Known for their use of humor, obscure references, and unconventional style, Das Racist has been both dismissed as joke rap and hailed as an urgent new voice in rap. Spin magazine picked Das Racist as one of 50 acts to watch at the 2010 SXSW festival, and in April 2010, MTV Iggy selected Das Racist as one of the "25 Best New Bands in the World". Rolling Stone declared the song "hahahaha jk?" from Sit Down, Man one of the fifty best singles of 2010.
Das Racist's unique style has a strong polarizing tendency; their set at the Pop Montreal festival was described as "the most divisive show seen at the festival". They describe their approach to music as "'deconstructionalist': sawing the legs out from under hip-hop as they celebrate it".The New York Times wrote "Das Racist’s lack of piety has become an aesthetic of its own, with songs that are as much commentary on hip-hop as rigorous practice of it". The Root said Das Racist could speak for both "the ‘hood or the nearest gated community." Playboy called the duo "equal parts hip-hop and Cheech & Chong".
In December 2012, statements made by members of Das Racist made apparent that the band had broken up.
Middle of the Cake
Das Racist Lyrics
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I'm straight up out of Queens but ain't no Tec up on my dresser
Just a bunch of dusty books and a statue of Ram
Or Hanuman, a big framed poster of Veerapan
Yeah I spit it great, mommy move it like a snake
We leaving the club like somebody called the Jakes
Eating Ritalin and steak
I'm in the middle of the cake
But it's wack
[Chorus]
How many licks does it take to get to
The middle of the cake? Giggle if you're awake
Chuckle if you're asleep, knuck if you buck
Now we counting all the sheep
Baa baa baa baa blah blah blah blah blah blah
Let me try it
Anything that don't match the skin color, the brother dye it
Show promoters paying for rooms at the Hyatt
Firewater costs a lot of bread, but heads buy it
And keep the owner fed, peep the overhead
This sword of Damocles swings over the coldest
Holders of boulders and money folders
Who sold the bread to hungry dummies at high markup
But money is money is money is money is money
[Chorus]
RapGenius.com is white devil sophistry
Urban Dictionary is for demons with college degrees
Google ad technology is artificial karma, B
Rick Ross on the radio at the pharmacy
If I die today, remember me like Guru Dutt
Or anyone, tweet about it forget about it
And then don't give a fuck. I'm feeling weird, I'm up in a rut
Nah! PMA got me now. Picking it up!
The song "Middle Of The Cake" by Das Racist feat. Anand Wilder is a commentary on materialism and cultural appropriation in America. The lyrics are full of references to pop culture and Hindu mythology. The first verse talks about how the singer is from Queens, but instead of having a gun on his dresser, he has a statue of Ram or Hanuman, two mythological figures in Hinduism. He also mentions spit it great, which is a reference to rapping, and belittles those who think their "shit" is great.
The chorus asks the question, "How many licks does it take to get to the middle of the cake?" which is a play on the Tootsie Pop commercial. It then goes on to suggest laughing or fighting to stay awake. The second verse mentions cultural appropriation and materialism. The singer talks about how anything that doesn't match a certain skin color is dyed, and how show promoters pay for rooms at the Hyatt. The verse also mentions "money is money," which is a nod to the song "Mo Money Mo Problems," by the Notorious B.I.G.
The third and final verse is a commentary on technology and the media. The singer calls RapGenius.com "white devil sophistry," Urban Dictionary "for demons with college degrees," and Google ad technology "artificial karma." The verse also mentions Rick Ross on the radio and Guru Dutt, an Indian film director. The song ends on a positive note with the singer saying that "PMA" or positive mental attitude has him feeling better.
Line by Line Meaning
My pocket full of loud, yeah I got that Fran Drescher
I have a lot of weed on me, as much as Fran Drescher's voice is loud
I'm straight up out of Queens but ain't no Tec up on my dresser
I come from Queens but I don't have any guns on my dresser
Just a bunch of dusty books and a statue of Ram
All I have at home are books and a statue of Ram
Or Hanuman, a big framed poster of Veerapan
I also have a poster of Veerapan and a Hanuman statue
Yeah I spit it great, mommy move it like a snake
I rap so well that it makes people dance like a snake
We leaving the club like somebody called the Jakes
We're leaving the club because the police are coming (Jakes is slang for the police)
Eating Ritalin and steak
I'm eating Ritalin (a prescription drug) and steak
I'm in the middle of the cake
I'm at the height of success, the center of attention
Belittling, little idiots who think their shit is great
I'm mocking people who are full of themselves but actually talentless
But it's wack
Their music is terrible
How many licks does it take to get to
A reference to a commercial for Tootsie Pops
The middle of the cake? Giggle if you're awake
Laugh if you understand the irony of the question
Chuckle if you're asleep, knuck if you buck
Different reactions to the question
Now we counting all the sheep
Counting sheep is a way to fall asleep
Baa baa baa baa blah blah blah blah blah blah
Nonsense words
Anything that don't match the skin color, the brother dye it
People will dye their hair to match their skin color
Show promoters paying for rooms at the Hyatt
The people who organize concerts pay for performers to stay at fancy hotels like the Hyatt
Firewater costs a lot of bread, but heads buy it
Liquor is expensive, but people still buy it
And keep the owner fed, peep the overhead
The money we spend on drinks keeps the bar owners financially secure
This sword of Damocles swings over the coldest
Reference to a Greek legend that warns of impending disaster
Holders of boulders and money folders
People who have large amounts of money
Who sold the bread to hungry dummies at high markup
Refers to businesses who sell food to people, marking up the price
But money is money is money is money is money
Money is the same, no matter how you got it
RapGenius.com is white devil sophistry
An insulting reference to a music interpretation website
Urban Dictionary is for demons with college degrees
An insulting reference to a website for slang and cultural definitions
Google ad technology is artificial karma, B
Sarcastic reference to online ads that supposedly give you what you need
Rick Ross on the radio at the pharmacy
A famous rapper's music is playing at a pharmacy
If I die today, remember me like Guru Dutt
Guru Dutt is a famous Indian actor who is remembered for his contributions to cinema
Or anyone, tweet about it forget about it
If I die, tweet about me but then forget about me
And then don't give a fuck. I'm feeling weird, I'm up in a rut
I don't care what happens after I die. I feel out of sorts and stuck
Nah! PMA got me now. Picking it up!
Positive Mental Attitude is helping me feel better
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind