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.
Nutmeg
Das Racist Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes, yes, yes yes
More like a spiced-out Manmohan Singh
Or like a spiced-out I.K. Gujral
Like a spiced-out Bhagat Singh
Spice wars, crack wars
I love this song, shorty said
Hustle bustle OMG, on my guard, oh my god
Vic came back with three pizzas, gave one to Dap
His stomach under-crowded, proud kid, young Samaritan
Fuck a George Harrison, embarrassin'
Sitars no comparison, looking garish
Hit it out the park, Roger Maris
Plus Shea Stadium, Flushing, Corona
Chop shop, Pop Rocks, My Sharona, ginkgo biloba
Hold up, slow up, blow up, pull-o-ver
Get Smart Again, it's a cardigan, play the race card again
And again, and again, drinks at Bennigan's
Where's Ralph Waldo, Ellison?
Person of color, ya'll can't see me
Shoot at you actors like a DP
Ernie Anastos, asbestos, apartments
Smarter in a Starter Jacket, custom compartments
Illuminati, in my mind soul and my body [pause]
Young Bobby, Digital, hobby, physical
That's amazing, that's amazing, that's amazing
Yo, yeah
That's amazing, that's racist, that's fake shit
That's space shit, that's vacant, that's complacent
That's plague shit, that's offensive
That's Tet Offensive, that's defenseless
That's holiday, Doc Holiday, keep the doc away
Sitting by the dock of the bay on yay
Kanye I'm a letchu finish
Helsinki, blinky blink, stinky stink, stanky stank
Frank-n-Dank, feelin hot yo, watchin Rosanna Scotto
Liz Cho, Sade Baderinwa, Sue Simmons
Mr. G, Mr. Me, Mr. Me Too
Who care who Muslim, who Hebrew?
He cool, he wack, back street, street back
Alley cat, rally that, Taliban, alley man
Minivan, van, hans, hands
Hold hands across America, Jesus on the cross
Paid the cost to see the boss
Scalpers got the money, no Rick Ross
Big boss, man, PaRappa the Rappa, in Napa Valley
Valley man, mountain man, fountain pen, count it man
Borders crossed, or it's all to Mars [?]
Order you out the country tomorrow, order yours
Don't go chasing waterfalls
Hazmat suit, Nasdaq suit
Pass that zoot, blast that truth, booth
Teens found slain, bang bang bang bang
Unfounded truth, brown kid, yuke
Brown kid, shoot, the township youth
Yeaaah
Shoot shoot, the township youth
Shoot shoot the township youth
Y'all didn't believe me, huh?
Okay
[Heems & Kool AD:]
Yeeaaahh
Okay
Yeeaaahhh
Okay, Okay
[Kool AD:]
Okay
Heyo, that's amazing, blunt in your mouth talk
Silly struthers Sally Struthers, Gilmore Girls
Smothers Brothers at The Fillmore
Hand me that capo
Cup of my Snapple at Staples
Four flavor kettle corn
Heavy metal porno flick chicks with tattoos
Rollin up spliffs with Bambus
Damn dude
Whole load of Head and Shoulder shampoo
My Dominican friend finna stab you
Ask two questions, one: who da kid, two: who da kid
Both times the answer stay: Kool AD!
Ayyo, who is this though
The kid ran the fuck out the door
And never came back til' three weeks later
In the same black t-shirt
Stayed yakked til his teeth hurt
Coughing up blood like
"Nah, nah don't worry bout it"
Roll up in a silver Hyundai and scurry up out it
Niced out, no, riced out, drop like a ___ with a tail fin
Boo in the back looking like a young Sarah Palin
But yo pass the Craisins
A young couple of gods in the castle stay blazin'
Watching Tavis Smiley, writing emails to Richard Grabel
White Owl, Cacique, and Sprite on the table
Seven channels no cable
EMI hollerin hoping that the publishing
Go up like NASDAQ
Don't even remember if I'm BMI or ASCAP
Maybe I'm past that, I think I'm past that
No I'm not past rap, well maybe I'm past rap
Finna be past that
Finna be a mathemagician now
Hocus pocus, with the dope sick Vanna White with no tits
And a banana light cream soda, coca cola
Ringtone, ringtone, Motorola
Sammy Sosa skin cream, Michael Jackson disease
[Kool AD:]
Thirty-one inch inseam, attractive mac and cheese
Lamping in Jeruse, with the Maccabees
Checks from Bard College cashed at Pay-o-Matic
On Broadway, pass the yayo magic, static
On the 27-inch Zenith, believe it
Cheeses, Cheese Puffs
Cheez Doodles, Cup o' Noodles, Slim Jims, Quarter Waters
Quarters, corners dodecahedrons
Demons, basting virgin orchids with their semen
Sunflower seeds, Van Gogh Gogh Gogh
Go in, Go-Go Gadget, Gauguin, Rodin, Ronin, Conan
Cocaine, Rogaine, woodgrains, fertilizer
Phantom Tollbooth hold you...
[Hima:]
... street meat, street heat, beat beat, eat beets
Beats street wild stopped while light up my life
Fruit Loops, Kix, raps that's kid-tested, mother approved
Rude, Rubik's Cube, Uncle Sam don't want you Himanshu
Heems, schemes, creams, screams
Screens, Queens, Beam, means
Justify ends, tens, Benz, cockblock my friends
Bends, Pablo Honey, money, Brown Bunny
Doug Funnie, dunny [?], crummy, dummy
Dumb me, green, yeah
Hindu Kush in my blood, push comes to shove
Shove back, love back, thug rap, shrug rap, bug rap
The lyrics to "Nutmeg" by Das Racist offer a flurry of pop culture references and wordplay, centering on the theme of identity and self-expression. The verses switch between Heems and Kool AD, two members of the group, each providing their own unique perspective on issues. The song is filled with allusions to movies and TV shows (The Smothers Brothers, Gilmore Girls), historical figures (George Harrison, Bhagat Singh), and even contemporary events (the Tet Offensive).
The song opens with Heems talking about "spice wars," a reference to both the drug and the culinary ingredient. He then segues into mentioning several Indian political figures, such as Manmohan Singh and Bhagat Singh, alluding to his own cultural background. As the verses progress, Heems and Kool AD go back and forth with an almost stream-of-consciousness style, listing off disparate thoughts and images that range from the mundane (ordering pizza) to the surreal (Jesus on the cross).
Overall, "Nutmeg" is emblematic of Das Racist's unique sound and style. The group's lyrics and music often challenge conventional forms of hip-hop, incorporating elements of humor, satire, and social commentary. While their music may not always be easily digestible, it rewards careful listening and reflection.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes, yes, yes yes
Expressing enthusiasm and agreement
More like a spiced-out Manmohan Singh
Comparing oneself to the former Indian Prime Minister, known for his calm demeanor
Or like a spiced-out I.K. Gujral
Comparing oneself to another former Indian Prime Minister known for his diplomatic skills
Like a spiced-out Bhagat Singh
Comparing oneself to the iconic revolutionary Bhagat Singh
Spice wars, crack wars
Referencing conflicts and battles related to drugs and spices
I love this song, shorty said
Expressing appreciation for the song, as mentioned by someone
Queens Boulevard, Kierkegaard, hustle hard
Mentioning locations and philosophers while emphasizing the need to work diligently
Hustle bustle OMG, on my guard, oh my god
Expressing the hectic nature of life and the need to be cautious
Vic came back with three pizzas, gave one to Dap
Describing a generous act involving sharing pizza
His stomach under-crowded, proud kid, young Samaritan
Highlighting the satisfaction of helping others and feeling proud about it
Fuck a George Harrison, embarrassin'
Disregarding someone's importance and finding them embarrassing
Sitars no comparison, looking garish
Expressing how sitars don't compare to something else and criticizing their appearance
Hit it out the park, Roger Maris
Using the metaphor of hitting a ball out of the park, referencing a baseball player known for his home run record
Plus Shea Stadium, Flushing, Corona
Mentioning locations associated with sports in New York City
Chop shop, Pop Rocks, My Sharona, ginkgo biloba
Listing various unrelated things for wordplay and imagery
Hold up, slow up, blow up, pull-o-ver
Describing actions of stopping or slowing down with the use of wordplay
Get Smart Again, it's a cardigan, play the race card again
Referencing a TV show and wordplay on a cardigan, while addressing racial issues
And again, and again, drinks at Bennigan's
Repeating the idea of going for drinks at a specific restaurant
Where's Ralph Waldo, Ellison?
Asking about the whereabouts of a person named Ralph Waldo Ellison
Person of color, ya'll can't see me
Asserting one's identity as a person of color and challenging others' perception
Shoot at you actors like a DP
Metaphorically shooting at actors like a cinematographer
Ernie Anastos, asbestos, apartments
Mentioning a news anchor, asbestos, and apartments for wordplay
Smarter in a Starter Jacket, custom compartments
Feeling more intelligent while wearing a popular jacket brand with personalized storage spaces
Illuminati, in my mind soul and my body [pause]
Referencing the secretive society while indicating their presence in one's thoughts and being
Young Bobby, Digital, hobby, physical
Referring to a person named Bobby and his involvement in digital and physical activities
That's amazing, that's amazing, that's amazing
Reiterating the impression of something being truly impressive
That's racist, that's fake shit
Labeling something as racist or inauthentic
That's space shit, that's vacant, that's complacent
Characterizing something as related to space, lacking substance, and displaying laziness
That's plague shit, that's offensive
Describing something as similar to a plague and being offensive
That's Tet Offensive, that's defenseless
Comparing something to the Tet Offensive (a military campaign) and stating its vulnerability
That's holiday, Doc Holiday, keep the doc away
Playfully referencing the historical figure Doc Holiday and the need to stay healthy
Sitting by the dock of the bay on yay
Using wordplay to describe sitting by the bay while under the influence of drugs
Kanye I'm a letchu finish
Addressing Kanye West and suggesting that the artist will allow him to finish what he's saying
Helsinki, blinky blink, stinky stink, stanky stank
Mentioning Helsinki and using wordplay to describe something as unpleasant
Frank-n-Dank, feelin hot yo, watchin Rosanna Scotto
Referencing musical artists and expressing feeling warm while watching a news anchor
Liz Cho, Sade Baderinwa, Sue Simmons
Naming news personalities
Mr. G, Mr. Me, Mr. Me Too
Referring to various people, including oneself, with different variations of their names
Who care who Muslim, who Hebrew?
Asserting that it doesn't matter one's religious identity
He cool, he wack, back street, street back
Describing someone as cool or wack while playing with street-related phrases
Alley cat, rally that, Taliban, alley man
Using wordplay with alley-related terms and referencing the Taliban
Minivan, van, hans, hands
Listing various words related to vans and hands
Hold hands across America, Jesus on the cross
Mentioning a symbolic act and connecting it to religious imagery
Paid the cost to see the boss
Referring to paying a price to meet someone important
Scalpers got the money, no Rick Ross
Suggesting that scalpers have the money, but not the rapper Rick Ross
Big boss, man, PaRappa the Rappa, in Napa Valley
Describing oneself as a big boss and referencing a video game character and a location
Valley man, mountain man, fountain pen, count it man
Playing with words related to valleys, mountains, pens, and counting
Borders crossed, or it's all to Mars [?]
Questioning whether borders have been crossed or if the destination is Mars
Order you out the country tomorrow, order yours
Describing a situation where someone is ordered to leave the country and advising them to do the same
Don't go chasing waterfalls
Referencing a popular song and suggesting not to pursue unattainable goals
Hazmat suit, Nasdaq suit
Mentioning a hazardous material suit and a suit related to the Nasdaq stock market
Pass that zoot, blast that truth, booth
Asking for a marijuana joint, expressing a desire to speak the truth, and mentioning a booth
Teens found slain, bang bang bang bang
Describing a tragic event involving the murder of teenagers
Unfounded truth, brown kid, yuke
Highlighting an unsupported statement, referencing a person's ethnicity, and using wordplay
Brown kid, shoot, the township youth
Referring to a person of a specific race and their involvement in a community
Yeeaaahh
Expressing affirmation
Okay
Acknowledging understanding or agreement
Yeeaaahhh
Expressing affirmation
Okay, Okay
Repeating the acknowledgement of understanding or agreement
Heyo, that's amazing, blunt in your mouth talk
Describing something as impressive and mentioning a person smoking a blunt
Silly struthers Sally Struthers, Gilmore Girls
Playing with words related to a celebrity and a TV show
Smothers Brothers at The Fillmore
Referencing a comedy duo and a music venue
Hand me that capo
Requesting a musical accessory called a capo
Cup of my Snapple at Staples
Mentioning a brand of drink and a retail store
Four flavor kettle corn
Describing a type of popcorn with multiple flavors
Heavy metal porno flick chicks with tattoos
Using wordplay to describe women associated with heavy metal, pornography, and tattoos
Rollin up spliffs with Bambus
Rolling marijuana joints using a specific rolling paper brand
Damn dude
Expressing surprise or awe
Whole load of Head and Shoulder shampoo
Referring to a lot of a specific brand of shampoo
My Dominican friend finna stab you
Playfully suggesting that a friend from the Dominican Republic is going to harm someone
Ask two questions, one: who da kid, two: who da kid
Asking two questions about someone's identity, with both answers being the same
Both times the answer stay: Kool AD!
Consistently providing the answer to the previous questions as Kool AD
Ayyo, who is this though
Asking about the identity of someone mentioned earlier
The kid ran the fuck out the door
Describing how the person quickly left the area
And never came back til' three weeks later
Indicating a prolonged absence of the person until they returned after three weeks
In the same black t-shirt
Noting that the person returned wearing the same black t-shirt as before
Stayed yakked til his teeth hurt
Implying that the person stayed high on drugs until their teeth ached
Coughing up blood like
Describing the action of coughing up blood
"Nah, nah don't worry bout it"
Dismissing concern or worry
Roll up in a silver Hyundai and scurry up out it
Arriving and departing quickly in a specific car
Niced out, no, riced out, drop like a ___ with a tail fin
Noting that something is not nice but rather modified with rice-like modifications, using a substitution for a missing word
Boo in the back looking like a young Sarah Palin
Describing the appearance of someone in the back of a car, comparing them to a younger version of Sarah Palin
But yo pass the Craisins
Requesting someone to hand over cranberries
A young couple of gods in the castle stay blazin'
Describing oneself and someone else as god-like figures who stay high in a castle
Watching Tavis Smiley, writing emails to Richard Grabel
Engaging in media consumption and corresponding with someone named Richard Grabel
White Owl, Cacique, and Sprite on the table
Naming specific products present on a table
Seven channels no cable
Having access to seven TV channels without needing a cable subscription
EMI hollerin hoping that the publishing
Mentioning a music company and the desire for recognition of one's work
Go up like NASDAQ
Comparing something to the upward movement of the NASDAQ stock market
Don't even remember if I'm BMI or ASCAP
Forgetting which organization one is affiliated with for royalty collection
Maybe I'm past that, I think I'm past that
Considering the possibility of being beyond certain things and affirming that belief
No I'm not past rap, well maybe I'm past rap
Contradicting the previous statement and reconsidering one's standing in the rap genre
Finna be past that
Expressing the intention to move on from the topic
Finna be a mathemagician now
Stating the desire to become skilled in mathematics
Hocus pocus, with the dope sick Vanna White with no tits
Using wordplay with magic and a TV personality, and making an insulting comment
And a banana light cream soda, coca cola
Describing a unique soda flavor and mentioning a popular brand
Ringtone, ringtone, Motorola
Referencing the sound of a ringtone and a specific brand of phone
Sammy Sosa skin cream, Michael Jackson disease
Mentioning a product associated with a baseball player and a condition related to Michael Jackson's skin color
Thirty-one inch inseam, attractive mac and cheese
Describing the length of pants and referring to mac and cheese as attractive
Lamping in Jeruse, with the Maccabees
Relaxing in Jerusalem with reference to the Maccabees
Checks from Bard College cashed at Pay-o-Matic
Cashing checks from a specific college at a particular establishment
On Broadway, pass the yayo magic, static
Being on Broadway and moving illegal drugs while dealing with potential problems
On the 27-inch Zenith, believe it
Watching something on a specific TV brand and emphasizing the belief in it
Cheeses, Cheese Puffs
Referencing different types of cheese and a specific snack
Cheez Doodles, Cup o' Noodles, Slim Jims, Quarter Waters
Naming various snack products and a type of drink
Quarters, corners dodecahedrons
Referring to coins and geometric shapes
Demons, basting virgin orchids with their semen
Using wordplay related to demons and sexual imagery involving flowers
Sunflower seeds, Van Gogh Gogh Gogh
Mentioning sunflower seeds and humorously extending the name of an artist
Go in, Go-Go Gadget, Gauguin, Rodin, Ronin, Conan
Playing with wordplay and referencing various names and fictional characters
Cocaine, Rogaine, woodgrains, fertilizer
Listing different words while maintaining wordplay and imagery
Phantom Tollbooth hold you...
Referencing a book or a tollbooth and suggesting something
... street meat, street heat, beat beat, eat beets
Using wordplay to describe food, warmth, and music
Beats street wild stopped while light up my life
Expressing the impact of music and the joy it brings
Fruit Loops, Kix, raps that's kid-tested, mother approved
Mentioning different cereals and describing raps as suitable for kids
Rude, Rubik's Cube, Uncle Sam don't want you Himanshu
Playing with wordplay related to being rude and referencing the singer's name
Heems, schemes, creams, screams
Referring to oneself and activities involving plotting, applying cream, and shouting
Screens, Queens, Beam, means
Mentioning screens, a location, a slang term, and indicating significance
Justify ends, tens, Benz, cockblock my friends
Asserting the need to justify actions, referencing money, a car, and protecting friends
Bends, Pablo Honey, money, Brown Bunny
Using wordplay with bends, a Radiohead album, money, and a movie title
Doug Funnie, dunny [?], crummy, dummy
Referencing a cartoon character, a slang term, and describing something as subpar
Dumb me, green, yeah
Dismissing oneself as ignorant and emphasizing the word 'green'
Hindu Kush in my blood, push comes to shove
Stating the presence of Hindu Kush strain in one's system and emphasizing the need to take action when necessary
Shove back, love back, thug rap, shrug rap, bug rap
Encouraging resistance, love, and describing different styles of rap
Contributed by Alaina C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@2pbig
Avid hip-hop fan here. Why have I never heard of Das Racist? Very under rated
@chuy7880
setting the bar high for nonsequitars.
@Skiptracer1981
"That's offensive. That's Tet offensive." amazing.
@billal7185
I still listen to him but kool ad gave the mr me too line another meaning
@TheTimeRocket
Flushing Corona ... Hazmat suites
@njscott6483
Righteous you catch that too 😬💯💯💯🎯
@njscott6483
“Corona Chop Shop” hold up 2020
@Croix1
KANYE IMMA LET YOU FINISH HELSINKI ...damn
@dennyluan
dude just name dropped tavis smiley. that makes me smile
@AnonsCrossfader
God damn it Vic does a good ghost. Das Racist studied under Bruce Lee, nuqqa.