This is the second time Danger Mouse, Black Thought and MF DOOM have been on a track together, the first being “Mad Nice”, a bonus track from MF DOOM & Danger Mouse’s collaborative album "The Mouse & The Mask".
Danger Mouse talked about the song’s creation in an interview with The Ringer, here’s what he said:
How did the DOOM feature come about? Was that something that you had kicking around?
"When DOOM and I finished the album, we kept working together for years here and there. Track here, track there, but not really a lot of finished stuff. And there was a time when that overlapped with me working with Tariq. They were both fans of each other, and so there were a few songs we did where I was like, “Hey, I got a verse from Black Thought. You want to do one?” He was like, “Yeah, great,” and then vice versa. This particular song was one that I never did get Tariq on, but was what we had talked about. We had talked about doing that. So I had it, and I just held it and held it, and when we were doing this project, decided to use it."
Are there any artistic considerations that go into working on a posthumous collab with an artist like DOOM? Are there any extra pressures, any extra care? I would imagine there are some emotions that go into it.
"At the time I didn’t realize it, but looking back on it, probably. I changed the music a few different times to make sure it was right. But Tariq helped with that, and helped with his input on it, and we were pretty confident this was good to go when it was time. But we’d had a couple of, actually, other versions of it musically, where the beats I thought were good at the time.
Sometimes you’re doing something creative, and you’re just like, “I know it’s not right.” Other people might not know exactly what it is, and you don’t even necessarily know how to make it right, but you just know it’s not. I started messing with it more and then realized it could be something that would work, that I felt like, “Oh man, this just sounds right.”"
"DOOM was a big fan of Tariq’s, [and vice versa.] The song that is now “Belize” was always unfinished, because I hadn’t been solidly working on anything with Tariq. Then, as we were working on the album, we realised we could finish it and it would [actually] fit this album. [Obviously, after DOOM passed away, its inclusion has become bittersweet.] I had to get it right, because , “You’re not gonna get too many more of these – if any at all.” This will probably be the last time I have something with him on it. But I’m happy with how it turned out."
– Danger Mouse, via NME
Belize
Danger Mouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo, I'm sick, no lymph nodes is swollen
They told me even when the records skip, keep it rolling
On his shoulder like a California highway patrolman
Launch codes was stolen and sold by Ed Snowden
Then I fled to Rome and told 'em address me as a Roman
I'm still in photos, posted with my own omen
It's something like a plane bumper sticker, no slogan
This something for the shooters and back-and-forth commuters
Who never knew the difference in laws and jurisprudence
I feel as though it's safe to assume that you the students
Are non congruent to the way that me and DOOM do this
You checking the top-two of a thousand intelligent chaps
With rap projects in housing developments
Cool the cross-legged on a crate like it's elegant
Try to hate, I'm puffing up your face like a pelican
Highly enveloped in, activating my melanin
Y'all failin' to see what's shaken besides gelatin
News bullets and I refuse to take the medicine
Fuck a thick skin, I got me an exo-skeleton
The black Colin Farrell in The Lobster
That living like an obstetrician but not a doctor
Bring the Cambridge, the Websters, the Oxfords
The picture too long to watch, see the synopsis
Compensated for playing nice, it's optics
Product of the last poets and the watched prophets
Ock, stop it, it's beyond out-of-pocket
Dunzo, I hit the gun show and got a rocket
Catastrophic, supreme microphone is
In Mexico, we the legendary dos cojones
Brothers both components of the close to coldest
Court holders with bars as hard as Angola
Away from you
DOOM get rude with the dude off chips
The mood switch, he chewed off strips off a brewed witch
Danger make him groove off a glitch
Makes your boo booty twitch and the crew rich, bitch
Always wanted to say that
Ever since the days in hallways tauntin' a stray cat
The one he often frequently slapped around
All the while, waited then graduated, cap and gown
Hated the rap sound
Debated the crap until he felt he had it mapped out
Enough to have the game trapped abound
Scratched the crown off the names of lames who yapped the noun
Or verb for that matter
Had no data for a herbal chat chatter
Oh, Erik Estrada
Fat rat, the mask made him batty as a mad-hatter
Known for his absurd word choices
And will ignore you if you ask him if he heard voices
Look, the energy is crazy
Far as he's concerned, the enemy was lazy
Hm-hm-hm, your attention please
Freeze, he came to seize the free cheese
Before he flees to Belize
In case you forgot to mention squeeze these
Just keep it on a need-to-know basis
They knew he was a negro so no need to show faces
Back in the days of no laces
On a slow pace, they used to say he might, could go places
Meh, whatever the case is
The card he played was Ace of Spades but no races
A spastic, some call him loony
When he spit a tomb sarcastic, it's Paul Mooney
Away from you
Away from you
The song "Belize" by Danger Mouse and Black Thought is a fast-paced, hard-hitting track that touches on a range of social and political issues. The first verse sees Black Thought rapping about a variety of topics, including the leaks of classified information by Edward Snowden, his own travels to Rome, the differences between jurisprudence and street culture, and his love for rap with a hint of menace. He rhymes about being "non-congruent" with the way other rappers do things, then goes on to criticize the media's handling of current events and the pharmaceutical industry. The second verse is taken over by DOOM, who raps about his own experiences with the rap game, including his early days in the industry, the ridiculousness of some rappers' lyrics, and his status as a "spastic" and a "loony". The chorus, which is repeated several times throughout the song, simply says "Away from you," which could be interpreted in a number of ways, but seems to suggest that the artists are distancing themselves from certain elements of society or the music industry.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, I'm sick, no lymph nodes is swollen
I'm not feeling well, but there is no sign of swollen lymph nodes
They told me even when the records skip, keep it rolling
I was advised to keep going even if there are interruptions in my career
On his shoulder like a California highway patrolman
I carry the weight of my work like a highway patrol officer carries his responsibilities
Launch codes was stolen and sold by Ed Snowden
Secret codes were stolen by Ed Snowden and put up for sale
Then I fled to Rome and told 'em address me as a Roman
To escape, I went to Rome and requested to be addressed as a Roman
I'm still in photos, posted with my own omen
I am still present in photos, alongside my own symbol of fate
A thumping kicker for me to slam like Hulk Hogan
I have a powerful force that motivates me, like a wrestler slamming an opponent
It's something like a plane bumper sticker, no slogan
My work has a similar effect to a bumper sticker on a plane, without any specific message
This something for the shooters and back-and-forth commuters
My work is intended for people who are busy and on-the-go
Who never knew the difference in laws and jurisprudence
People who do not understand the distinction between laws and legal theory
I feel as though it's safe to assume that you the students
I believe that it is reasonable to assume that you, as listeners, are students
Are non congruent to the way that me and DOOM do this
Your way of understanding things is not aligned with how DOOM and I approach our work
You checking the top-two of a thousand intelligent chaps
You are examining the most elite among a large group of clever people
With rap projects in housing developments
Artists with music projects aimed at people in low-income housing
Cool the cross-legged on a crate like it's elegant
I can sit calmly with my legs crossed on a crate, as if it is a luxurious seat
Try to hate, I'm puffing up your face like a pelican
If you're trying to hate, I will embarrass you with a puffed-up face like a pelican
Highly enveloped in, activating my melanin
I am deeply involved in my work, which stimulates the production of melanin in my body
Y'all failin' to see what's shaken besides gelatin
You all are not seeing what is happening, despite it being as obvious as gelatin shaking
News bullets and I refuse to take the medicine
I won't accept the reality shown in news headlines
Fuck a thick skin, I got me an exo-skeleton
I don't need to have a thick skin, because I have an exo-skeleton to protect me
The black Colin Farrell in The Lobster
I am like the character Colin Farrell played in the movie The Lobster, but black
That living like an obstetrician but not a doctor
I am living a lifestyle similar to an obstetrician, but I am not one
Bring the Cambridge, the Websters, the Oxfords
I am well-read and can understand and use references from different dictionaries
The picture too long to watch, see the synopsis
The story is too long to watch, so here is a brief summary of it
Compensated for playing nice, it's optics
I have been rewarded for being agreeable, but it is only to give off a certain impression
Product of the last poets and the watched prophets
I am a product of the influential group The Last Poets and other historical figures who have been closely watched and analyzed
Ock, stop it, it's beyond out-of-pocket
Stop it, it's unreasonable beyond belief
Dunzo, I hit the gun show and got a rocket
I am done here, I went to purchase a weapon and got a powerful one
Catastrophic, supreme microphone is
My microphone skills are incredibly powerful and destructive
In Mexico, we the legendary dos cojones
In Mexico, we are the legendary duo with extreme courage
Brothers both components of the close to coldest
We are brothers who are both part of the group of the closest and most cold-hearted individuals
Court holders with bars as hard as Angola
We are holding court with our powerful bars, which are as tough as Angola
DOOM get rude with the dude off chips
DOOM is getting aggressive with someone who is trying to get in on the action
The mood switch, he chewed off strips off a brewed witch
The person's behavior changed suddenly, and they were disrespectful to a woman who brewed something
Danger make him groove off a glitch
I inspire him to dance, even when there is an error in the music
Makes your boo booty twitch and the crew rich, bitch
My music gets people dancing and is making my crew wealthy
Always wanted to say that
I have been waiting for a chance to say that line
Ever since the days in hallways tauntin' a stray cat
I have had this desire since the days when I teased a stray cat in the hallway
The one he often frequently slapped around
The cat was the one I used to hit and abuse regularly
All the while, waited then graduated, cap and gown
I waited patiently, and eventually completed my graduation ceremony wearing a cap and gown
Hated the rap sound
I used to dislike rap music
Debated the crap until he felt he had it mapped out
I discussed and analyzed rap music until I had a deep understanding of it
Enough to have the game trapped abound
I have enough knowledge to control the rap music industry
Scratched the crown off the names of lames who yapped the noun
I have humiliated and exposed the lesser rappers who speak in meaningless jargon
Or verb for that matter
And the same applies to their use of verbs
Had no data for a herbal chat chatter
I did not have any facts or knowledge to contribute to a conversation about herbs
Oh, Erik Estrada
Oh, Erik Estrada (a famous actor and police officer), as an expression of excitement
Fat rat, the mask made him batty as a mad-hatter
There is a fat rat wearing a mask that makes him behave crazily like the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland
Known for his absurd word choices
This rat is known for using nonsensical words
And will ignore you if you ask him if he heard voices
He will refuse to acknowledge you if you question whether he hears voices
Look, the energy is crazy
The energy in the atmosphere is intense and uncontrollable
Far as he's concerned, the enemy was lazy
As far as he is concerned, the person he fought against was not putting in any effort
Hm-hm-hm, your attention please
Ahem, I want your attention
Freeze, he came to seize the free cheese
Stop, he is here to take the free food
Before he flees to Belize
Before he runs away to Belize (a country known for its beaches)
In case you forgot to mention squeeze these
Just a reminder, don't forget to squeeze these (likely referring to breasts)
Just keep it on a need-to-know basis
Only share information with people who need to know
They knew he was a negro so no need to show faces
Because they knew that he was a black man, they did not need to hide their identities
Back in the days of no laces
In the past, people did not have shoelaces
On a slow pace, they used to say he might, could go places
Although he was a slow learner, people used to say that he might succeed someday
Meh, whatever the case is
Whatever the situation may be, it does not matter to me
The card he played was Ace of Spades but no races
He chose to play the Ace of Spades card, but there was no competition or struggle because of race
A spastic, some call him loony
Some people refer to him as a spastic or someone who is mentally unstable
When he spit a tomb sarcastic, it's Paul Mooney
When he sarcastically speaks his mind, it is similar to the style of comedian Paul Mooney
Away from you
I am away from you, which is why I can speak so candidly
Away from you
I am physically separated from you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brian Joseph Burton, Daniel Thompson Dumile, George Stavis, Tarik Trotter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@duonnmz940
Lyrics
Yo, I'm sick, no lymph nodes is swollen
They told me even when the records skip, keep 'em rolling
On the shoulder like a California highway patrolman
Launch codes was stolen and sold by Ed Snowden
I fled to Rome and told 'em address me as a Roman
I'm still in photos, posted with my own omen
A thumping kicker for me to slam like Hulk Hogan
It's something like a plain bumper sticker, no slogan
This something for the shooters and back-and-forth commuters
Who never knew the difference in laws and jurisprudence
I feel as though it's safe to assume that to the students
And I can prove it to the way me and DOOM do this
You checking the top-two of a thousand intelligent chaps
With rap projects in housing developments
Cool the cross-legged on a crate like it's elegant
Try to hate, I'm puffing up your face like a pelican
Highly enveloped in, activating my melanin
Y'all failin' to see what's shakin' besides gelatin
News bulletin, I refuse to take the medicine
Fuck a thick skin, I got me a exoskeleton
The black Colin Farrell in The Lobster
Deliver like an obstetrician, but not a doctor
Bring the Cambridge, the Websters, the Oxfords
The picture too long to watch, see the synopsis
Compensated for playing nice, it's optics
Product of The Last Poets and The Watts Prophets
Ahk, stop it, it's beyond out-of-pocket
Donezo, I hit the gun show and got a rocket
Catastrophic, supreme microphoners
In Mexico, we the legendary dos cojones
Brothers, both components of the close to coldest
Court holders with bars as hard as Angola's
[Verse 2: MF DOOM]
DOOM get rude with the dude off chips
The mood switch, he chewed off strips of a Broodwich
Danger make him groove off a glitch
Made your boo booty twitch and the crew rich, bitch
Always wanted to say that
Ever since the days in hallways tauntin' a stray cat
The one he often frequently slapped around
All the while, waited then graduated, cap and gown
Hated the rap sound
Debated the crap until he felt he had it mapped out
Enough to have the game trapped and bound
Scratchin' the crown with the names of lames who yapped the noun
Or verb, for that matter
Had no data for a herb who chat chatter
Oh, Erik Estrada
Fat rat, the mask made him batty as a mad hatter
Known for his absurd word choices
And will ignore you if you ask him if he heard voices
Look, the energy is crazy
Far as he was concerned, the enemy was lazy
Ahem, your attention please
Freeze, he came to seize the free cheese
Before he flees to Belize
In case you forgot to mention, squeeze these
Just keep it on a need-to-know basis
They knew he was a negro, so no need to show faces
Back in the days of no laces
On a slow pace, they used to say he might could go places
Meh, whatever the case is
The card he played was ace of spades, but no races
A spastic, some call loony
When he spit a tune sarcastic as Paul Mooney
@DrBigFMC
What a creative way to pay tribute to DOOM. Had a grown man tearing up.
@notyourdad
Yep. I clicked on the video wondering how they'd deal with DOOM's verse and left in tears.
@patrickbyrne5070
Gets you. Grown man rap mate. 👊
@ZodiacThumpMusic
Exactly...nothing to add at all. They did him right.
@himynameisgains
Respect
@AbeVigoda49311
Same. Felt that way the first time I saw it. Still chokes me up. RIP Mr. Dumile.
@Aaron-dk1rf
“Launch codes were stolen and sold by Ed Snowden”, that bar went over 90% of these cats heads
@dominiquejones3805
Never level rhymin
@Koa51911
This is the best depiction of DOOM's absence. You really feel it in this video.
@himynameisgains
❤