El Michels Affair first appeared in 2002 for a 12" single on Soul Fire records entitled Easy Access Parts 1 & 2. The release was a loose collaboration between Soul Fire session musicians that featured saxophonist and organist Leon Michels. However, the style and sound of El Michels Affair, which was later coined “cinematic soul”, came about when Leon Michels and Nick Movshon, fellow band mates from The Mighty Imperials, began recording music in Michels’s bedroom studio. Leon Michels had purchased a Tascam 388 (a home recording 8-track module from the early eighties), and began experimenting with music that purposely strayed from the cookie cutter funk that began to saturate the market at the time. Taking influence from all types of music, Michels and Movshon began to create new type of soul music that blended the cinematic quality of soundtrack records with the recording aesthetic of early reggae, and the rawness of 60's rock. As the record took shape, Michels brought in fellow musicians and friends to help shape the style and sound of the record, which would be commercially released on Truth & Soul as Sounding Out The City. Some of the musicians included in the sessions were old band mates from the Mighty Imperials, Homer Steinweiss and Sean Solomon, as well as Todd Simon, Michael Leonhart, Thomas Brenneck, Aaron Johnson, Ben Solomon, and Toby Pazner.
In 2005, after the record had generated an industry buzz, Scion approached El Michels Affair with the prospect of performing with Raekwon from the Wu-Tang Clan. The epic grittiness of Rza's production matched perfectly with the soulful, cinematic sound El Michels Affair was known for. In fact, it matched so well that El Michels Affair went on to play four more concerts with members of the Wu-Tang, including a national tour with Raekwon, which climaxed into a series of critically acclaimed 7" releases from El Michels Affair which were instrumental re-interpolations of Rza’s original beats.
El Michels Affair has since been recording a full record of Wu-Tang instrumentals as well as material for an upcoming album of originals. Always pushing the boundaries, never trying to repeat themselves, expect the unexpected when it comes to the music of El Michels Affair.
(2) Organist and drummer Leon Michels was hardly more than a high-school student playing in the Mighty Imperials, the Meters-inspired house band for the Brooklyn label Soul Fire, when he decided to start El Michels Affair, teaming up with bandmate and bassist Nick Movshon. The two began recording music that pulled from '60s and '70s funk, soul, Afrobeat, and jazz, eventually growing to a nine-piece live outfit and releasing the single "Detroit Twice" on Daptone's Misty imprint. In 2004 the founder of Soul Fire sold his studio and equipment to Michels, who, along with partner Jeff Silverman, decided to start Truth & Soul Records; El Michels Affair's 2005 Sounding Out the City acted as the label's inaugural full-length. Later that year the band played with Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon at an event, and they got along together so well they decided to do instrumental reworkings of Wu-Tang beats for what they called the Shaolin Series (Pt. 1 includes "C.R.E.A.M." and "Glaciers of Ice" while Pt. 2 covers "Duel of the Iron Mic" and "Bring the Ruckus"). El Michels Affair also collaborated with Raekwon on a new version of "PJ," originally done by Pete Rock, for a track called "PJs from Afar," and even toured with the Clan in 2007. ~ Marisa Brown, Rovi
(2) Organist and drummer Leon Michels was hardly more than a high-school student playing in the Mighty Imperials, the Meters-inspired house band for the Brooklyn label Soul Fire, when he decided to start El Michels Affair, teaming up with bandmate and bassist Nick Movshon. The two began recording music that pulled from '60s and '70s funk, soul, Afrobeat, and jazz, eventually growing to a nine-piece live outfit and releasing the single "Detroit Twice" on Daptone's Misty imprint. In 2004 the founder of Soul Fire sold his studio and equipment to Michels, who, along with partner Jeff Silverman, decided to start Truth & Soul Records; El Michels Affair's 2005 Sounding Out the City acted as the label's inaugural full-length. Later that year the band played with Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon at an event, and they got along together so well they decided to do instrumental reworkings of Wu-Tang beats for what they called the Shaolin Series (Pt. 1 includes "C.R.E.A.M." and "Glaciers of Ice" while Pt. 2 covers "Duel of the Iron Mic" and "Bring the Ruckus"). El Michels Affair also collaborated with Raekwon on a new version of "PJ," originally done by Pete Rock, for a track called "PJs from Afar," and even toured with the Clan in 2007. ~ Marisa Brown
Cherchez La Ghost
El Michels Affair Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He lost his lady, two months ago
Maybe he'll find her, maybe he won't
Oh wonder that love
Brothers try to pass me, but none could match me
No girl can freak me, I'm just too nasty
Lost on the dance floors, I attack y'all
Goldie and Ghost, black African Rose
Star-studded low lenses, plus the mural was dope
Airbrush W-B's, STOP! (Shake your body, body)
And cop a couple of these (She's a hottie, hottie)
Scottfree and Chauncey, very upset
They're sick and tired of living in debt
Tired of roaches and tired of
Rats
I know they are over
One in the head, I'm fed, this is how we doin
Put a Ruff Rider on my dick, bust right through 'em
Come out your shirt, insert the party rhyme
Fine Dr. Buzzard, Bacardi Lime
We passin it, takes the shake your Calvin Klein
Before the floor gets moist, taste and follow mine
Swallow nine, model dimes from Bahamas
Slim doo-doo makers stuffed inside pajamas
They'll take all your rhymes with a Colgate smile, hey baby
They'll love you one second, then hate you the next
Oh ain't it crazy baby, yeah
Tony's his name, the undefeated champion, whoa, yeah (Blow 'em down God)
Now he's alone, he's just the king of his throne (Yeah, aha)
Always will be my friend, Ghostface Killah (Truly yours, peace boo)
The song "Cherchez La Ghost" by El Michels Affair is a cover of a track originally performed by Ghostface Killah, one of the Wu-Tang Clan's most enigmatic members. The song is a celebration of life on the streets of New York City, with lyrics that conjure up images of large and diverse crowds moving from place to place.
The opening lines of the song speak to the pain of loss, as the singer is searching for his lost love, "Tommy Mottola, lives on the road, He lost his lady, two months ago, Maybe he'll find her, maybe he won't, Oh wonder that love." Later, the song delves into themes of competition and street life, with braggadocious verses about the singer's ability to outdo his rivals on the dance floor and in the world of hip hop. The chorus, "Cherchez La Ghost" means "Look For The Ghost" in French, and invites the listener to search for and follow the singer's path.
Overall, "Cherchez La Ghost" is a powerful and gritty hip hop track that captures the energy and diversity of life in New York City. The lyrics are both profound and playful, with Ghostface Killah's signature style shining through in every verse.
Line by Line Meaning
Tommy Mottola, lives on the road
Tommy Mottola lives a movie star's life, hopping from one location to another.
He lost his lady, two months ago
A woman he loved left him two months ago, and he's been on the road looking for her ever since.
Maybe he'll find her, maybe he won't
His quest to locate his lost love is uncertain, and he is unsure of the outcome of his search.
Oh wonder that love
Love is an enigma and full of surprises.
Brothers try to pass me, but none could match me
Some men may try to emulate or surpass him, but they will fail.
No girl can freak me, I'm just too nasty
No woman can satisfy him in the way he desires as he has idiosyncratic demands for pleasure.
Lost on the dance floors, I attack y'all
When dancing, he goes all-out and aggressively to stand out.
Snuck through the back door, guess who they saw?
He entered the venue from the rear, catching someone's attention.
Goldie and Ghost, black African Rose
Goldie and Ghost are musicians that he saw, and a black African rose was in the venue.
Star-studded low lenses, plus the mural was dope
The low lenses were popular among the crowd, and the artwork was excellent.
Airbrush W-B's, STOP! (Shake your body, body)
An airbrushed T-shirt caught his attention, and the music prompted him to dance.
And cop a couple of these (She's a hottie, hottie)
He planned to buy the T-shirts, and there was a beautiful woman nearby.
Scottfree and Chauncey, very upset
Scottfree and Chauncey are unhappy and find their situation terrible.
They're sick and tired of living in debt
They are sick and tired of being in debt.
Tired of roaches and tired of rats
Their credit crunch had become so bad that they could not pay for essential services like pest control.
I know they are over
Their situation may lead them to feel that they are done and cannot continue.
One in the head, I'm fed, this is how we doin
He is charged, and they operate like this all the time.
Put a Ruff Rider on my dick, bust right through 'em
Their Ruff Ryder lifestyle means they are aggressive and conquer anything that impedes their progress.
Come out your shirt, insert the party rhyme
He urges someone to loosen up and come out their shell in a party mood.
Fine Dr. Buzzard, Bacardi Lime
The party becomes more interesting with a great vibe, good music and drinks.
We passin it, takes the shake your Calvin Klein
The microphone being passed around sparks competitive responses and gets more people to join the party.
Before the floor gets moist, taste and follow mine
Before the floor becomes too slippery, follow his dance moves.
Swallow nine, model dimes from Bahamas
He enjoys the company of beautiful, stunning women from the Bahamas.
Slim doo-doo makers stuffed inside pajamas
Very skinny women dressed in pajamas that expose their curves fill his vision.
They'll take all your rhymes with a Colgate smile, hey baby
These people will smile and act friendly but can turn on and take advantage of you
They'll love you one second, then hate you the next
They are fickle and can change their minds about someone at any moment.
Oh ain't it crazy baby, yeah
This vaciliation between love and hate is strange and absurd.
Tony's his name, the undefeated champion, whoa, yeah (Blow 'em down God)
Tony is the king of the area and a champion whom God is with.
Now he's alone, he's just the king of his throne (Yeah, aha)
Now that Tony is solitary, he remains the kingpin in his territory.
Always will be my friend, Ghostface Killah (Truly yours, peace boo)
He is friendly with the musician Ghostface Killah and will always remain so.
Writer(s): A Darnell, S Browder, D Coles
Contributed by Allison M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jesse Clark
Ohh mann I can’t protect my neck at 1:12 when that beat switch that shit got me noddin gettin neck breakin!! I’ll have to go hospital get neck braces on afterwards 😂 this shit is 🔥🔥🔥
Josh Porter
This really sounds like something from a Metroid game!
Wakeelah Muhammad
LOVE THIS SHIT..DAMNIT MAN!!!
beertron7
Incredible
Brenda Sanchez
genial!
joe mcafro
Hypnotic
oliverecords
Beloved reverb.
diase oner
Niiiiiiiice !
Vincnet Drallam
Just a language tip: Cherchez "LE" Ghost...I could make this a job for living correcting little French mistakes all around the world when people misspell my native language lol :) NO OFFENSE here, French is really hard even for natives.
HIGHBURYESTATE
tooo sick