In the absence of new releases from groups like the Fugees and the Black Ey… Read Full Bio ↴In the absence of new releases from groups like the Fugees and the Black Eyed Peas, the D.E.Y. has stepped up to fill the void. Composed of MCs Divine and Yeyo and singer Elan, the bilingual Latin trio's fusion of hip-hop, pop, R&B and Afro-Latin rhythms mesh with soaring vocals. Their witty lyrics touch on everything from political corruption and racial profiling to catcalling and sexual tension.

The threesome formed three years ago when a member of Divine and Yeyo's management team introduced them to the pint-size songbird. "We were at a Latin showcase in Miami called Soulfrito. It was the first time I saw Elan perform and it just felt so natural, like we should come together for one common cause," explains Divine.

Prior to coming together, though, the members of D.E.Y. had all been individually leaving their marks in their respective markets. Divine, 25, born in the Bronx to Puerto Rican parents, had been working with Afro-Cuban hip-hop group Yerbabuena; he penned their Grammy-nominated hit "Guajira (I Love You Too Much)." Half-Puerto Rican, half-Cuban Yeyo, also 25, was making a name for himself in the underground Latin rap scene with his political rhymes. New York-bred Puerto Rican / African American Elan, 22, was singing back-up for salsa singer Huey Dunbar, with whom she had collaborated on a duet titled "Sin Poderte Hablar." The song appeared on his Grammy-nominated album "Music for My Peoples."

Now the D.E.Y. is poised to break out with their debut album, "The D.E.Y. Has Come," which is slated for Oct. 23. The Epic Records release boasts production from Timbaland, J.R. Rotem and Stargate among others. The promotional single, "Dame Un Momento," flies 30-20 on the Latin Rhythm chart this week, while the troupe's first radio single, the Timbaland-produced "Get The Feeling," will be serviced to stations next week.

Other standout tracks on the album include "She Said," which is in contention to be the follow-up single. "It's a track dedicated to our moms and the struggles they've been through," says Divine. There's also "Corre" ("Run"), where Yeyo raps about the September 11 terrorist attacks and unification. "Another track that we love is 'Buen Camino' ('The Right Path'). It's about walking on a spiritual path and finding faith," adds Elan. The set ends with a salsa track recorded with salsa legend Marc Anthony's band.

On My Way
The D.E.Y. Lyrics

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깨고 나니 두시야
18 hours straight of good sleep
아니 어쩌면 그건 망상에
더 가까웠을듯한 dream
So I pass that 아무 의미 없어
깨고 나니 조금 멍한 느낌
쉽게 꺼지질 않네
마치 two pills that

I used to exceed the stated dose
딱 그때 그 기분이야
Let's not have a toast 지금은
저 마네킹 같이 얼어붙은 pose
I'm sayin' it
I'm sayin'
더 선명한지 더 흐릿한지
조차 흐릿한 상태를 I'm sayin' it
I'm sayin'

더 선명한지 더 흐릿한지
조차 흐릿한 상태를 I'm sayin' it

Overall Meaning

The D.E.Y.'s song "On My Way" talks about self-reflection and questioning one's purpose in life. The lyrics begin by asking how the singer would appear if their past self could see them now. They go on to wonder if they are doing their best, if they still have more to give, and if they have become more emotionally vulnerable. The singer reflects on their experiences with both love and sadness, and notes that they want to understand the meaning behind their current actions.

Despite this desire for understanding, the singer acknowledges that sometimes it doesn't matter, and that there are days where they can simply laugh things off. They argue that they are just themselves, and relish the joy of small things, such as a perfectly brewed cup of coffee. The lyrics suggest that life is far from easy, but that there are moments of hope - the feeling that they could fly if the sky cleared, or that having someone they love by their side would make everything better. Ultimately, the song reminds us that happiness is elusive, but so is its opposite, and tomorrow always brings a new day.

Line by Line Meaning

あの頃の僕から
Looking back on who I was before

今の僕を見たらどう見えるかな?
I wonder how I would appear to others now

頑張ってるのか?
Am I working hard enough?

まだまだやれるか?
Can I still do more?

少し涙脆くなってるかな?
I wonder if I've become a bit more emotional

愛情だって悲しみだって
I've experienced plenty of love and sadness

これまで沢山味わってきたよ
Throughout my life, I've tasted a lot

今を生きる僕の
Trying to find the meaning of my life in this moment

意味を確かめたいけど
But sometimes that doesn't seem to matter

そんなのどうでもいいさって
Laughing it off as unimportant

笑える日があったって
Even on days when I can laugh