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
Karmacoma
DJ Shadow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've nothing to give
Won't lie and say this love is best
Leave us in emotional peace
Take a walk, taste the rest
No, take a rest
I see you digging a hole
You're crazy but you're lazy
No need to live on the need to
Your troubles must be seen to see through money
Like it's paper with faces I remember
I drink on a daily basis
Though it seldom cools my temper
It never cools my temper
Walking through the suburbs they're not exactly lovers
You're a couple, especially when your body's doubled
Duplicate, and then you wait for the next Kuwait
Karmacoma, Jamaican aroma
Karmacoma, Jamaican aroma
Karmacoma, Jamaican aroma
Karmacoma, Jamaican aroma
You sure you want to be with me
I've nothing to give
Take a walk take a rest
Taste the rest
You sure you want to be with me
I've nothing to give
Take a walk take a rest
Taste the rest
Take a walk take a rest
Taste the rest
Don't want to be on top of your list
Monopoly and properly kissed
We overcome in 60 seconds
With the strength we have together
But for now, emotional ties they stay severed
When there's trust there'll be treats and
When we funk we'll hear be beats
Karmacoma, Jamaican aroma
Karmacoma, Jamaican aroma
Karmacoma, Jamaican aroma
Karmacoma, Jamaican aroma
Deflowering my baby, aiyee my baby me
I must be crazy, see I'm swazy
Digging a hole in your neighborhood
You're crazy but you're lazy, must be lazy
Don't wanna on top of your list
Monopoly and properly kissed
Deflowering my baby, aiyee my baby me
My baby
Deflowering my baby, aiyee my baby me
I must be crazy, you must be lazy
Karmacoma, Jamaican aroma
Karmacoma, Jamaican aroma
Karmacoma, Jamaican aroma
Karmacoma, Jamaican aroma
"Karmacoma" by DJ Shadow is a song that explores the complexities of a relationship that is in trouble. The lyrics suggest that the singer and his partner have come to a difficult crossroads and are considering breaking up. The first verse appears to be the singer questioning whether his partner really wants to stay with him, as he feels he has nothing to offer. He suggests that it might be best if they ended things in order to avoid further emotional pain. The second verse is more abstract and is open to interpretation, but it seems to suggest that the couple is struggling financially and that this is putting a strain on their relationship. The third verse is more optimistic and suggests that there is hope for the relationship if trust and communication can be established.
The chorus of the song features the repeated phrase "Karmacoma, Jamaican aroma," which is somewhat cryptic but seems to be a reference to the intoxicating and addictive nature of certain experiences, such as drug use. This might suggest that the relationship between the singer and his partner is somewhat unhealthy and that they are addicted to the intense emotions that come with their arguments and turmoil.
Overall, "Karmacoma" is a moody and melancholic song that captures the struggles of a relationship that is on the brink of collapse. It explores themes of trust, communication, and financial struggle, and the repeating chorus adds a sense of urgency and emotional intensity to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
You sure you want to be with me
I have nothing valuable to offer you, so think twice about being with me.
I've nothing to give
I am unable to give anything of worth.
Won't lie and say this love is best
I won't deceive you by telling you this love is perfect.
Leave us in emotional peace
Let's walk away from this and keep our emotions untroubled.
Take a walk, taste the rest
Let's explore other things in life and experience different sensations.
No, take a rest
Take a break, relax.
I see you digging a hole
I notice you taking harmful action for yourself and others.
Your neighborhood
Your immediate vicinity which includes people you know.
You're crazy but you're lazy
Your actions are irrational and damaging, but you aren't willing to put forth effort to make a difference.
No need to live on the need to
You don't have to depend on constantly wanting more and living with insatiable desires.
Your troubles must be seen to see through money
The only way to confront and resolve your issues is by spending money, which is a superficial solution.
Like it's paper with faces I remember
Money just represents faces and nothing more significant.
I drink on a daily basis
I consume alcohol every day.
Though it seldom cools my temper
But alcohol doesn't often make me feel more at peace or calm.
It never cools my temper
Drinking alcohol never truly helps me escape my anger.
Walking through the suburbs they're not exactly lovers
Strangers walking through neighborhoods don't have the same romantic connections as people in relationships.
You're a couple, especially when your body's doubled
As a couple, you are united and experience a special bond when you are physically close together.
Duplicate, and then you wait for the next Kuwait
The process repeats itself, and you wait around for something similar to happen again, even though this specific experience has already caused destruction and harm.
Karmacoma, Jamaican aroma
This line represents the reggae and trip-hop style of the song and doesn't have a specific meaning.
Don't want to be on top of your list
I don't desire to be your top priority or main concern.
Monopoly and properly kissed
The artist doesn't want a relationship based on control or ownership, but rather wants to engage in real, passionate, and mutual love.
We overcome in 60 seconds
We can easily conquer our issues in merely a minute.
With the strength we have together
We can overcome any obstacle together with our combined strength.
But for now, emotional ties they stay severed
However, right now, our emotional ties remain disconnected and unattached.
When there's trust there'll be treats and
If we both have trust in each other, there will be many positive outcomes and rewards.
When we funk we'll hear be beats
This line is another example of the song's musical style and doesn't have a specific meaning.
Deflowering my baby, aiyee my baby me
This line is meant to be provocative and ambiguous, but could possibly refer to the process of awakening, destruction, or creation.
I must be crazy, see I'm swazy
This could be interpreted as the artist realizing their own craziness or wildness.
Must be lazy
The artist believes that lack of effort or work is what is causing a particular situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADRIAN NICHOLAS MATTHEW THAWS, ANDREW LEE ISAAC VOWLES, GRANTLEY MARSHALL, GRANTLEY EVAN MARSHALL, ROBERT DEL NAJA, ROBERT MILTON LOCKE, TIM NORFOLK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Devo’s Fiancé
I luv Portishead & Massive Attack but dj Shadow’s versions my fave. UNKLE
h00dboy
Is that even possible? :D
Mirella H.
OoOo daaaa.....!!!
Jimbo Bolson Mknv Ev0l
its this a true version split really? crap it jamss
FriendlyCrooc
What? Can you clarify that for me bro?
Stephen Goyne
Definitely
Ritchie Peyton
bro? ?