Rapper-producer Jay Dee left after the group's first national album, 2000's Fantastic, Vol. 2 (Barak) and rhymer Elzhi was added to the mix for 2002's Trinity (Past, Present And Future) (Barak/Capitol). Now, with the release of Slum Village's new album, the stunningly impressive Detroit Deli (Barak/Capitol), the group consists of just T3 and Elzhi. Throughout the changes, Slum Village's musical mission has remained constant: to deliver soul-stirring sonics that represent Detroit to the fullest. That vision is fully realized on Detroit Deli. Throughout the sensational 15-cut collection, T3 and Elzhi give listeners an intimate look at life in The D, from where they shop, hang with friends and eat to the type of cars they drive (check "Zoom") and what clothes they wear.
Slum Village represents the Midwest's funk heritage on the inspirational "Do You," which was produced by Jay Dee, and teams with Chicago's Kanye West on lead single "Selfish," a sly, piano-driven song where T3, Elzhi and West rap about their desire to have a monopoly with women. They then team with Ol' Dirty Bastard on the riotous "Dirty" about having to battle for a woman and deliver a Player's Hand Guide of sorts on the sensuous "Count The Ways," Both produced by B.R. Gunna.
Even though Slum Village excels at making this type of lighthearted music, they show on Detroit Deli that they also hit hard with more serious subject matter. On the moving, guitar-driven "Keep Holding On," they rap about people not losing faith in their lives, while on the stirring "Old Girl/Shining Star," T3 and Elzhi send a open letter of hope and support to single mothers working hard to survive.
"The inspiration came from my boy's niece who has a gang of kids and is out here struggling," Elzhi says. "She's stringing her kids around on the bus, just to get by. By me just looking at that, I'm like, 'I need to write a song because I know she's not the only one going through it.' Slum Village has never touched on ladies like that and everybody is calling girls hoes and Bs, dissing these ladies, so we wanted to touch the ladies in a different way."
The group also takes a different route on "Reunion." Jay Dee joins T3 and Elzhi on the insightful cut, which offers three different takes on the group's status. "It's like you're going through three state of minds at one time kind of in reverse," T3 says. "What we're trying to say is that we wish we were together, we might be together and then we're not together at all. We're trying to give you all the aspects of how people are coming at us, the type of stuff we're dealing with and kind of give you a glimpse of the stuff we're dealing with in the group."
Indeed, songs such as "Keep Holding On," "Old Girl/Shining Star" and "The Reunion" signal Slum Village's evolution; they mark the first time the group has let listeners in on their personal feelings. "I don't think people really know us and we never really touched on our emotions like that," T3 says. "We wanted to bring some realness, besides just the soul music. Elzhi, as a guy that saw Slum Village on the outside, he brought it to my attention that we never touched on serious topics and that we should try to touch on them more. I was with that and I have a lot to say, so why not?"
Detroit Deli also stands as Slum Village's most musically rich album to date. B.R. Gunna producers Black Milk and Young RJ, both 20 years old, handled the majority of the beats, while Kanye West produced "Selfish," Jay Dee handled "Do You" and T3 along with young RJ produced "Closer" and "Count The Ways." The beats are as divergent as the album's subject matter, ranging from soulful to futuristic, but they always remain powerful and innovative.
The same can be said for Slum Village's storied career. After releasing Fan-tas-tic Vol. 1 independently, Slum Village became one of hip-hop's hottest groups. While working on Fantastic vol. 2, they were joined in the studio by such luminaries as D'Angelo, Busta Rhymes, Kurupt, Pete Rock, and A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip, among others. The resulting album became an underground classic and Slum Village was seen as the second coming of the Native Tongues (A Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers, De La Soul) by member Q-Tip, as well as fans and journalists alike.
Jay Dee left the group after Fantastic, vol. 2 in order to work on his solo career, but Slum Village pressed on, releasing in 2002 the Dirty District mixtape and later that year its third album and first with new member Elzhi, Trinity. Many fans looked at rapper-producer Jay Dee as the group's backbone, but Trinity proved that Slum Village could provide without its sonic architect, as that album's single "Tainted" became the group's biggest hit.
"We've always stuck to our guns," T3 says. "We've never tried to change to get commercial success. We always just did what we did and when you do what you do, eventually somebody's going to have to give you your respect for having the courage to do what you do."
Now back where they started, Slum Village yet again thrills and delights fans and gains yet a larger audience hungry for the smoking beats under the hot lyrical talent of T3 and Elzhi. Slum has begun to bring more of their personal feelings to their music, allowing the listeners and fans to touch more on the emotions and realness and touched on more serious topics. Prequel to a Classic features previously unreleased joints and jams from Slum Village with production by B.R. Gunna, J Dilla and Kareem Riggins. The mixtape gives listeners the best of some of their material since Fantastic Vol. 1.
T3 has said in a recent interview that slum village has reunited with Baatin and has added Illa J(J Dilla's Brother) to bring a Dilla effect. He is quoted "Slum Village is totally not that at all,” T3 adds. “I’m incorporating Baatin, and I’m putting Illa J in—not to take Dilla’s place, but just to have that essence of Dilla on this new project. I’m pulling together all the producers that we’ve used before—Black Milk, Wajeed , Kareem Riggins, Pete Rock and all the people who have been down with SV from day one.”
J Dilla died on February 10, 2006 after being diagnosed with TTP and Lupus.
Baatin died on July 31, 2009.
www.slumvillage.com
Things We Do
Slum Village Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Things you do to me, things you do to me, things you do to me
Things you do to me, things you do to me
Things you do to me, things you do to me
Check this shit out
Yo, I got an eye for you, so why do I socialize
'Bout run it back, run it back, I got an
Don't ask me why I look in your eyes
And fantasize 'bout you and I
Then I wish I, now I'm the
Fly shit that you like run it back I'm the
Fly shit that you like, and I
Despise you and didn't surprise to see me in
The ride, you told me lies, and all this time
You was the sly shit I despise
Why you be shy? Can't look me in the eye
I wonder why you do the do to me
Things you do to me (run it back)
Things you do to me, things you do to me (run it back)
Things you do to me, things you do to me
I knew this girl by the name of Hot Pants
I miss her pants, babe you know you accelerate
You made me wait, for a goddamn day
I mean the nerve of this chick, giving ass so late
But you straight, you straight maybe you shouldn't be so hard
I mean, oh, my God run it back oh my god!
Mean 1-1-1, its not a murder uh
And even if I was I wouldn't murder ya, come here, girl
Give me all your uh, give me all your uh
Things you do to me, things you do to me
Things you said to me, things you do to me
Things you do to me, things you do to me
Things you do to me
What's the problem Ach-im? You better come clean
Get you whacked cause you wack
It's like a Kodak (run it back)
What's the problem Ach-im? You better come clean
Get you whacked cause you wack
It's like a Kodak, what I mean, your photograph
My mind, had me runnin' for telegraph
For you, oh, for our conversation we will fuck
On the roof at a tantra, say mama hold it back
The stimulator, tantrum master
Visualize the lotus, ladies and women the khakis is in my lingum
Notice the tactic, your mine (run it back) your mine
Things you do to me, uh oh
Things you do to me, things you do to me
Things you do to me, things you do to me
Things you do to me, things you do to me
Things you do to me, things you do to me
Things you do to me, things you do to me
Things you do to me
The song "Things We Do" by Slum Village is a classic hip hop track that depicts the life of artists who are plagued by rumors and lies about their lifestyle. The lyrics are a response to people who falsely claim to know about their endeavors and lie about them. The song is an expression of frustration and aggression, and the artists threaten violence against their detractors.
The song talks about the things that they do to maintain their reputation and defend themselves against gossip-mongers. They talk about eliminating people who pose a threat to their peace, standing up to their aggressors, and maintaining their image. The song delivers a message of defiance and strength, with the artists determined to put their detractors in their place.
The chorus, "Things we do to you" is a warning to people who spread lies about them, telling them that they are ready to take action to protect themselves. The verses are filled with clever wordplay and rhyming schemes that make the song an enjoyable listen. The song is an excellent addition to the catalog of classic hip hop songs that showcase the skills of the genre's pioneers.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a rhyme for those dudes who lie about me and mine
I have a rap for people who spread lies about me and my loved ones.
I squeeze them nines, from behind the blinds
I shoot them with my guns from behind the blinds.
I leave flat in ground in the pine box! I'm not a killa wit mine
I kill them and bury them in a pine box, but I'm not a killer by nature.
But I get rid of nigga that get piece of mine
However, I am willing to eliminate anyone who tries to hurt me or take what belongs to me.
I must be dope for you to steal my style
People must think I am great for them to copy my music style.
Tryin' to take my sound you don't want those pieces out
If you copy my sound, you do not want any problems.
Better yet you better kneel in church
You should surrender to God and pray for mercy.
Don't these hurr, put a hole through your detrik fur
Do not let me catch you or I will shoot you, even if you wear a fancy coat.
Your little style that you got is subminimal
Your music style is insignificant compared to mine.
Is you ready to swing, blows wit a criminal
Are you ready to fight with a dangerous person like me?
You heard the click, pushin' scurshin' whips
You heard the sound of our cars and we are driving fast.
New sherlings kicks, two words I'm sick
I am sick (great) in two words, and I wear new luxury shoes.
They come together like hoes on the curb for dick
My lyrics blend perfectly, like prostitutes on a sidewalk looking for customers.
I curse and piss, on any nigga that's lame
I insult and disrespect anyone who is weak or unimportant.
Call me sick and insane talkin' chickens for brains
People call me crazy for saying ridiculous things.
Shift the stick in the range when I click and I bang!
I change gears in my luxury car and shoot my gun.
I'm in the wickedest game
I am involved in the most dangerous activities.
Wickedest game don't get stick for ya chain
Do not get robbed for your jewelry.
It's the Slum to the Villa, your head unda the pilla
We are Slum Village, and we can put your head under a pillow if we want.
All the way from Detroit!
We come from Detroit, Michigan.
I bust at you, bang they cuffing who?
I shoot at you, and the police may arrest me.
If you gon talk the shit I'm aiming quick
If you insult me or my friends, I will shoot you quickly.
You better run 'cause I don't miss
You should flee because I am very accurate with my aim.
Things we do to you
These are the things we do to you.
Things we do and doing
We are doing these things to you right now.
Things we to do you
These are the things we want to do to you.
Things we doing
We are doing these things right now.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: James Dewitt Yancey, Kamaal Ibn John Fareed
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Manticore Custom Project
Still listening in 2019!! immortal beat
Sammy Sung
2020 😎
lilyzozo
The beat is crazy!!!
michael phillips
Run it back run it back
kwame omar
yo! yess! spit all over this joint!!!
santana
This album had some top notch production. Dilla, BR, and Early Kanye. Pretty fucking sweet!
PERsent Muzik
We got the same taste
Smart minds think alike
Steven Sullivan
It's a shame critics totally ignored SV
Ricardo Gonçalves
if you think eLZhi wasn't the best member on sv lyrically you must be on crack or some shit like that...
Paris Finley
You can just play this all day, non-stop.