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
Time Travel
Slum Village Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Getting this old dude a brew, you know what I'm saying, said he'd pay me like...
A couple of dollars. Go to store for him or whatever, know what I'm saying
He had a lot on his mind man. He's was just telling me all these things man
You not a grown man yet kiddo. The sun shine the same time the rain wets ghettos
The sky cries tears on my window pane, puffing endo flame keeps me a little sane, hose a nigga down around wars
Police clocking, piece cocking, knocking down doors. Now the streets where the priests often
Rebuke the beast through tithes and peace offerings. It's gang graffiti on the back of the church
Eh yo the drug dealers pat'em on the back for they work. They rather... flip a bird than a burger
My nigga got shot robbing a video store and died poor. Wanted the newest whip, order champagne, and high floors
The lowest taxes, vanity killed our sanity. They grow as Baptists and Christians, hope you listening
Made my mind be infected by divine intervention, instead it's all about hoes and winding my system and head
Getting bread, presidents heads and my fist and wrists glistening
I never had none, young girls pregnant with babies and never had one. Put through death and it's crazy
They never knew they dads. The blocks raised us. Watching Scar Face, feeling it when they cock gauges
And they wonder why we die, lie in locked cages. A lot changes with hot bangas.DAMN!
You know what I'm saying. Just think about that man
And think about what I go through now and understood what he was saying, you know what I'm saying
It's crazy out here man, I mean there's a lot going on in the streets
There's a lot going on in the ghettos of the mind. I'm saying I write rhymes
Feel my pain like it was yours. Crack addicts busting right through my doors
Bleeding on my lawn, I'm destined to be great. I swear gypsy can read it on my palm tipsy
I'm calm then I blow up like Vietnam bomb history. I lost my moms but no drug abusers beyond 50
Sign of times twist me til I'm found dizzy. My punished in my blood from all the pimps that birthed me
Even when I was broke, I was wearing new kicks n jersey's. I lived amongst the sickest scurvy
Til this day they can suck a dick that's dirty. With symptoms of burning piss with pearly puss
My words are just emotional. Spoken from the bottom of the token pole, I gotta get a grip
Like a rope with a open hole that's choke able, on a throat that hold the vocal tone
My niggas push coke but don't discuss it on the mobile phone. This ain't for you to judge with dirt service like sewage floods
I need human hugs and back pats. Pack gats that go "Rat-Tat"
And if they cross your path you laugh at a black cat, split poles and step on cracks
I tipped toed to push my way in, through every zip code. Make sure all the way and way to get sold
Know what I'm saying? It's real raw
You know I grew up on the D baby. In the east, off the west. North, South
Niggas is robbing niggas for nanny goats. For real. Niggas robbing for Starter coats. Yeah, Niggas robbing niggas for gators
The lyrics of Slum Village's song Time Travel present a vivid and poignant portrayal of life in the ghettos of Detroit, Michigan. The song begins with a recollection of a formative experience for the singer, where an elderly man describes to him the harsh realities of life as a young black man in the city. Through depictions of gang violence, poverty, drug addiction, absent fathers, and the allure of material wealth, the lyrics paint a picture of a community struggling to survive amidst systemic oppression, racism, and neglect. Despite the grimness of this portrait, the song also contains a sense of hope and resilience. The singer's determination to rise above his circumstances and achieve greatness, his commitment to his art and craft as a rapper, and his loyalty to his friends and fellow strugglers are all sources of inspiration and motivation in this difficult environment.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo I remember, I remember coming back from the corner store
I recall walking back from the nearby store
Getting this old dude a brew, you know what I'm saying, said he'd pay me like...
I was sent to buy beer for an elderly man, who promised me money
A couple of dollars. Go to store for him or whatever, know what I'm saying
He offered me a few dollars to run errands for him
He had a lot on his mind man. He's was just telling me all these things man
The man had much to share, and he spoke to me at length
You not a grown man yet kiddo. The sun shine the same time the rain wets ghettos
The man reminded me that I wasn't yet an adult, and emphasized that difficult times affect all neighborhoods equally
The sky cries tears on my window pane, puffing endo flame keeps me a little sane, hose a nigga down around wars
Rain falls heavily on my window, and smoking marijuana helps me cope during conflicts
Police clocking, piece cocking, knocking down doors. Now the streets where the priests often
Police surveillance and forceful entry has become commonplace, and even the priests are present in the streets
Rebuke the beast through tithes and peace offerings. It's gang graffiti on the back of the church
People try to fight evil with donations and gestures of goodwill, but still gang signs are scrawled on church walls
Neighborhoods ran down from the blacks and it hurts. From young bloods with cracks in they shirts
Black communities are in disrepair, and the sight of young men with worn clothing is painful
Eh yo the drug dealers pat'em on the back for they work. They rather... flip a bird than a burger
Drug dealers receive accolades for their actions, and are not interested in honest work
My nigga got shot robbing a video store and died poor. Wanted the newest whip, order champagne, and high floors
My friend passed away while attempting to steal from a store, all in pursuit of luxury and excess
The lowest taxes, vanity killed our sanity. They grow as Baptists and Christians, hope you listening
Obsession with luxury and pleasure has made us lose our minds, even though we have religious faith
Made my mind be infected by divine intervention, instead it's all about hoes and winding my system and head
Although I hoped religion would guide me, my thoughts are consumed by women and drugs
Getting bread, presidents heads and my fist and wrists glistening
I'm focused on making money and wearing flashy jewelry
I never had none, young girls pregnant with babies and never had one. Put through death and it's crazy
I never had much growing up, and it's crazy to see young girls becoming pregnant and facing death
They never knew they dads. The blocks raised us. Watching Scar Face, feeling it when they cock gauges
Those girls' fathers were absent, and the community helped raise us. We watched violent movies and celebrated gun possession
And they wonder why we die, lie in locked cages. A lot changes with hot bangas.DAMN!
People are surprised when we end up dead or in prison, but a lot can happen in volatile situations
It's crazy out here man, I mean there's a lot going on in the streets
The streets are turbulent, and there are many things happening
There's a lot going on in the ghettos of the mind. I'm saying I write rhymes
There is much mental unrest in this community, but I use writing as an outlet
Feel my pain like it was yours. Crack addicts busting right through my doors
Experience my pain as if it was yours, with drug addicts breaking into my home
Bleeding on my lawn, I'm destined to be great. I swear gypsy can read it on my palm tipsy
People have bled on my property, but I believe I am fated for greatness. Even when I'm drunk, a palm reader can see it
I'm calm then I blow up like Vietnam bomb history. I lost my moms but no drug abusers beyond 50
I can be calm one minute and angry the next, like the Vietnam War's explosions. My mother passed, but not from drug use
Sign of times twist me til I'm found dizzy. My punished in my blood from all the pimps that birthed me
The current era has a strong impact on me, and I feel dizzy from it. The pimps who raised me have caused me to suffer
Even when I was broke, I was wearing new kicks n jersey's. I lived amongst the sickest scurvy
Even when I had no money, I was wearing new shoes and clothing. I was living among the most ill and contagious individuals
Til this day they can suck a dick that's dirty. With symptoms of burning piss with pearly puss
I still have no respect for certain individuals. Some exhibit symptoms of sexually transmitted infections
My words are just emotional. Spoken from the bottom of the token pole, I gotta get a grip
My words come from deep within and are fueled by emotions. I need to better control myself
Like a rope with a open hole that's choke able, on a throat that hold the vocal tone
I need to be able to rein myself in, like a rope that can be tightened around a throat to control speech
My niggas push coke but don't discuss it on the mobile phone. This ain't for you to judge with dirt service like sewage floods
My associates deal drugs, but don't discuss it over the phone. You can't judge them for their actions, which are like the worst kind of service
I need human hugs and back pats. Pack gats that go "Rat-Tat"
I need comfort and affection, as well as guns that make loud noises
And if they cross your path you laugh at a black cat, split poles and step on cracks
If someone crosses you, you'll laugh like it's a joke. Walk under ladders and step on cracks
I tipped toed to push my way in, through every zip code. Make sure all the way and way to get sold
I carefully navigated through every neighborhood, to ensure that every possible market would be utilized
Know what I'm saying? It's real raw
Do you understand? It's harsh but true
You know I grew up on the D baby. In the east, off the west. North, South
You know I grew up in Detroit - across all parts of the city
Niggas is robbing niggas for nanny goats. For real. Niggas robbing for Starter coats. Yeah, Niggas robbing niggas for gators
People are stealing goats and Starter jackets from each other - and even alligator shoes
Contributed by Cooper A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
martin dunhurst
This shit still send shivers down my spine all these years later. the hairs on my kneck stand up. i'm much older now but yet this song still makes me feel like i'm "not a grown man yet".
Zuzana Krištoffy
wordz cant describe how fucking good this is!!!sound killz me
Beat Visions
Never gets old.
limbrick29
ELZHI IS THE TRUTH!! SO UNDERRATED!!!
Marlon White
"Rebuke the beast thru tithes n peace offerings"
adamjo13246
bout time someone put this ill track on
DEREK JACKSON
this is the 1st cut i rock in the delorean,joe. 🔥🔥🔥🔥!
MCBobbyE
this fucking instrumental
MrPhobi1
ALL THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
basic2baller
SIICK..