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
In Flux
DJ Shadow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
...detroit in '42... new york in '64... blinding by a hundred watts... the naked, black, white truth... we have to tear down the [(?)] of stupidity and corruption and put up, in it's place, an edifice of truth... unite in struggle for people's power... unite... truth... unite in struggle for people's power... we are a part of those concerned with gangs... meanwhile, uptown, the dj a player... everybody's so concerned about heroin and marijuana and all that, until they forget the most dangerousest [sic] narcotic that exist's, and that's the narcotic that's injected into the minds of infants... it's called social narcotics... so, you know as well as i do that things are changing... change, you know... meanwhile, uptown, the dj a player... revolution... change, you know... so after you youngsters work to change the system... [(?)] ...submission [(?)] ...the people's power... my guilt makes me... [(change) x 3
it's only a matter of time] x 4
...(change) x ?
...freedom!... that's all that life is... the record ends and we must begin again...
The lyrics of "In/Flux" by DJ Shadow are a powerful commentary on a range of social and political issues that were prevalent in the 90s, as well as some that persist to this day. The song is introduced as a reflection on the complexity of human experience, with the artist listing a range of themes that have been on their mind recently, such as life, death, love, hate, wealth, poverty, and racism.
The artist then moves on to talking about the potential for revolutionary change, particularly in the context of overthrowing corrupt and oppressive systems. They highlight the fear that many people have of the concept of overthrowing the status quo, as well as the way that this fear serves to maintain existing power structures. At the same time, there's a sense that the artist sees the potential for change, and they call upon listeners to unite and struggle for "people's power."
Throughout the song, the artist shifts between different themes and contexts, ranging from historical moments of civil unrest, such as Detroit in '42 or New York in '64, to contemporary concerns with drugs and infant socialization. Ultimately, the artist seems to be arguing that the only way forward is through radical change and revolution, anchored in an unshakeable commitment to truth and freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
This is a song about life, death, love, hate, wealth, poverty, racism... just a few things been runnin' through my head... listen... we call on you...
The song covers a range of deep topics that are pertinent in society, and the artist calls on the listener to pay attention and connect with the message.
listen... now, we call on you... be strong... hear us now...
The listener is urged to listen attentively and be strong to grasp the message of the song.
when you speak of overthrowing these conditions i think is what frightens people... the average american, when you simply say the word overthrow, may see this as something very, very bad... i know you're not responsible for his feelings, but, when you say these things, are you threatening someone? ...right now...
The idea of overthrowing the current living conditions can scare people as it is often viewed as a bad thing. The artist questions if such conversations could be viewed as a threat.
(people's power) x 3
The idea of power belongs to the people.
...detroit in '42... new york in '64... blinding by a hundred watts... the naked, black, white truth...
These cities and years evoke memories of racial tension and suppression, finding a common ground in acknowledging the truth of the situation.
we have to tear down the [(?)] of stupidity and corruption and put up, in it's place, an edifice of truth... unite in struggle for people's power... unite... truth... unite in struggle for people's power...
There is a need to get rid of unwise and corrupt practices, welcome truth, and come together to empower the people.
we are a part of those concerned with gangs... meanwhile, uptown, the dj a player... everybody's so concerned about heroin and marijuana and all that, until they forget the most dangerousest [sic] narcotic that exist's, and that's the narcotic that's injected into the minds of infants... it's called social narcotics... so, you know as well as i do that things are changing... change, you know... meanwhile, uptown, the dj a player...
The song acknowledges the concern with gangs and highlights the problem of social narcotics which goes unnoticed. The artist remains hopeful for change, though, and highlights the DJ as a player who can bring about revolution.
revolution... change, you know... so after you youngsters work to change the system... [(?)] ...submission [(?)] ...the people's power...
Revolution and change go hand in hand. The artist encourages the younger generation to bring change and defy submission, and empower the people.
my guilt makes me... [(change) x 3
The artist's guilt pushes them to call for change.
it's only a matter of time] x 4
Change is inevitable and it is only a matter of time before it comes.
...freedom!... that's all that life is... the record ends and we must begin again...
Freedom is essential to life, and one must keep fighting for it to make the most of the precious time we have on earth.
Contributed by Alaina K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.