Elzhi spent years paying dues, writing songs, entering battles, and recording demos until he finally made his international debut on "Come and Get It", a standout track from J Dilla's album, Welcome 2 Detroit. The acclaimed song drew massive attention to the mysterious artist, and made his unfinished EP, Out of Focus, a highly sought after recording.
In 2001, Slum Village asked Elzhi to be a part of the group to elevate their reputation, and allowing him to reach new levels of lyricism. He recorded multiple albums with his former group, sold hundreds of thousands of records, and toured the world performing his hit singles "Tainted", (featuring Dwele)” and "Selfish", (featuring Kanye West and John Legend)” in cities as distant as Tokyo and Amsterdam.
In 2004, Elzhi released Witness My Growth, a 2-disc mixtape featuring many of his lost or unfinished solo songs, which has come to be considered an underground classic by hip hop fans all over the world. Embarking on his first European solo tour in 2008, Elzhi released Europass as a merch-table exclusive. Upon his return to the United States, he promptly released the The Preface, his solo debut on Fat Beats Records. The album helped to solidify his reputation as one of the most respected and inventive lyricists in the world, earning acclaim from legendary artists and fans alike. In 2009, responding to the demands of his passionate fan base, Elzhi released The Leftovers Unmixedtape, mixtape, a collection of rare tracks and unreleased exclusives featuring the hit single "Deep".
In 2010, due to complications with his former label and no longer content with being “your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper,” Elzhi signed with Jae Barber and The JAE.B Group, an Artist Relations and Management firm, drafting them to help launch his career to the next level. Moving past the relationship with his former group, Elzhi has reinvented himself as a solo artist and reignited his buzz.
In 2011 Elzhi released Elmatic, an homage to Nas' classic debut, Illmatic. A labor of love for Elzhi, the project finds the Detroit emcee creating new songs out of Nas’s original titles while rapping over the Will Sessions Band’s interpretation of the original beats.
After the overwhelming success of Elmatic, Elzhi is in the beginning stages of writing his new album using beats provided by an exciting roster of producers, and is embarking on a tour to reintroduce himself to the world. More than 12 years after he finished recording the legendary collection of songs, he has finally released the Out of Focus EP exclusively through www.elzhi.com.
D.E.M.O.N.S.
Elzhi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah, if I could get my hands on that 'sill
I could pull myself up
AH, uh
(*"Aaaaaaah aaaaaaah" - repeated in the background throughout the song*)
[Break - Elzhi]
E (E, E ...)
M (M, M ...)
O (O, O ...)
N (N, N ...)
S (S, S ...)
[Interlude - Elzhi - talking] (*echo*)
Damn, I think I'm goin insane
I'm hearin voices echoin in my mind
I can't take this y'all
[Verse 1 - Elzhi]
Look, I can feel the demons in my brain, creepin through the dark parts
Got my tuckin different handguns in my Carhartt's
Where the hood got the reaper hidin underneath, yo
Every wonder why we rather die, then let the beef go?
Stay feelin stress, greed, lust and jealousy
My people cope by usin cess, speed, dust and LSD
D, more than just a simple sickness
It's triple sixes, to haunt the Holy Temple scriptures
And got the lost souls playin false roads
They got 'em, once they get inside 'em, like crossbows
It's the demons, conjurin up images you dreamin
Or screamin, it's seems when you're semen they schemin
Got us paranoid, steppin out very cautious
The same way we holdin guns, nuns carry crosses
Forms of protection against the evil forces
Of course there's subjections, in your cerebral vortex
The demons
[Interlude - Elzhi - talking] (*echo*)
Man, my palms feel sweaty
My skin's curlin
Even my soul feel trapped man
I don't know what to do
Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night
Hearin whispers
[Break - Elzhi]
You see, if you listen close, you can hear the song they sing
Between good and evil, you're just a puppet on a string
It could be the Angel of Death or the Angel King
A pitchfork with horns or a halo with wings
[Verse 2 - Elzhi]
If I broke the word down in acronyms, while usin part logic
A demon could mean - destroyin every man off narcotics
Drug epidemics, measure obsession needles
Got dealers earnin money overnight
Deceitful elections, monitor our nations
While devil's effected, music out now on your stations
Dirty, explicit, material, oozin negativity
Distortin, eardrums mentally, overwhelmin nonsense
Dysfuctional, educational, malfuctions, oppressed negroes
Death, equals murder, oxygen's neglected
Drama, extreme mayhem, ownin a necklace
Diabetes enter many obese niggaz
So, dreams eventually match, ordinary nightmares
Department, eviction, management office notices
Dreadful, evolved missiles operatin nuclear
Why is this new to you?
[Interlude - Elzhi - talking] (*echo*)
I can't explain it dog
I get this chill in my spine
I just get the urge to do somethin real crazy man
Yo, I might be losin my mind
[Break - Elzhi]
You see if you listen close
You can hear the song they sing
Between good and evil, you're just a puppet on a string
Singin ...
("Aaaaaaah aaaaaaah, aaaaaaah aaaaaaah")
[Break - Elzhi]
D (D, D ...) - dark deception, deepest degree
E (E, E ...) - enhanced evil, extraordinary envy
M (M, M ...) - major malicious, miscellaneous mayhem
O (O, O ...) - overload off, obnoxious obscenities
N (N, N ...) - never nice nature, negative nemesis
S (S, S ...) - several strange souls symbolizin stress
S (S, S ...) - several strange souls symbolizin stress
S (S, S ...) - several strange souls symbolizin stress
[Outro - Elzhi - talking] (*echo*)
FUCK!
I can't take this shit dog
I'm seein demons
I'm stressed the fuck out
Lord help me
I think I'm goin insane
Can't explain it
[Skit] (*echo*)
(What do you see right now?) (ohh)
(Do you see exactly and only what I choose to show you?) (what?, get out of my head)
(That is it)
Man #1: Yo, what the fuck?
Man #1: What you doin in bed with this nigga man?
Man #1: You got another nigga in my bed?
Man #2: Yo, old up, hold on a second man, hold on a second man
Man #1: Yo, shut the fuck up man
Man #1: Y'all gonna make me kill both of y'all motherfuckers
Man #1: Nigga get the fuck down!
Man #1: You shut the fuck up
Man #1: Fuck y'all niggaz doin?
Man #1: Fuck this shit man, you about to die right
Man #1: And fuck y'all niggaz man
Man #2: You cannot do this, don't do this
The song "D.E.M.O.N.S." by Elzhi is a powerful exploration of the inner demons that many people struggle with. The lyrics describe the feeling of being chased by dark forces that are always there, lurking underneath the surface. Elzhi uses clever wordplay and an acrostic structure to delve into the different parts of the word "demons" and what they might represent: drug addiction, political corruption, negative media influences, and even physical illness. Through it all, we hear his voice quavering with emotion, as if he is on the verge of breaking down.
Line by Line Meaning
Look, I can feel the demons in my brain, creepin through the dark parts
Elzhi is expressing the feeling that demon-like thoughts and emotions are beginning to consume him
Got my tuckin different handguns in my Carhartt's
Elzhi carries guns to protect himself from the dangerous environment he lives in
Where the hood got the reaper hidin underneath, yo
The hood is a dangerous place where people are at risk of death or injury
Every wonder why we rather die, then let the beef go?
The culture in the hood promotes the idea of standing up for oneself, even if it means risking one's life
Stay feelin stress, greed, lust and jealousy
Elzhi and those around him experience negative emotions due to their environment and difficult circumstances
My people cope by usin cess, speed, dust and LSD
Drug use is a common way for people to cope with the stresses of their lives in the hood
D, more than just a simple sickness
Demon-like thoughts and emotions are not just a character flaw, but rather a serious and complex issue
It's triple sixes, to haunt the Holy Temple scriptures
666, the sign of the devil, is a symbol of the negative influences that impact people's lives in the hood
And got the lost souls playin false roads
Those who are struggling in the hood are more likely to make bad decisions and be misled
It's the demons, conjurin up images you dreamin
Negative thoughts and emotions can influence people's dreams and further impact their mental state
Or screamin, it's seems when you're semen they schemin
Even sexual thoughts and desires can be influenced by demon-like emotions and lead people down a harmful path
Got us paranoid, steppin out very cautious
Living in the hood creates a constant state of fear and concern for one's safety
Forms of protection against the evil forces
People try to protect themselves from the negative influences and dangers in their environment
Of course there's subjections, in your cerebral vortex
The negative influences of the hood can impact a person's thinking and decision-making
A demon could mean - destroyin every man off narcotics
Demons are not just supernatural figures, but can also be symbolic of drug addiction and its negative impact on individuals and communities
While devil's effected, music out now on your stations
Mainstream music can also have a negative influence on people's thinking and promote harmful behaviors
Distortin, eardrums mentally, overwhelmin nonsense
Music can impact a person's mental state and promote dangerous behaviors or attitudes
Death, equals murder, oxygen's neglected
Death is a common occurrence in the hood, often as a result of murder, and the importance of one's life is not valued or prioritized
You see, if you listen close, you can hear the song they sing
Elzhi is emphasizing the idea that negative influences can be subtle but impactful
Between good and evil, you're just a puppet on a string
People may feel like they have no control over their lives and are simply being influenced by the powerful negative forces around them
It could be the Angel of Death or the Angel King
There may be different supernatural or symbolic forces at play in determining one's fate
If I broke the word down in acronyms, while usin part logic
Elzhi is using wordplay to break down the term 'demons' and show how negative influences impact individuals and communities
Diabetes enter many obese niggaz
The unhealthy lifestyle choices in the hood can have serious health consequences
So, dreams eventually match, ordinary nightmares
People's fears and concerns can become a reality in the dangerous environment of the hood
Why is this new to you?
Elzhi wonders why people are surprised by the negative influences and problems in the hood
Fuck y'all niggaz man
The skit at the end of the song highlights the danger and violence that exists in the hood, and the negativity that can drive people to harm others
Contributed by Austin T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.