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
Seein Thangs
DJ Shadow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Verse 1:]
I hear voices whisper tell me, "Banner kill yo'self"
Man I call on the Lord, pain doesn't easy from wealth
These cars, these clothes, these hoes
Never meant nothin, havin nightmares screamin and busting
At my enemy, I put a bullet in that nigga and I see it's me
Or does that nigga in me have to die before I reach them pearly gates
Either way I got somthin to say
Jam Master Jay used to yell walk this way
But it's hard to walk like a man the industry's..
And these the same motherfuckers that's controlin my cash'
And the same ones, the government, controllin yo ass
Why George bush ain't in jail for stealin them votes?
Why the cia ain't closed man, for pushin that dope?
Get it crackin America, the cia, aka the kkk
It's judgement day!
[Chorus:]
Seein, seein thangs, I can swear that I'm seein thangs
Seein, seein thangs, I can swear that I'm seein thangs
Seein, seein thangs, I can swear that I'm seein thangs
They comin' for ya soul, they already got the chains [2X]
[Verse 2:]
In a Chevy, I'm wondering if the Feds broke the levy
Are they in with the devil to control the weather?
Hurricanes and typhoons every other week
While po' folks are drowning in the middle of the street
We too scared to speak, or too busy on the internet
I heard they about to put lo-jacks in our kids necks
Marshall law, tell Bush naw we ain't ready to flip
The hood is like a modern slave ship
We packed like sardines and shackled to the streets
And crack is cotton that grows up from the concrete
Shit, but I guess I'm seein thangs
We'd rather not learn, we'd rather fuckin gang bang
[Chorus:]
The song "Seein Thangs" by DJ Shadow featuring David Banner speaks about the struggles and conflicts that Banner faces in his life. He hears voices telling him to kill himself, and he seeks solace in his faith, hoping that it will ease the pain. He is haunted by nightmares, in which he sees himself as his own enemy. He wonders if it's his soul's battle with self-hate or a need to shed a part of him to gain entry into the pearly gates. Banner addresses the state of the industry that creates artist's hollow success while taking control of their wealth. He cries out in condemnation of individuals with power who control the masses and accuses them of playing a role in systematic oppression.
Banner questions why George Bush, who stole votes, and the CIA, which proliferated illegal drugs, are not held accountable for their actions. He calls out America to hold the people responsible and for the CIA to shut down. Banner also mentions a conspiracy theory that suggests that the government is controlling the weather with the help of the devil.
Moreover, the song explores the struggles black people in America face. Natural disasters and other catastrophes are disproportionately affecting these communities, which have limited resources and inadequate governmental support. The song paints the picture of the troubles black people face in America daily. Finally, Banner touches on the issue of gangs and how those involved often lack education or opportunities.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear voices whisper tell me, 'Banner kill yo'self'
I am haunted by internal voices telling me to end my life
Man I call on the Lord, pain doesn't easy from wealth
Even though I am wealthy, material possessions cannot alleviate my emotional pain, so I seek solace in prayer
These cars, these clothes, these hoes / Never meant nothin, havin nightmares screamin and busting
My material possessions and relationships with women do not provide any true fulfillment, and I am bedeviled by violent nightmares
At my enemy, I put a bullet in that nigga and I see it's me / Is it my soul?, killing self hate / Or does that nigga in me have to die before I reach them pearly gates
In my anger, I imagine killing my enemy, only to realize that I am shooting myself metaphorically. I question whether it is a manifestation of self-hatred or a realization that I must abandon my past self to find peace
Either way I got somthin to say / Jam Master Jay used to yell walk this way
Regardless of the emotional turmoil I am experiencing, I have something important to express, perhaps inspired by the late Jam Master Jay's music
But it's hard to walk like a man the industry's../ And these the same motherfuckers that's controlin my cash' / And the same ones, the government, controllin yo ass
It is challenging to maintain dignity and autonomy in the music industry dominated by the same people controlling my revenue, and we are all under the thumb of the government's oppressive control
Why George bush ain't in jail for stealin them votes? / Why the cia ain't closed man, for pushin that dope?
I question why former President George Bush has not been held accountable for alleged election fraud while the CIA, responsible for the drug epidemic, has not been disbanded
Get it crackin America, the cia, aka the kkk / It's judgement day!
It is time for a reckoning, not only for the CIA but also for America as a whole, as I draw a comparison to the notorious Ku Klux Klan. Judgement is imminent.
In a Chevy, I'm wondering if the Feds broke the levy / Are they in with the devil to control the weather?
While driving, I ponder if the Federal government breached the levee during Hurricane Katrina deliberately and if they are conspiring with malevolent forces to manipulate the climate
Hurricanes and typhoons every other week / While po' folks are drowning in the middle of the street
Natural disasters occur frequently, disproportionately affecting marginalized and impoverished communities
We too scared to speak, or too busy on the internet / I heard they about to put lo-jacks in our kids necks
Fear and distraction prevent us from addressing the injustice, and technological advancements may be invasive and coercive
Marshall law, tell Bush naw we ain't ready to flip / The hood is like a modern slave ship
Martial law is looming, but I reject the idea of acquiescing, and I liken the societal conditions in predominantly minority neighborhoods to modern-day slavery
We packed like sardines and shackled to the streets / And crack is cotton that grows up from the concrete
People are crowded and confined to their neighborhoods, and addiction to drugs like crack is as inescapable as the very ground they walk on
Shit, but I guess I'm seein thangs / We'd rather not learn, we'd rather fuckin gang bang
Despite the severity of the societal issues at hand, others dismiss and are apathetic towards them, preferring to engage in violence and crime
Contributed by Abigail J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Warren Bailey
First heard this when I was 10 years old, walking into a record store. Here I am at 29 still somehow revisiting this song. Amazing
Aziz Shavershian
samesies
aduckcalledronan
love this video and song.. banner and shadow are two very creative dudes
EarSpace2023
2018 still a classic
杨家书
2020 still a classic
Michael McElroy
still relevant af sick track
Pierce Galactic
I saw this video displayed live when the tour stopped in SD. Been looking for it for like sixteen years. Thanks man!
Meshuggapeth
A phat beat and dynamic performance by David Banner--great song, odd video. Thanks for the upload.
MrGreg187
used ta love shadow,lots of great mixtapes
Josh Brown
2021 still a top 10!