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.
One Dollar Can
Das Racist Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One dollar can, man
My, ooh, die, ooh
One dollar can, man
Yo, yo, turn the delay up in them headphones (ooh yeah)
Ooh, ooh...
(It was the) Shaun Bridgmohan reporting the truth that is
To be rehearsed
Me so special, you special?
All you need is one drop and one dollar (′ere now)
One dollar can
One dollar can
Said my one dollar can
A one dollar can
One dollar can (one dollar can)
One dollar can (one dollar can)
One dollar can (one dollar can)
My one dollar can (one dollar can)
Me walk in the store, what me gwan get?
A one dollar can of ice tea (no)
Then me say what me say me forget (the truth)
When no pussy go down nicely
Gas price go up, gas price go down
One dollar can one dollar all the time
Meal price fluctuate all of the time
One dollar can all of the time
My, ohh, die ooh (it was the)
One dollar can, man
My, ohh, die ooh (it was the)
One dollar can, man
One dollar can (your honor, it was the)
My one dollar can (thinkin' that)
One dollar can (it was the)
I said my one dollar can
One dollar can
I was just out walking in the Bodega (ooh yeah)
I don′t even think about it
Past the snapple, past the vitamin water
Then me drink it like me drink me iced tea
Straight to Arizona, one dollar can section
That's a good section, they got lemon iced tea (ooh yeah)
Yeah yeah, that's the one, I like that one, it′s good (alright)
Just vibe out, alright everybody just vibe man
This is the vibe part, vibe out
All you white people with dreadlocks
Put your hands on your stomach
Put your eyes on the joints up in the air
Just vibe the fuck out man
Yo, you smoke pot dude?
Yeah man, you wanna buy some pot man?
Yeah cool I got nickels, dimes son
Nickels and dimes (they can make one drop)
Really good weed, smoke (smokin′ weed)
One drop, it was still a fine time to rock, rock
Smokin' weed
Fake Patois (it was still a fine time to rock, rock)
Not on my cig, not on my cig...
Can!
The song "One Dollar Can" by Das Racist is a satirical take on the commercialization and commodification of everyday items. The line "all you need is one drop and one dollar" highlights the idea that we are willing to settle for the bare minimum as long as it is cheap and accessible. The use of Jamaica Patois in the song also adds to the satirical nature of the song since it is often used in commercial contexts to sell a product to a mainstream audience. Additionally, the song touches on themes of consumerism and economic inequality.
The song includes several references to different brands and products such as Arizona Iced Tea and Snapple, which further emphasize the theme of commercialization. The chorus, "One dollar can," is repeated throughout the song, functioning almost like a jingle for a commercial.
Overall, "One Dollar Can" is a clever commentary on the role of consumerism in our everyday lives and the ways in which it shapes our perceptions and decisions.
Line by Line Meaning
My, ooh, die, ooh
The singer is making random sounds that are not necessarily meant to have a clear meaning.
One dollar can, man
Even one dollar is enough to buy something useful, which is what the singer intends to do.
Yo, yo, turn the delay up in them headphones (ooh yeah)
Ooh, ooh...
The singer is talking to somebody in a studio and asking them to adjust the sound effects. They then make more random sounds.
(It was the) Shaun Bridgmohan reporting the truth that is
To be rehearsed
The artist references somebody reporting the truth, but then seems to indicate that the truth they are discussing is staged or rehearsed, perhaps not true reality.
A Bodega special, no problem with Bodega gang
Me so special, you special?
It doesn't matter who you are, you can still appreciate the low-cost items being sold in the bodega. The artist also seems to question whether the person they are talking to is special in some way.
All you need is one drop and one dollar ('ere now)
The singer suggests that a little goes a long way in terms of both cost and necessity, despite the apparent lack of clarity on what exactly should be bought.
Me walk in the store, what me gwan get?
A one dollar can of ice tea (no)
Then me say what me say me forget (the truth)
When no pussy go down nicely
Gas price go up, gas price go down
One dollar can one dollar all the time
Meal price fluctuate all of the time
One dollar can all of the time
The singer is unsure of what to buy and ultimately decides against iced tea. They then mention the difficulty with liking something that doesn't always work for us, such as digestive issues. Despite the fluctuations in price for other goods, one dollar remains a constant option.
I was just out walking in the Bodega (ooh yeah)
I don′t even think about it
Past the snapple, past the vitamin water
Then me drink it like me drink me iced tea
Straight to Arizona, one dollar can section
That's a good section, they got lemon iced tea (ooh yeah)
Yeah yeah, that's the one, I like that one, it′s good (alright)
The artist casually walks through the bodega and drinks straight from a container. They admire the one dollar can section, particularly the lemon iced tea flavor.
Just vibe out, alright everybody just vibe man
This is the vibe part, vibe out
All you white people with dreadlocks
Put your hands on your stomach
Put your eyes on the joints up in the air
Just vibe the fuck out man
The artist instructs everybody to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. They reference a specific group of people and tell them to get comfortable as well.
Yo, you smoke pot dude?
Yeah man, you wanna buy some pot man?
Yeah cool I got nickels, dimes son
Nickels and dimes (they can make one drop)
Really good weed, smoke (smokin′ weed)
One drop, it was still a fine time to rock, rock
Smokin' weed
Fake Patois (it was still a fine time to rock, rock)
Not on my cig, not on my cig...
Can!
The artist engages somebody about obtaining marijuana and proceeds to use slang that is often associated with reggae or Jamaica. They also reference the act of smoking weed, which seems to heighten the overall experience, even if it should not be added to a cigarette.
Writer(s): Himanshu (null) Suri
Contributed by Lily G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.