonna be's
Another great fan of me, break
Break, break, break, break, break
I'm the one that does the rockin' my rhymes are legit
I'm the one that does the rockin', bear witness
There it is
Bear witness
Bear witness
If you never been [?]
Bear witness
Holy calamity, scream insanity
All you ever gonna be's
Another great fan of me, ho, ho, ho, ho
Ca, ca, ca, ca, gr, gr, gr, gr, break
Do it, do it, do it, do it
Do it, do it, do it, do it
Do it, do it, do it, do it
Do it, do it, do it, do it
Kick it up
Bear witness
Bear witness
Bear witness
Holy calamity, scream insanity
All you ever gonna be's
Another great fan of me, break
[?]
The first verse of DJ Shadow's song Holy Calamity features the repeated phrase "Holy calamity, scream insanity / All you ever gonna be's / Another great fan of me, break." The repetition of these lyrics can be interpreted in various ways, but at its core, it is a rebellious statement against conformity and societal expectations. The phrase "scream insanity" can be interpreted as a call to break away from the norm and be true to oneself, even if it means standing out or being seen as crazy. The second line, "All you ever gonna be's / Another great fan of me," suggests that the only thing people will be remembered for is their admiration of the singer or their desire to conform to societal expectations. The use of the word "break" at the end of each line can be seen as a call to action or a challenge to the listener to break away from conformity and embrace their individuality.
The chorus of the song, which repeats the phrase "Bear witness" several times, can also be interpreted in different ways. It can be seen as a challenge to the listener to witness and acknowledge the state of the world or the singer's message. Alternatively, "bear witness" can also be interpreted as a reminder to the listener that they are not alone in their experiences or struggles.
Some other notable lyrics in the song include "I'm the one that does the rockin' my rhymes are legit," which can be seen as a declaration of the singer's confidence in their abilities as a musician and artist. Additionally, the line "This is a journey, journey" can be seen as a meta-commentary on the song itself, acknowledging the experience of listening to music as a type of journey or emotional experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Holy calamity, scream insanity
The intensity and chaos of this moment are so great that it feels uncontrollable and insane.
All you ever gonna be's
You are not capable of becoming more than what you are right now.
Another great fan of me, break
I will continue to gain more and more fans, while also breaking new ground in my work.
Bear witness
Take note of what is happening, observe and acknowledge the significance of this moment.
This is a journey
This experience should be approached like a journey, with all of its ups and downs, twists and turns.
There it is
That is the truth, that is the essence of this moment or situation.
If you never been [?]
If you are not familiar with this situation or energy, you need to pay attention and learn from it.
I'm the one that does the rockin' my rhymes are legit
I am the one responsible for the power and impact of my music and lyrics, which are authentic and true to myself.
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ca, ca, ca, ca, gr, gr, gr, gr, break
A string of unintelligible sounds that convey the feeling of breaking through barriers and boundaries, being free and wild.
Do it, do it, do it, do it, kick it up
Encouragement to keep going, keep pushing, and elevate everything to the next level.
[?]
Unknown or unintelligible lyrics.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DANIEL M. NAKAMURA, JOSH PAUL DAVIS, PAUL E. HUSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@morganh6948
I'm 23 and still vividly remember playing THUG2 when I was like 10 or 11 and I thought this song was sick lol
@kingbrizzyboru
Facts I’m 21 remember this track my older cousin corrupted my ass early
@Retro_riq
Morgan...we have the same memory
@flavorofthemonth1499
Yo just heard this rewatching Baby Driver on TV and remembered THUG2 as a kid
@jtjoemamma
i still be playing it on gamecube 😂
@seanpaul93
It was og thug
@jamiegasser3390
All y’all OG skaters know this from hearing it on your boys playlist while at the skate park. Way before Tony Hawk game. Deserves all the publicity it gets though. So tight!
@MinscFromBaldursGate92
Skaven Warlock engineers doom stack.
@Nillanoel98
Hell ye
@faithfullukodureg2140
damn right