Deep Dickollective (or D/DC) is a black queer "homohop" group based in Oakl… Read Full Bio ↴Deep Dickollective (or D/DC) is a black queer "homohop" group based in Oakland, California. It was formed in early 2000 by Juba Kalamka, Tim'm T. West and Phillip Atiba Goff. The three began working together after Kalamka and West met at a screening of black gay filmmaker and scholar Marlon Riggs' film Tongues Untied. Kalamka and West later met Goff on the campus of Stanford University, where West and Goff were enrolled in PhD programs.

Kalamka and West had been performing for years as MCs but had few opportunities to work as out queer artists until encountering each other and Goff shortly thereafter. Kalamka had begun recording an experimental spoken word project called Pre/tensions with San Francisco blues and avantgarde jazz whiz Dick "Deluxe" Egner and with groundbreaking queer hip hop group Rainbow Flava, but both were interested in the possibility of creating a project that would push buttons around race, queerness and masculinity in hip hop all at once.

Frustrated with the resistance they had faced from an allegedly progressive "conscious" spoken word scene, the three began jamming together in private on Stanford's campus and came up with the skeletons of about 20 songs, 13 of which would become their debut recording BourgieBohoPostPomoAfroHomo. In a moment of anger while discussing their difficulty with the local scene (West had been performing at readings and with bands since his arrival in 1998, but lost all of his bookings once it the scene became aware that he was gay) Kalamka blurted "well, if them girls can call themselves the Punany Poets (a then popular Oakland poetry group), we can be Deep Dick Collective!". The name was then shortened to "Deep Dickollective", but the initials "D/DC" remained as the three letter abbreviation seemed to roll off the tongue well. What started as a parodic exercise to vent frustration became a blooming underground yet internationally critical success, that has to date involved 11 queer men who have recorded as members of D/DC. ( JBRAP or dJBRAP, Marcus VAN, Baraka Noel, Butterfly Soul, Ryan Solas BeLalgee, Rashaad Prigen )

I am
Deep Dickollective Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Chorus]
I
I am
I am a
I am a blackman
I am a
I am
I am I

Blackman
(love a blackman from infinity to infinity)

I am
I am a blackman
I am a blackman you scared to clap for
I am a blackman who likes metephor
I am a blackman whose antiwar
I am I

And the blackman that I am is quite sure
I am not pure
African fruits mixed with Cherokee juice
I am a black man with red clay roots

Arkansaw I am
Blackman speaking my I am truth
I am not trying to recruit
Youth for nothing but revolution

Solutions to overstand the I am
They be, unlike me
I am a man, and I am as unique
As you

I am the I who will stand for my truth
I am a blackman educating our youth
Sonnets to Ebonics
Othello in the East O

I am, the sum total of your hope
I am a blackman who sometime can't cope
With haters who hate on knowledge
I am a blackman who says go to college

Ignorance should be abolished
But the greatest teacher is a preacher
Whose mirror smiles and says to him....

[Chorus]

I am deeper than the deep blue sea, on a Thursday
Before Friday's storm comes to wash me clean
I am pretending to be a pretense of something I have always been,
I'm a number one raiders fan with no face paint, I ain't a chauvanist,

I like taking long walks by the beach and tasting clouds outside of my reach
As I walk amongst you, you don't need to know this history,
Just the here and now, that is how we learn to connect with respect
Connect with respect, we need to break it on down and connect with respect

This freedom you don't wanna let me own it, but like a donut fried in a vat
I keep popping back up, as tough as the day that you denied me like Jesus
Three times before dawn, the battle likes are drawn and verbal bombs are your demise
The lies you told yourself are caught in your breath,

Respect those who resurrect flowers from the melting snow
This is a rhyme about giving and living more than I'm taking
Escaping the hum-drum of the barrel of a gun that I never held
This is the voice of the book worm, this is the voice of the bookworm

Who's words storm earls like hurricanes
You insert the man

I am a Blackman
I am speaking
Gullah from the gut and gutter cause Gran D Coota be be Geechie
I be speechifying to reach the dying

Plying they minds with my halfway lies and faggot pageantry
And now, I beseech thee
Yeah mo be there over and under
The drum machines and creepy piano tinkling

Hoping you see me/I'm here to teach things
I am hoping you believe me
These quotes I wrote stuck in my throat
While I was swinging in yonder tree/my lover was singing

My brother was bringing for s/he
Blankets and sage and thanking him for being
But maybe that's just Phillip Bailey /wailing, entailing my fantasy
A prevailing notion/Claude McKay at the edge of the ocean

PLD toasting Jimmy B. at the party he's hosting beyond the sea
Where 206 times a hundred million bones be
Fresh and clean from four hindred years in saline
Gallons of tears for fears, pulling up the rear, hay baling

In the middle of the the barn and harms way
Obadike on Ebay/means you can't be that way and stay
But Pointfive don't pray so what to say?
Twixt December 26 and new years day

I loose the Strange Food and Fruit from the past

My faithful first be on the last
I am....

Overall Meaning

The song "I Am" by Deep Dickollective is a powerful anthem that speaks to the identity, struggles, and resilience of Black men. The chorus repeats the simple but powerful affirmation, "I am a Black man," and emphasizes the importance of self-love and acceptance. The verses delve deeper into the complexities of the Black male experience, highlighting the intersection of race, ethnicity, and culture. The singer acknowledges their mixed heritage, identifying as a Black man with Cherokee roots from Arkansas. They also embrace their unique identity, rejecting societal expectations and promoting education and revolution.

Throughout the song, the singer asserts their place in the world, declaring that they are "deeper than the deep blue sea" and "a number one Raiders fan with no face paint." They reject stereotypes and assert their humanity, reminding listeners of the diverse and multifaceted experiences of Black men. The song is a powerful call to action, urging listeners to break down barriers and connect with respect. It challenges listeners to confront their prejudices and embrace the diversity of the Black community.

Line by Line Meaning

I
Referring to oneself

I am
Emphasizing that one exists

I am a
Introducing oneself as a certain identity

I am a blackman
Identifying oneself as a black man

I am I
Reiterating that one is oneself

Blackman (love a blackman from infinity to infinity)
Celebrating black manhood and affirming that black men deserve love

I am a blackman you scared to clap for
Acknowledging that some people are afraid to show support for black men

I am a blackman who likes metaphor
Sharing an interest in metaphorical language as a means of expression

I am a blackman whose antiwar
Expressing a desire for peace and opposition to war

And the blackman that I am is quite sure
Asserting confidence in one's identity as a black man

I am not pure
Admitting to being of mixed racial heritage

African fruits mixed with Cherokee juice
Metaphorically describing the mixture of African and Native American ancestry

I am a black man with red clay roots
Framing one's ancestral roots as being based in the land

Arkansaw I am
Identifying with the state of Arkansas

Blackman speaking my I am truth
Asserting a commitment to speaking one's truth as a black man

I am not trying to recruit
Clarifying that one is not attempting to persuade others to follow a particular ideology

Youth for nothing but revolution
Claiming that any influence on youth is in service of revolution

Solutions to overstand the I am
Proposing solutions for understanding and embracing one's identity

They be, unlike me
Noting differences between oneself and others

I am a man, and I am as unique
Asserting one's humanity and individuality

As you
Identifying similarity with the listener

I am the I who will stand for my truth
Affirming that one will stand up for one's truth

I am a blackman educating our youth
Claiming a role as an educator of black youth

Sonnets to Ebonics
Referencing the range of language in which one can express oneself

Othello in the East O
Referencing Shakespeare's play Othello and expressing cultural range

I am, the sum total of your hope
Claiming that one represents the hopes of others

I am a blackman who sometime can't cope
Acknowledging that one occasionally struggles

With haters who hate on knowledge
Addressing opposition or hostility toward knowledge

I am a blackman who says go to college
Advocating for education

Ignorance should be abolished
Stating a desire for the eradication of ignorance

But the greatest teacher is a preacher
Identifying preaching as a valuable form of education

Whose mirror smiles and says to him....
Describing the impact of positive self-image

I am deeper than the deep blue sea, on a Thursday
Claiming depth as a person

Before Friday's storm comes to wash me clean
Referencing a storm as a means of cleansing

I am pretending to be a pretense of something I have always been,
Acknowledging that one is not always authentic with oneself

I'm a number one raiders fan with no face paint, I ain't a chauvinist,
Sharing a personal interest and disavowing a negative stereotype

I like taking long walks by the beach and tasting clouds outside of my reach
Describing personal interests and desires

As I walk amongst you, you don't need to know this history,
Indicating that one's personal history may not be immediately relevant to interactions with others

Just the here and now, that is how we learn to connect with respect
Proposing that respectful connection is built in the present moment

Connect with respect, we need to break it on down and connect with respect
Reiterating the importance of respectful connection

This freedom you don't wanna let me own it, but like a donut fried in a vat
Referencing the struggle for freedom and the persistence required

I keep popping back up, as tough as the day that you denied me like Jesus
Asserting resilience in the face of oppression

Three times before dawn, the battle likes are drawn and verbal bombs are your demise
Referencing struggles and conflict

The lies you told yourself are caught in your breath,
Suggesting consequences for one's own lies

Respect those who resurrect flowers from the melting snow
Advocating for respect for those who persevere in adversity

This is a rhyme about giving and living more than I'm taking
Describing the theme of the song

Escaping the hum-drum of the barrel of a gun that I never held
Referencing the desire to avoid violence

This is the voice of the book worm, this is the voice of the bookworm
Identifying as an intellectual

Who's words storm earls like hurricanes
Describing the power of one's words

You insert the man
Indicating that the listener has a role to play

I am a Blackman
Reiterating one's identity as a black man

I am speaking
Asserting one's voice and right to speak

Gullah from the gut and gutter cause Gran D Coota be be Geechie
Using a particular language variety to express oneself

I be speechifying to reach the dying
Describing one's desire to communicate with those who may be struggling or in peril

Plying they minds with my halfway lies and faggot pageantry
Describing a particular rhetorical style

And now, I beseech thee
Requesting attention and/or support

Yeah mo be there over and under
Using nonstandard English to express oneself

The drum machines and creepy piano tinkling
Describing the soundscape of the music

Hoping you see me/I'm here to teach things
Stating one's purpose

I am hoping you believe me
Expressing a hope for trust or belief

These quotes I wrote stuck in my throat
Describing writing that one feels compelled to share

While I was swinging in yonder tree/my lover was singing
Referencing historical trauma while also finding joy in personal relationships

My brother was bringing for s/he
Acknowledging the support of others

Blankets and sage and thanking him for being
Describing a moment of gratitude and appreciation

But maybe that's just Phillip Bailey /wailing, entailing my fantasy
Referencing a musician and acknowledging the subjective nature of personal expression

A prevailing notion/Claude McKay at the edge of the ocean
Referencing a poet and describing an idea or feeling

PLD toasting Jimmy B. at the party he's hosting beyond the sea
Referencing figures and celebrating good times

Where 206 times a hundred million bones be
Using hyperbole to express the enormity of injustice and loss

Fresh and clean from four hindred years in saline
Referencing the impact and legacy of slavery

Gallons of tears for fears, pulling up the rear, hay baling
Referencing the emotional and physical labor required by struggle

In the middle of the the barn and harms way
Describing being in a dangerous or precarious position

Obadike on Ebay/means you can't be that way and stay
Referencing a person and suggesting that change is required

But Pointfive don't pray so what to say?
Admitting uncertainty or challenge

Twixt December 26 and new years day
Referencing a specific time period

I loose the Strange Food and Fruit from the past
Describing a process of letting go of the past

My faithful first be on the last
Using wordplay to express a spiritual or philosophical idea

I am....
Ending the song with a sense of continuity and possibility

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: DILLON RODRIGUEZ, JADEN MICHAELS, KACI BROWN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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