Jel became familia… Read Full Bio ↴themselves are doseone and jel, from California.
Jel became familiar with dose through his good friend and radio partner, Kevin Beacham. But it wasn't until early 1998 when some tapes were exchanged through mutual friend, Mr. Dibbs, that the two realized their potential together. Soon after a few phone conversations, jel started making frequent sojourns from Chicago to Cincinnati to record with dose. The duo's first couple of tracks ended up on dose's first, self-released record Hemispheres (1998). Then from April of 1998 to January of 1999 they solidified their chemistry, putting the tracks together that would end up on themselves' them. That same Spring dose and jel, along with Slug of Atmosphere and sole and alias of Live Poets began recording deep puddle dynamics's The Taste Of Rain... Why Kneel. Out of that record, the concept of anticon was somewhere born -- whose founding dose and jel would become an integral part of, later bringing them both to the Bay Area.
Since then, both artists have continued to push boundaries, producing and collaborating on a range of work far outside the constructs of traditional genre forms. They've expanded their use and understanding of their equipment, as well as perfected their live performances. Their record, the no music. (2002), involved the use of: an SP-1200, an MPC-2000, a Korg Poly 64 keyboard, some other shit, a Roland VS 880, Digital Performer, a Dr. Sample, various microphones, numerous household items and found objects and sounds. Recently the two of them have also expanded their roles in the group, both contributing vocals and production to the no music.. They also added Dax Pierson on keyboards, Dr. Sample, Theremin and back up vocals on many of their tracks, and to all of their live performances. Dax is essential in adding syncopation and a real time quality to the tracks.
After a six-year hiatus, Themselves return on a rampage of heady rap wrung from hardworking hands. Of course, the duo of Jeffrey “Jel” Logan and Adam “Doseone” Drucker are never too far from the frontlines of good art and honest music. Last year, their Subtle sextet released its third album, the critically acclaimed and wildly adventurous ExitingARM, and a 2005 collaboration with Germany’s the Notwist yielded the cult gem 13 & God. There have been solo offerings, guest appearances, and ceaseless touring, but not peep from the name behind 2002’s left-field classic The No Music. That blessed interim has seen Doseone and Jel become the fearless musicians and exacting artists they’d always meant to be. Now, hungrier than ever, Themselves are here to scrawl a bold new chapter across rap’s too-stale tome. Furthermore, they set out to accomplish this feat unadorned, returning to hip-hop’s most cardinal and carnal form, the number two: the DJ and the MC—neck-snapping beats and precision prose—accompanied by a little righteous indignation, of course.
Such things do have roots, naturally, and Themselves’ are as colorful as one would expect. Drucker was born in Napa, Idaho, to a hippie pair whose relationship wouldn’t outlast its ideals. Logan was raised in Chicago by Pentecostal parents. While the former spent his preteen years bouncing between Philadelphia and New Jersey, surviving by his mile-a-minute wit and ceaseless imagination, Logan nursed an early love for the decidedly safe sounds of Chuck Berry into raging crush on the unhinged backbone of rap music: beats. He’d pump gas in order to save up for the hallowed SP-1200 drum machine (of which he’s now a renowned master); Drucker would hone his unmatched rap styles in street battles before moving to Cincinnati in his late teens. In that city’s annual “Scribble Jam” competition, as “Doseone,” he famously battled Eminem in a final-round showdown—as well as one of his idols, Freestyle Fellowship’s P.E.A.C.E.—and the experience left him hollow. Meanwhile, Jel had forged a sound unto himself, but couldn’t find a voice able to keep pace. In 1998, tapes were exchanged through the venerable DJ Mr. Dibbs, and history came to be made.
Of that initial meeting, much would be born: Doseone’s ambitious, self-released debut Hemispheres (1998); Themselves’ seminal unveiling, Them (1999); the landmark collaborative project, Deep Puddle Dynamics (also featuring Sole, Alias and Atmosphere’s Slug); and the Anticon label itself. Soon, Dose and Jel moved to Oakland in order to spark a movement with Anticon’s other co-founders, two of which (Odd Nosdam, and Yoni Wolf of WHY?) were in yet another celebrated group with Drucker, the eternally lauded cLOUDDEAD. Since, Doseone and Jel have continued to challenge rap—and our conception of music itself—every step of the way. Through their joint projects and an impressive body of solo work (see 2006’s Soft Money, by Jel, or Doseone’s self-released spoken-word album, Soft Skulls), these two have been nurturing the kind of legacy that only gets better with age. In 2009, Themselves return to a core that’s been warming, strengthening, and expanding all the while.
Directions to My Special Place
Themselves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Glistening ordinary, grant me
A winged mare or solid ground
And personality split
For it's been a ghastly reflection. unique
And reminiscent of nightmares I can't escape
To disfigure a blurry glance at time of night
A glow the me I loathe, compose
So many playmates that had loved
To hold my magnificent crum
And save its succulence from back injury
I've eroded the shared experience
Consistently... cradles fall
I'm think of a number from one to lonesome...
Fault fault everywhere
And not a single soulmate to spoon or go back and forth with...
I've torn them all to exorcists
Hi, my name's in public...
Has showed me how to spell
Welcome mat with a w-h-o-i-a-m & I
Take a stepping on purpose like a man
Is still a big effort, deal, and pursuit
Of... I've won, and all these women make me sick
So my spoils are shiners or regret
The stormy gray ribbon thus... therefore... and then
With a pin point poking my chest
I startle does and falsify confidence to change... to change...
The lies I've told personify general sympathy
And his platoon of stupid things to do
Let distance play the role of time and difference
Glad to be of service...
Risk averse is my favorite color
And limb to crawl on outfitted for perversion
Enduring... I've managed to overdress for dharma...
The tour of our spiraling universe
And suffer in a congested clammy-handed manner
So who's the old shot blood-dripping man's face
I'm slated to grimace as
Mr. id says don't worry
Finish this now porridge before it cools
And remember above all your dyslexic
Sound advice... but still I'm hung up on hang-ups
And exhausted beyond the haven of endangered mystery-man
In the round strikes a pose
And tries to return truth from a bound world (for life)...
Reading into trivial and man's endless pursuit of absolute stuff...
Custom-made to fit has simplified exception...
Accepted the war, the savior, the Saturday morning cartoons
All convince an unconscious sense of perspective
That natural will thin my blood
And capture me and knock me up
And color coordinate love. no more...
No desire, no bed time, no venue...
It's the pattern my cycles adhere to...
These peaks and valleys I call home and stand for...
It's hard, it's natural
It's only the beginning to fear death... embrace occurrence
Heal... to heal... to be the first one to heal
Is to wake and let artificial
The totem pole of rolls and norms is collapsed upon itself
Until we all care... no one will...
Until we all... no one will
Dose will... request...
Feel these pieces of me as I would all of you...
Until we meet... directions to my special place... come hither
The song "Directions to My Special Place" by Themselves explores the complexities of one's inner self and the struggle to find a sense of belonging and purpose in life. The lyrics are characterized by vivid and often surreal imagery, as the singer grapples with their own identity and relationships with others.
The song begins with a plea for guidance and inspiration, asking for a "sacred envelope of exploration" to help the singer find their way. They express a sense of alienation and detachment from their own emotions, describing a "personality split" and a feeling of being trapped in negative thought patterns. The singer also reflects on past relationships that have ended in disappointment or pain, leading them to feel isolated and alone.
As the song progresses, the singer delves deeper into their own psyche, questioning the nature of truth and reality. They express frustration with societal norms and expectations, seeing them as a source of oppression and spiritual decay. The final stanza of the song ends on a note of uncertainty and hope, with the singer expressing a desire to connect with others and find a sense of purpose in life.
Overall, "Directions to My Special Place" is a powerful and introspective song that explores themes of identity, alienation, and the search for meaning in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, sacred envelope of exploration...
I am seeking a suitable medium for exploring my thoughts and feelings, something that can show me the way.
Glistening ordinary, grant me
I am looking for something that is both familiar and extraordinary, something that can grant me my wishes.
A winged mare or solid ground
I don't know what I want, but I am open to all possibilities, whether it's something fantastical or something concrete.
And personality split
I am struggling with my identity, feeling like I am multiple people at once and unable to reconcile those parts of myself.
For it's been a ghastly reflection. unique
I don't like what I see when I look in the mirror, and I feel like my experiences and thoughts are unique and isolating.
And reminiscent of nightmares I can't escape
My past haunts me, and I am unable to move on from certain traumas.
To disfigure a blurry glance at time of night
I am having trouble seeing things clearly when I am alone and unable to sleep.
A glow the me I loathe, compose
I want to change the parts of myself that I dislike, but it's hard to do so.
And turn off to phase throughout has
I turn off my emotions as a coping mechanism, but it's preventing me from truly healing.
So many playmates that had loved
I have pushed away people who cared for me because of my own issues and insecurities.
To hold my magnificent crum
I am struggling to keep myself together and others have tried to help me, but I have not allowed them to.
And save its succulence from back injury
I am worried about getting hurt again and am hesitant to open up to others.
I've eroded the shared experience
I have damaged my relationships with others by not being fully present and engaged with them.
Consistently... cradles fall
I have a pattern of pushing people away and sabotaging my own happiness.
I'm think of a number from one to lonesome...
I feel lonely and disconnected from others.
Fault fault everywhere
I am quick to find fault in myself and others.
And not a single soulmate to spoon or go back and forth with...
I don't have anyone to share my life with in a deep and meaningful way.
I've torn them all to exorcists
I have driven away people who cared for me because of my own fears and insecurities.
Hi, my name's in public...
I am putting myself out there and trying to connect with others.
Has showed me how to spell
I have learned something new about myself and my abilities through this experience.
Welcome mat with a w-h-o-i-a-m & I
I am inviting others to get to know me for who I really am.
Take a stepping on purpose like a man
I am trying to be intentional and deliberate in my actions, and not be ruled by my emotions.
Is still a big effort, deal, and pursuit
It's hard work to change and grow, and I am committed to this process.
Of... I've won, and all these women make me sick
I have achieved success in my own way, but my negative attitudes towards women are holding me back.
So my spoils are shiners or regret
My achievements are bittersweet, and I am left with feelings of emptiness and regret.
The stormy gray ribbon thus... therefore... and then
Life is unpredictable and full of twists and turns, and I am struggling to keep up.
With a pin point poking my chest
I am feeling anxious and fearful, and my emotions are manifesting as physical sensations.
I startle does and falsify confidence to change... to change...
I am trying to change and grow, but I am held back by my fears and doubts.
The lies I've told personify general sympathy
I have been dishonest with others and myself, and it has created a sense of mistrust and distance.
And his platoon of stupid things to do
I am prone to making poor decisions and acting impulsively.
Let distance play the role of time and difference
I am hoping that with time and space, things will become clearer and easier to deal with.
Glad to be of service...
I am happy to help others and make a difference in their lives.
Risk averse is my favorite color
I am cautious and fearful of taking risks, and this has prevented me from fully experiencing life.
And limb to crawl on outfitted for perversion
I feel vulnerable and powerless, and I am struggling to find my footing.
Enduring... I've managed to overdress for dharma...
I have held on and persevered, even in difficult circumstances, but I am doing it for the wrong reasons.
The tour of our spiraling universe
Life is a journey full of twists and turns, and we are all part of something larger than ourselves.
And suffer in a congested clammy-handed manner
I am struggling and suffering, and it feels suffocating and overwhelming.
So who's the old shot blood-dripping man's face
I am confronting my own mortality and realizing that death is a part of life.
I'm slated to grimace as
I am anticipating pain and difficulty, and it's making me anxious.
Mr. id says don't worry
My subconscious is reassuring me that everything will be okay.
Finish this now porridge before it cools
I need to take action and make the most of the opportunities in front of me before it's too late.
And remember above all your dyslexic
I need to remember my unique perspective and use it to my advantage.
Sound advice... but still I'm hung up on hang-ups
I know what I need to do, but my insecurities and fears are holding me back.
And exhausted beyond the haven of endangered mystery-man
I am tired and worn out, and I feel like I am on my own in this journey.
In the round strikes a pose
Life is fleeting and unpredictable, but we can still find beauty in it.
And tries to return truth from a bound world (for life)...
We are all searching for meaning and purpose in life, but it can be hard to find in a world that feels limiting.
Reading into trivial and man's endless pursuit of absolute stuff...
We are all searching for something greater than ourselves, but sometimes we get caught up in trivial things and lose sight of what's important.
Custom-made to fit has simplified exception...
We all have unique experiences, but we try to fit ourselves into predetermined categories and labels.
Accepted the war, the savior, the Saturday morning cartoons
We have all been shaped by our experiences, both good and bad, and they have influenced who we are today.
All convince an unconscious sense of perspective
Our beliefs and values are often shaped by our subconscious, and we may not even be aware of it.
That natural will thin my blood
We are all part of something larger than ourselves, and there is a natural order to things that we cannot fully control.
And capture me and knock me up
Life can be overwhelming and all-consuming, and it's easy to get caught up in its currents.
And color coordinate love. no more...
Love is not something that can be controlled or planned, and we need to let go of our expectations and accept it for what it is.
No desire, no bed time, no venue...
I am feeling lost and purposeless, without any clear direction or goals.
It's the pattern my cycles adhere to...
I am stuck in a cycle of self-doubt and anxiety, and it's hard to break free.
These peaks and valleys I call home and stand for...
Despite the challenges and difficulties, I am committed to my journey and the person I am becoming.
It's hard, it's natural
Life is difficult and unpredictable, but we need to accept it for what it is and find ways to cope.
It's only the beginning to fear death... embrace occurrence
Death is a natural part of life, and we need to accept it and make the most of the time we have.
Heal... to heal... to be the first one to heal
We all have the power to heal ourselves and others, and it starts with taking action.
Is to wake and let artificial
I need to wake up and let go of my fears and doubts, and embrace life for what it is.
The totem pole of rolls and norms is collapsed upon itself
Our societal norms and expectations are shifting and changing, and we need to be adaptable and open to new ideas.
Until we all care... no one will...
We need to work together and care for each other in order to make a difference in the world.
Until we all... no one will
We need to come together and support each other in order to create positive change.
Dose will... request...
We all have the power to make a difference and create change, but it starts with taking action and making a request.
Feel these pieces of me as I would all of you...
We are all connected, and it's important to empathize and understand each other's experiences.
Until we meet... directions to my special place... come hither
I am inviting others to join me on my journey and find our way together.
Contributed by Leo E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
PolarEntLLC
this was one of my favorite dose songs! we did this on a whim! so dope...i have so many more dose songs that we never released....should i release them? let me know @J_Rawls
N.
rawls where the fuck you at?
Casey Painter
Yes please
OG CityWolf
Come on man we need this in 2020
N.
DUDE WTF HAPPENED TO THIS RAWLS?
Peter Kruchowski
I love frickin' Themselves. They kinda combine underground hip-hop with slight trip hop vibe. It's very cool.
decepticonkrew
I would kill for the instrumental. Did they every release an instrumental album? This song is insane
sinicalypse
Raise your hand if you remember scribble jam 97 when a pre-voice dose one battled eminem and juice in the finals --- you see why he got the voice =]
Brandon O'Neal
bring on MORE dose one. some one REALLY needs to put up a studio version of I Love LA by Subtle on here too. Max respect!!!!!
polyrhythmatics
Of course! Crazy that this was done on a whim..incredible.