By early 1994, Django's original ska roots began to tug at him, and he assembled Stubborn All-Stars for a studio session which resulted in the 4-song Old's Cool 7" EP. Choosing musicians very carefully from the large pool of New York ska bands such as Skinnerbox, The Insteps, The Slackers, The Scofflaws, and Agent 99, for their familiarity with and ability to play traditional Jamaican ska. Django hit upon the sound he was looking for: ska in a very traditional Jamaican style, reconnected with its own roots in American Rhythm & Blues.
They released their debut Open Season in September 1995, featuring guest appearances by Roland Alphonso of the Skatalites, Chris Dowd (ex-Fishbone), and Rob "Bucket" Hingley of the Toasters.
Their second album, Back With a New Batch, was released in 1997. The video for the single Pick Yourself Up, which featured guest vocals from members of the punk rock band Rancid, went into heavy rotation on MTV, and Alternative Press reviewed it as "the best reggae album of 1997".
Their third album, Nex Music, was released in 1999.
The band also collaborated with Rancid on the song 'I Wanna Riot' for the Beavis and Butt-Head Do America soundtrack.
Open Season
Stubborn All-Stars Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is an invitation, to all self-proclaimed ska-dons,
Ammunition,
Open season, dj hunting,
I ain't fronting, i tell you something,
Django originiation, musical sensation, from the
Rocksteady station,
Open season, as i would say,
Lyrics barrage,
Open season,
Don't ya try to come to my town, cuz i'll gun ya down,
Open season, dj huntin', never frontin',
A lyrics fountain, go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and far away, django is the boss dj,
Ya'll look like some sittin' duck, and i don't give a
Fuck,
So don't try your luck, cuz i'll run ya down with my
Lyrics truck,
And i don't need no reason, cuz it's open season,
Dj trackin', upon this musical backin', twelve years
Packin',
Here i come ready or not, musical hookshot is what i
Got, and i kill ya upon the spot,
Finger upon the trigger i'm death to the whole lot of
Ya, cuz you know new york is too hot,
Open season, dj huntin,
Engineer don't ya touch that fader,
Cuz django shoots first and asks questions later,
Hi i'm the dj terminator, and it's open season,
Got my license to kill, so c'mon and get your lyrical
Fill,
Cuz when we meet, up on the hill, i will walk away, and
You will lie still,
Cuz it's open season, dj huntin',
I ain't frontin', i tell you somethin',
Double barrell side by side i come to tan your hide,
Many have tried and all have died and i must confide i
Cannot tell a lie,
I have an appetite for murder, i am the dj cannibal,
With a capital c, see me, i am the boss mc,
Open season,
No teasein', exceedin' pleasin',
Trigger squeezin', freezin' up music street,
Get some life in your feet, cuz i too got music in my
Teeth,
Open season, dj huntin',
Never frontin', a lyrical fountain,
Shout it from the mountain top,
Try to stop django and ya'll could get dropped,
Open season,
Lyrics like dirt for your moneys worth,
Gal nuh frock and gal nuh skirt, django eat them for
Dessert,
Open season,
Dj trackin', upon this musical backin',
This is django and i'm attackin', never slackin',
Open season, freezin' up music street
Sounds from the stop on the stable, musical bisquit
Laid by the table??
Coming to you from the top of the tower of babel
Open season, django goin' dj hunting
Be very very quiet, im huntin' dj's
Open season
Open season
When you see me come, you best run, cuz i'm aiming my
Lyrical gun
. Right upon the rythm until the track is done
Thats how i have my phone
Open season ya
Dj trackin'
..., riddim rider
The lyrics to Stubborn All-Stars' "Open Season" are a playful warning to rival DJs that hunting season is now open and they are fair game. Django is the "boss DJ" who originates from the "Rocksteady station" and has been "packin' for twelve years." The lyrics describe Django as having a lyrical barrage and a musical hookshot that he uses to take down his competition. The theme of hunting is used metaphorically throughout the song, with Django being compared to a hunter going after his prey.
The lyrics also convey a sense of pride in Django's abilities as a DJ, with lines like "I have an appetite for murder, I am the DJ cannibal" and "finger upon the trigger, I'm death to the whole lot of ya." The song is a celebration of DJ culture and the competitive nature of the art form. It showcases the importance of skill and innovation and the drive to be the best in a highly competitive field.
Overall, "Open Season" is a playful and humorous take on the world of DJing, with its use of hunting metaphors and descriptions of Django as a lyrical gun-slinger. It is a song that speaks to the pride and passion that goes into being a skilled DJ.
Line by Line Meaning
Hunting season is now open, and all djs are fair game
It's time for competition in the music industry and no DJ is safe from being challenged
This is an invitation, to all self-proclaimed ska-dons
A challenge is being issued to all self-proclaimed experts in the ska music genre
Open season, dj hunting
The competition is open and DJs are being hunted
I ain't fronting, i tell you something
This isn't a bluff, and the artist has something important to say
Django originiation, musical sensation, from the Rocksteady station
The artist, named Django, originated from the Rocksteady station and is a musical sensation
Open season, as i would say
As the artist previously stated, it's time for open competition
I don't need no camoflauge, just take cover from this Lyrics barrage
The artist doesn't need to hide or be sneaky, just be prepared for their impressive lyrics
Don't ya try to come to my town, cuz i'll gun ya down
Don't challenge the artist on their home turf, or they will defeat you
Open season, dj huntin', never frontin'
This is still an open competition, and the artist isn't bluffing
A lyrics fountain, go tell it on the mountain
The artist has an abundance of clever lyrics and wants everyone to know
Over the hills and far away, django is the boss dj
Django is skilled, and the best DJ around
Ya'll look like some sittin' duck, and i don't give a Fuck
The other DJs being challenged don't appear to be up to par in comparison to the artist, and the artist doesn't care about hurting their feelings
So don't try your luck, cuz i'll run ya down with my Lyrics truck
Don't even try, the artist's lyrics are too powerful to compete with
And i don't need no reason, cuz it's open season
The artist doesn't need any justification for their actions, it's still an open competition
Dj trackin', upon this musical backin', twelve years Packin'
The artist has been tracking music and developing their skills for twelve years and they're ready for this challenge
Here i come ready or not, musical hookshot is what i Got, and i kill ya upon the spot
The artist is confident in their skills and can surprise and defeat any opponent quickly and easily
Finger upon the trigger i'm death to the whole lot of Ya, cuz you know new york is too hot
The artist is skilled and won't hesitate to defeat any competition, and New York is already too competitive
Engineer don't ya touch that fader, Cuz django shoots first and asks questions later
Don't interfere with the artist's music, or they will act first and ask questions later
Hi i'm the dj terminator, and it's open season
The artist is like a DJ version of the Terminator and ready to defeat anyone in this open competition
Got my license to kill, so c'mon and get your lyrical Fill
The artist is confident and licensed to defeat any opponent and wants others to try and compete
Cuz when we meet, up on the hill, i will walk away, and You will lie still
If the artist and competition meet, the artist will emerge victorious and the competition will lose
Double barrell side by side i come to tan your hide, Many have tried and all have died and i must confide i Cannot tell a lie
The artist is extra prepared and equipped to defeat any opponent, and no one has been successful yet
I have an appetite for murder, i am the dj cannibal, With a capital c, see me, i am the boss mc
The artist is ready to defeat any competition and is like a cannibal for their music skills
No teasein', exceedin' pleasin', Trigger squeezin', freezin' up music street
The artist is confident in their skills and ready to freeze up the music scene with their lyrics
Get some life in your feet, cuz i too got music in my Teeth
The artist is energetic and passionate about their music and wants others to feel the same
Shout it from the mountain top, Try to stop django and ya'll could get dropped
The artist is confident and ready to defeat anyone who challenges them in this competition
Lyrics like dirt for your moneys worth, Gal nuh frock and gal nuh skirt, django eat them for Dessert
The artist's lyrics are plentiful and high quality, and they easily defeat any competition that tries to challenge them
Coming to you from the top of the tower of babel
The artist is coming with powerful and impactful music from a high and prestigious position
When you see me come, you best run, cuz i'm aiming my Lyrical gun
The artist is ready to defeat any competition and has their sights set on victory
Right upon the rythm until the track is done Thats how i have my phone
The artist is adept at following the rhythm of the music and is confident in their ability
..., riddim rider
This line doesn't have enough context to provide a meaningful interpretation
Writer(s): BAKER JEFFREY B
Contributed by Camden J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mike Delossantos
So wierd when you read a comment and think, wow that sounds alot like my ex girlfriend, who was also 15 and attending Ska shows at thr first unitarian church where my band played with Skinnerbox a couple times, then look up and realize oh, wow. It's actually Jess.
Bad News: I just got to hear this song for the first time in 20 years, mainly because I just got paroled after 14 years in prison (not for murdering self proclaimed ska-dons, for which I'll never be prosecuted!). And had just drifted from ska generally as a no good heroin addicted street punk.
The good news: this song still holds up as one of the few 3rd wave ska songs I woukd ever voluntarily listen to. I general that holds true for skinnerbox. They have a street sense and edginess lacking in nearly every other band of the Era, and as someone who has watched Django up close, this is someone who respects the Jamaican roots and riddim rather than just scratching guitars on the upbeat. When they get in thr pocket, that shit goes hard. And how mny white guys you know who would have the balls to toast in Patois, as he does rather well, or write a diss track which has remained unanswered to this day (please let's not talk about Hepcat. Lol)? Mr. Baker, that's your answer.
The Best news: Jess and I are still friends to this day, although she is happily married, and we went to a rancid show together recently. And in fact she is good friends with Django, the DJ terminator. I still wouldn't touch that fader, but she says otherwise he's one of the best people on earth.
Big ups to bringing 1995 back to me. Now I gotta find the Skinnerbox album cover where the girl is fucking a poodle. For real.
Oh and I think I probably made up the knife fight thing, haha but j suppose it's possible I heard it too!Don't think he'll be answering that question on YouTube !
Andy Howarth
A masterpiece
The Doodleman
Since I was 17 listened to this with my Skateboard clan. I wish to get those days back.
charliedesiles
We don't need no reason cause it's open season... What a tune...
dand2412
Thank you!! I first heard this song 15yrs ago on concrete wave or some other skate show and been after it since!!
E Zandman
This track used to be one of the favorites at my local underground squatters bar.
charliedesiles
Killer tune !
Daniel Maguire
Hepcat's response Open Season...Is Closed is so good.
silvia trophin
This is way better. Open Season never closes for django...
Caroline Andrieu
Perfection 😉. Open season.
Bidenflation victim
Haven't heard this in about 5 years when I got paralyzed and my landlord threw out all my stuff