As a member of Company Flow, he honed his production skills alongside DJ Mr. Len and Bigg Jus. His unique style helped Company Flow gain critical, then popular success, culminating in 1997 with Funcrusher Plus. Eventual differences between the group & label Rawkus, lead to El-P & Len leaving the label in 2000.
El-P then started his own record label, Definitive Jux. Of the many albums he has helped produce (most on Definitive Jux), the most influential and successful has been Cannibal Ox's album, The Cold Vein (2001). In 2002 he released his debut album, Fantastic Damage, which received critical acclaim. His follow-up, I'll Sleep When You're Dead, hit stores in March of 2007. It featured a wide range of artists, including The Mars Volta, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, and Cat Power. El-P has also contributed productions and guest raps to albums by DJ Krush, Aesop Rock, Murs, Cage, Mr. Lif, Prefuse 73, Del the Funky Homosapien, Mike Ladd, The High and Mighty, Aceyalone, and Alec Empire on the first Handsome Boy Modeling School album.
Cannibal Ox member Vordul Mega can be heard on "Linda Tripp", El-P's rebuttal to Sole's "Dear Elpee". He was also selected to work on Rage Against the Machine frontman Zach de la Rocha's solo album.
In 2012, El-P released his 3rd solo album, Cancer 4 Cure, on Fat Possum Records. The album was released to general acclaim, aggregating a score of 84 out of 100 on Metacritic.
In 2013, Meline formed rap duo Run the Jewels, with Michael Render (aka Killer Mike).
Sites: Discogs, Wikipedia and SoundCloud.
Deep Space 9mm
El-P Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get behind the walls of new Roma, want to buy the farm
But the land's not yours to own?
Who owns Police? Who holds floor grease on a sandy beach?
Blood beach
Dance with a man he starts clutching, he ugly
Punks hung halo teach
Hugged by the math with the cable reach
To train that animal shit
Where the mind's eye redefined
Where's God?
Buy a car, Kick tires
Back in Eighty-Six I lived
With a four-course artistry
Metal ones took turns showin' off colors and shit
Like I invaded the mating dance ritual
Criminal now
Wild things defined beautiful under my power
El Producto flash-fest-iss
Motherfuckers be like, "Ow, why haven't we left yet"
Blithering sideway twang, the youth and brain management troupe
The man is like BOOOP
You can't touch the Krush Groove
I live by the lunch table
Touched fables
Ducked labels
Lookout for the one he'd abide with the terrible stables
Signed to Rawkus
I'd rather be mouth fucked by Nazis unconscious
Callin' all bomb threats
Radio re-activated, caress
Under hella-ified missile defense
Fenced in, better blame it on fame shit and grin
Walk with a bag full of kittens
Take it to the river and throw yourself in
In about four seconds the ether will begin to leak
Who want to hold hands with this sicko malnutritionist
Soaked in newspeak?
Dissolve into the syncopated fragments of vinyl
splashed on loose leaf
We can embrace on the business end of my face first
Joe vs. the Volcano suicide beef
Dance with the vinyl monster
Devil in a blue skyline with clean conscience
Save the gesture
But can't save the children, weren't worth the effort
I'm a Caveman
Your modern ways frighten and confuse me
I watch your spirit box with the blinking lights and think
Are those little people trapped in that box? (No, Caveman)
But I do know converted mic digital 8-bus Mackie Avalon compression
Combined with 8-step effected
Dirty words paralyze words and infect shit
Infectious
Insofar as the ineffectual bed for elections
Development arrested
Trapped in the Cuckoo's nest
Looking for the nexus
If it's wild like that y'all found
infrared scope in the clutch of a tyrant
New World lullaby Sirens
Stuck migrants, bust 'em by violence
It's all bad timing
Getting merked on a Tram over Roosevelt Island
You think that's spacey?
Deep Space 9 millimeter, son, keep smiling
This is for the fringes and such
My generation just sit like dust
Feed 'em off of us and ask what I trust
Tell these stories, I'm right here holdin' my nuts
Right here holdin' my nuts
Right here holdin' my nuts
Right here holdin' my nuts
Right here holdin' my nuts
This is for the fringes and such
My generation ain't friends with slugs
Thank god for the drugs and drums
Tell these to read it, I'll be right here hidin' from guns
Right here hidin' from guns
Right here hidin' from guns
In "Deep Space 9mm," El-P addresses a range of societal issues, including corruption and power dynamics in politics and law enforcement, media brainwashing, and the futility of modern electoral systems. El-P identifies these problems with specific imagery and metaphors, such as "buying the farm" as a euphemism for dying and "blood beach," invoking images of war, danger, and exploitation. He also critiques modern consumerism, lamenting the worshipped status of owning material possessions such as cars, while also questioning the existence of God.
The second verse provides a personal account of El-P's experience as a rapper in the late 80s and early 90s. He speaks about his early days as an underground artist, performing with other rappers who used graffiti art to showcase their colors. He also references his experience of being signed to Rawkus, and his unwillingness to compromise his artistic vision for the sake of fame. The verse ends with a darker tone, expressing disdain for the music industry and a desire to walk away from it.
El-P then moves onto discuss the pitfalls of modern technology and communication. He wonders if there are tiny people trapped inside our electronic devices, and bemoans the commercialization of something as pure as music. He then subtly implies that the government is deceitful and neglectful, using the term "cuckoo's nest" to describe their behavior. The final lines of the song speak to the futility of resistance, questioning why people bother to fight when their efforts are futile against freedom-stealing tyrants.
Line by Line Meaning
One two
Starting off the song
Get behind the walls of new Roma, want to buy the farm
Escape from reality and own your own land, but is it really truly yours?
But the land's not yours to own?
Questioning the ownership of land and how it is claimed
Who owns Police? Who holds floor grease on a sandy beach?
Questioning the authority and ownership of certain entities and things
Blood beach
Reference to the film Blood Beach, which is about a monster that lives beneath the sand and preys on unsuspecting beachgoers
Dance with a man he starts clutching, he ugly
Warning about getting too close to certain people
Punks hung halo teach
Punks can teach us certain things
Hugged by the math with the cable reach
The power of math and technology
A hundred and sixty-six channels lit
Reference to cable TV and the abundance of channels available
To train that animal shit
Using TV to train people to act like animals
Where the mind's eye redefined
The power of imagination and perception
Where's God?
Questioning the existence of God
Buy a car, Kick tires
Advertising slogan for car dealerships
Back in Eighty-Six I lived
Referencing a specific year in the past
With a four-course artistry
Reference to having a variety of skills and abilities
Metal ones took turns showin' off colors and shit
Showing off flashy and colorful accessories and clothing
Like I invaded the mating dance ritual
Feeling like an outsider in certain social situations
Criminal now
Being considered a criminal for certain actions
Wild things defined beautiful under my power
The power to define what is beautiful and admired
El Producto flash-fest-iss
Reference to the artist's stage name
Motherfuckers be like, "Ow, why haven't we left yet"
People complaining about being stuck in one place or situation
Blithering sideway twang, the youth and brain management troupe
Criticism of certain aspects of society and the way young people are managed and influenced
The man is like BOOOP
Reference to the sound of a machine or device being turned on or activated
You can't touch the Krush Groove
Reference to the influential hip-hop movie Krush Groove
I live by the lunch table
Reference to a certain social scene in high school
Touched fables
Being inspired by certain stories or legends
Ducked labels
Avoiding being categorized or labeled by others
Lookout for the one he'd abide with the terrible stables
Searching for someone to connect and relate with, even if they are in a difficult or unstable situation
Signed to Rawkus
Reference to the record label Rawkus Records
I'd rather be mouth fucked by Nazis unconscious
Extreme dislike for a certain situation or group of people
Callin' all bomb threats
Making a disruptive or attention-grabbing move
Radio re-activated, caress
Turning on the radio and enjoying the feeling or atmosphere that it creates
Under hella-ified missile defense
Reference to military defense tactics and technology
Fenced in, better blame it on fame shit and grin
Feeling trapped or restricted in a certain situation, and using humor or sarcasm to cope
Walk with a bag full of kittens
Having adorable or innocent things with you, even in dark or dangerous situations
Take it to the river and throw yourself in
Taking drastic and potentially dangerous action
In about four seconds the ether will begin to leak
Something strange or unexpected is about to happen
Who want to hold hands with this sicko malnutritionist
Feeling like an outsider or undesirable person
Soaked in newspeak?
Influenced by mainstream or misleading information
Dissolve into the syncopated fragments of vinyl
Becoming entranced or lost in the music
splashed on loose leaf
Reference to writing lyrics or notes on scrap paper
We can embrace on the business end of my face first
Threatening physical violence
Joe vs. the Volcano suicide beef
Reference to the movie Joe Versus the Volcano, and an extreme dispute or argument
Dance with the vinyl monster
Being entranced or consumed by music
Devil in a blue skyline with clean conscience
Seeming innocent or harmless, but still dangerous or sinister
Save the gesture
Not truly helping or solving a problem, just making a symbolic effort
But can't save the children, weren't worth the effort
Feeling powerless or overwhelmed when it comes to larger societal issues
I'm a Caveman
Admitting to being old-fashioned or out of touch with modern ways
Your modern ways frighten and confuse me
Feeling uncomfortable or scared of modern technology or society
I watch your spirit box with the blinking lights and think
Observing technology and wondering how it works or what it means
Are those little people trapped in that box? (No, Caveman)
Reference to the idea of technology being incomprehensible or magical to some people
But I do know converted mic digital 8-bus Mackie Avalon compression
Understanding some aspects of modern technology or equipment
Combined with 8-step effected
Using certain techniques or processes for music production
Dirty words paralyze words and infect shit
Words can have a powerful effect on people, whether positive or negative
Infectious
The power of words and ideas to spread and influence others
Insofar as the ineffectual bed for elections
Criticism of the current state of politics
Development arrested
Lack of progress or growth
Trapped in the Cuckoo's nest
Reference to the book and movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and feeling stuck or trapped in a bad situation
Looking for the nexus
Searching for a connection or solution
If it's wild like that y'all found
Embracing or celebrating wild or unconventional actions or ideas
infrared scope in the clutch of a tyrant
Reference to military or government surveillance tactics
New World lullaby Sirens
Reference to the idea of powerful or hypnotic forces luring people to dangerous or destructive situations
Stuck migrants, bust 'em by violence
Dealing with societal problems through violent means
It's all bad timing
Feeling like things are not working out or coming together at the right time
Getting merked on a Tram over Roosevelt Island
Referencing a specific and unfortunate situation
You think that's spacey?
Questioning the validity or relevance of certain ideas or actions
Deep Space 9 millimeter, son, keep smiling
Reference to the song's title and theme of guns and violence
This is for the fringes and such
Acknowledging and speaking to a specific subculture or group of people
My generation just sit like dust
Feeling like a lack of energy or action in one's generation
Feed 'em off of us and ask what I trust
Feeling exploited or taken advantage of by society or institutions
Tell these stories, I'm right here holdin' my nuts
Being bold and unafraid to speak up or share one's opinions
Right here holdin' my nuts
Asserting oneself and being confident in one's beliefs
My generation ain't friends with slugs
Rejecting violence and aggression
Thank god for the drugs and drums
Finding catharsis or comfort in music and mind-altering substances
Tell these to read it, I'll be right here hidin' from guns
Acknowledging the dangers of violence and choosing to avoid it
Right here hidin' from guns
Expressing a desire to avoid violence and protect oneself
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
El-P
FAN DAM https://el-p.lnk.to/FantasticDamage
G Citser
Are you gonna re-release weareallgoingtoburninhell?
Grant Price
When you famous af but feel like your old work that you're very proud of is somewhat slept on, you put out a fucking lyric video. King shit. Now it's time for a simian drugs lyric video. But they ain't ready lol.
Golly G Bone
Mu would be proud
MyDeadFriendz -
El-P - you always have some incredibly original beats
Gingercreeper
you beautiful son-of-a-bitch (not disrespect to your mother).
Baidawi
Feel like I just unlocked a hidden level in hiphop.
M.T AXSENT
Ha ...it b like dat
Sebastian Perales
Now you must listen to The Weatherman, Cannibal Ox, Company Flow, Cage, Camu Tao, Aesop Rock.
Edit. I recommend also Big L, Antipop Consortium, MF DOOM, Souls Assasins, The Psycho Realm, Non Phixion, Prodigy
Musclebomber Gaming
@Sebastian Perales im just now listening to these dudes. forgot all about em. i heard cannibal Ox's pigeon on a stream not too long ago and i was like wtf is this dope shit playing in the battleground