His lengthy career has seen him crisscross the globe numerous times, chalking up rave reviews along the way. He returned to Coachella 2010, for his fourth appearance at the festival headlining the Sahara Tent, where the OC Register noted: "Even against two of the biggest draws on the schedule, Z-Trip raked 'em in, filling the Sahara with over 15,000 revelers." His 2009 Detroit Electronic Music Festival performance to over 10,000 stole the festival receiving the lions share of press: "Z-Trip lit up Saturday night, first by jamming with RJD2 then following with a Detroit-saluting mash-up set," beamed Billboard.
At the vanguard of dance music culture, he is at the heart of the DJ Hero™ video game series. Appearing as an avatar and providing several scorching remixes, Z-Trip's relentless vision even defied the advanced technology. An 8-bar scratch that he wanted to incorporate into the game was too much for the game's memory to handle. Beyond being immortalized as a playable character and his contribution of three exclusive tracks to the first installment, he remained a consultant, as well as executive producer, for DJ Hero 2 and created an additional two tracks.
Worldwide sold out shows would be enough for most artists, but not Z-Trip. His career brims with myriad milestones, starting from the now legendary mixtape, Uneasy Listening, Volume 1 , which the Phoenix, AZ native put together with Missouri's notorious DJ P. Back in 2001, the idea of pitting classic rock tracks against hip-hop into a seamless mix that could find the Pharcyde rapping over the Eagles or Metallica grinding it out under the righteous bark of Midnight Oil was unheard of. But instead of hating it as expected, enraptured fans disseminated the initial run of only 1000 CDs across the internet. By year's end, Uneasy Listening had made Z-Trip a burgeoning DJ star. It went on to receive critical acclaim and helped propel Z-Trip to national attention in 2002. It made album of the year lists in Spin, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Wired and XLR8R. More importantly, it also inadvertently created an entirely new genre of music.
Then, on top of being a world-class DJ, Z-Trip established himself as a formidable producer and his major label debut in 2005, Shifting Gears, was given 4 stars by Rolling Stone. Released on Hollywood Records in 2005, the album features guest artists Supernatural, MURS, Lyrics Born, Luke Sick, Aceyalone, Mystic, Prince Whipper Whip, Busdriver, Chester Bennington (from Linkin Park), Chuck D (from Public Enemy) and Zaakir aka Soup (from Jurassic 5). It spawned numerous Top 10 singles in the US and abroad.
A lifelong political activist, Z-Trip was a strong supporter of the Barack Obama's successful campaign to become the President of the United States and released Party For Change and Victory Lap in 2009. Both exceeded 500,000 downloads and favorably reviewed by Wired, URB, BPM, and XLR8R to name a few. Z-Trip's longtime friend and collaborator Shepard Fairey supplied the art.
After 14 months of sold-out shows at his Friday night headlining residency at Rain inside The Palms, Las Vegas, Z-Trip is taking a rest from his crowd-thrilling stint,"Z-Trip's Revolution". Upon displaying his genre bending skills and sharing his stage with many A-level guests including Three 6 Mafia, Common, Rev Run, Too Short, and De La Soul, Z-Trip is taking a rest from stage to focus on his next chapter of recorded music.
On My Side
DJ Z-Trip Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know I don't hang with snakes, yeah they keep they mouth shut
We untrained like some dogs, yeah they sometimes
Call us mutts
Got this pistol on my side so I'm never out of luck
Yeah, yeah, yeah ridin' through the city with my bros, you know what's up
We got the semi-tucked, the draco tucked move wrong, we light you up
We pourin' fours in the double cup, watch it bubble up
Yeah, let me talk for a second Drac with a titty send your ass up heaven I ain't playin' no hefflin
Me and my gang we steppin', yeah you know we what reppin
And we gon' ball like Stephen, shoot my Smith and Wesson
Like we up in school, nigga it's gon' teach you a lesson
Yeah, been countin' my blessings, yeah been countin' my blessings
Uh, I'm always first, nigga, nigga never no second
Uh, and that's no question, to the feds we not confessin
Cause I'm stuck with my gang for life and yeah, you know how we reppin
Robbin' the bank, and we bust through the safe then we hop in the Wraith and we gettin' away
Every day, it's about cash, I ain't doin' no fake just look at my plate, yeah, millions everyday
And you know that I'm totin' no braggin' or boastin' my niggas, some soldiers they strong as a boulder
We aim at your face not your motherfuckin' shoulder know we keep it 100 rounds, I told you, ah
Uh, I got my shooters in the cut
You know I don't hang with snakes yeah, they keep they mouth shut
We untrained like some dogs yeah, they sometimes call us mutts
Got this pistol on my side so I'm never out of luck
Yeah, yeah, yeah, ridin' through the city with my bros, you know what's up
We got the semi-tucked, the Draco tucked, move wrong, we light you up
We pourin' fours in the double cup watch it bubble up
Popped a perky and an Xan then I had the bubble guts, ah
The lyrics to DJ Z-Trip's song "On My Side" depict a gritty and confrontational narrative. The artist asserts his loyalty and alliance with his crew, emphasizing that they are not associated with deceitful individuals ("hang with snakes") who gossip or betray others. The metaphor of being "untrained like some dogs" and occasionally referred to as "mutts" highlights their rebellious nature and refusal to conform to societal norms. The presence of a pistol on his side symbolizes his perpetual preparedness for any potential danger, suggesting that he is always ready to defend himself and his crew.
The song also touches upon themes of success, asserting a victorious and confident attitude. The artist describes riding through the city with his friends, armed and ready for any confrontation. They are unafraid to take action, willing to use weapons and drugs to protect themselves and achieve their goals. The mention of "counting blessings" hints at the recognition of their fortunate circumstances and their ability to navigate a dangerous lifestyle while still enjoying the rewards it brings.
Overall, "On My Side" reflects an unapologetic and intense perspective on loyalty, protection, and the pursuit of success within a street-oriented environment.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, uh I got my shooters in the cut
I have my reliable team ready for action
You know I don't hang with snakes, yeah they keep they mouth shut
I avoid associating with dishonest people who keep secrets
We untrained like some dogs, yeah they sometimes call us mutts
We are unconventional and often underestimated, being referred to as misfits
Got this pistol on my side so I'm never out of luck
I carry a firearm for protection, ensuring I am always prepared
Yeah, yeah, yeah ridin' through the city with my bros, you know what's up
Cruising through the city with my close friends, enjoying ourselves
We got the semi-tucked, the draco tucked move wrong, we light you up
We have concealed weapons ready to respond forcefully if provoked
We pourin' fours in the double cup, watch it bubble up
We are filling multiple cups with a mixture of substances, observing their effervescence
Popped a perky and a xan and I had the bubble guts
After consuming drugs, I experienced an uneasy stomach
Yeah, let me talk for a second Drac with a titty send your ass up heaven I ain't playin' no hefflin
Allow me a moment to mention that my weapon, with its power, can send you to the afterlife. I am serious, not joking
Me and my gang we steppin', yeah you know we what reppin
My crew and I are confidently representing ourselves
And we gon' ball like Stephen, shoot my Smith and Wesson
We will excel and thrive like the basketball player Stephen Curry, using my Smith & Wesson firearm
Like we up in school, nigga it's gon' teach you a lesson
Similar to being in an educational institution, we will educate you through our actions
Yeah, been countin' my blessings, yeah been countin' my blessings
I have been regularly appreciating and acknowledging the good things in my life
Uh, I'm always first, nigga, nigga never no second
I consistently strive for excellence, never settling for second place
Uh, and that's no question, to the feds we not confessin
There is no doubt about it; we will not admit guilt to law enforcement
Cause I'm stuck with my gang for life and yeah, you know how we reppin
Because I am committed to my crew indefinitely, and you are aware of the way we represent ourselves
Robbin' the bank, and we bust through the safe then we hop in the Wraith and we gettin' away
Engaging in a bank robbery, breaching the safe's security, then swiftly escaping in a luxury car
Every day, it's about cash, I ain't doin' no fake just look at my plate, yeah, millions everyday
Every single day revolves around acquiring wealth without engaging in fraudulent activities. Just observe my success; I accumulate millions each day
And you know that I'm totin' no braggin' or boastin' my niggas, some soldiers they strong as a boulder
You are aware that I carry weapons without showing off or being arrogant. My associates are brave and resilient like a sturdy rock
We aim at your face not your motherfuckin' shoulder know we keep it 100 rounds, I told you, ah
Our intention is to target your face, not just your non-vital body parts. Understand that we possess an ample supply of ammunition, as I previously explained
Uh, I got my shooters in the cut
I have my skilled marksmen hiding discreetly
You know I don't hang with snakes yeah, they keep they mouth shut
I avoid associating with deceitful individuals, as they maintain their silence
We untrained like some dogs yeah, they sometimes call us mutts
We lack formal training similar to certain dogs, often being referred to as mixed breeds
Got this pistol on my side so I'm never out of luck
I carry a handgun, ensuring I am always prepared and fortunate
Yeah, yeah, yeah, ridin' through the city with my bros, you know what's up
Traveling through the city with my close friends, enjoying ourselves. You are aware of the situation
We got the semi-tucked, the Draco tucked, move wrong, we light you up
We have semi-automatic and Draco firearms stored away, ready to take action if you make a mistake, resulting in us opening fire
We pourin' fours in the double cup watch it bubble up
We are pouring a codeine-based mixture into a large cup, observing it effervesce
Popped a perky and an Xan then I had the bubble guts, ah
After consuming a mixture of drugs, including a Percocet and Xanax, I experienced an unsettled stomach
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Japhen Wilson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind