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.
Roman Is As Roman Does
Themselves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A to the O to the R to the T to the A
To the blade of the day and the stay of decay
Left embedded when I’m deaded
In the sing bone poem stone of say push it
Sun moon sickle to endeavor of old
It goestake take take in the 200O
To the human code
More hollow Modern motto for
The walk dead toll
And Into the narrows we March
You want it more barren and stark
These children don’t have hero’s
And they’re liking the dark
Has the uppercase I so stoned the heart
I’d rather someone steal my hands
Than lay theirs red on my art
Must one make poem to fist
Then put rest to wish and resolve to
Wouldn’t daughter in a gutter like this
So can one shatter as a vessel
In a world of shell
If so, I only heart in hell
Did Ya rip it did ya burn it
Did ya hear it when you heard it
Is you is or is you ain’t bright light
In that broad dark of the trite
And all things blues thief in the night
Unsober soldier of the stereotype
Are you abuse of flesh blood and the mic
Filling out a hollow with life
Or is this to you
What rap had always sounded like
Prey tell, How does it feel to fold
Selling not man but the mold
For another long lick of the coal
And in the wake of such, waste no breath
One must you see my science is death
How death? More deathful than the sicking of
This world on an infant
More deathful than the waste of
Freezing meaning in instant
So Do you just shell or do
You only heart in hell
Tell me wealthy singster prey, tell
Does the great white sugeknight above you
Comb your hair while I hell… i hell
The lyrics to Themselves's song "Roman Is As Roman Does" are quite abstract and open to interpretation. The song seems to explore themes of personal identity, societal expectations, and artistic expression. The first verse speaks of a heart in hell, suggesting a sense of being trapped or isolated. The mention of a blade, decay, and a sing bone poem stone indicate a struggle with mortality and the power of words. There is a sense of contradiction and discomfort, as the lyrics express a desire for someone to steal the singer's hands rather than leave their mark on their art.
The second verse delves into questions of authenticity and artistic integrity. The use of language is ambiguous, with references to bright light, the trite, and the blues. There is a questioning of whether the singer is perpetuating stereotypes or actually bringing life to their art. The lyrics criticize the idea of selling out and conforming to a mold. The use of the phrase "in the wake of such, waste no breath" suggests a weariness and cynicism towards the music industry or society as a whole. Ultimately, the lyrics ask whether the listener is merely a shell or the only heart in hell, suggesting a longing for true individuality and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
The only heart in hell
I am the only one who truly feels and experiences suffering
A to the O to the R to the T to the A
I am emphasizing my individuality and uniqueness
To the blade of the day and the stay of decay
I face the hardships and challenges of each day, witnessing the deterioration of things around me
Left embedded when I’m deaded
Even after I die, my impact will remain ingrained in the world
In the sing bone poem stone of say push it
Through my artistic expression, I strive to communicate deep emotions and thoughts
Sun moon sickle to endeavor of old
This refers to the timeless pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment
It goestake take take in the 200O
Through the passage of time, the thirst for knowledge continues to grow
We more off order of importance
In this world, we prioritize things that hold little significance
To the human code
We conform to societal expectations and norms
More hollow Modern motto for
Modern ideals lack depth and meaning
The walk dead toll
We are essentially lifeless beings, walking through existence without true purpose
And Into the narrows we March
We continue on a narrow path, constrained by our circumstances
You want it more barren and stark
You desire a world that is devoid of emotions and simplicity
These children don’t have hero’s
The younger generation lacks role models and inspirational figures
And they’re liking the dark
They find solace and comfort in darkness and despair
Has the uppercase I so stoned the heart
The ego has hardened and numbed the capacity for empathy and compassion
I’d rather someone steal my hands
I would prefer to have my abilities and talents taken away than have someone harm my artistic expression
Than lay theirs red on my art
I would rather protect my art from being tainted or criticized
Must one make poem to fist
Is it necessary to channel anger and frustration into art?
Then put rest to wish and resolve to
By expressing myself through poetry, I can let go of desires and find inner peace
Wouldn’t daughter in a gutter like this
Is this the kind of world we want our future generations to inherit?
So can one shatter as a vessel
Can I break free from societal expectations and constraints?
In a world of shell
In a world where people are merely going through the motions
If so, I only heart in hell
If that's the case, then I am the only one who truly feels alive amidst this emptiness
Did Ya rip it did ya burn it
Did you fully engage with and experience what life had to offer?
Did ya hear it when you heard it
Were you truly present and attentive to the moments that mattered?
Is you is or is you ain’t bright light
Are you a source of illumination and positivity?
In that broad dark of the trite
In a world full of cliches and banality
And all things blues thief in the night
Everything that brings sadness and melancholy sneaks upon us silently
Unsober soldier of the stereotype
Being trapped in societal expectations and stereotypes without true self-awareness
Are you abuse of flesh blood and the mic
Do you exploit your own body and talents for personal gain and fame?
Filling out a hollow with life
Attempting to find meaning and purpose in a world that feels empty
Or is this to you
Is this what you genuinely enjoy and find significant?
What rap had always sounded like
Is this the true essence and representation of the rap genre?
Prey tell, How does it feel to fold
I ask you, how does it feel to conform and surrender to societal norms?
Selling not man but the mold
Exploiting and selling a manufactured version of oneself rather than staying true to personal identity
For another long lick of the coal
In exchange for temporary success and recognition
And in the wake of such, waste no breath
In the aftermath of such superficial pursuits, there is no point in speaking
One must you see my science is death
One must understand that conformity and prioritizing superficiality leads to spiritual death
How death? More deathful than the sicking of
In what way? More destructive and detrimental than the act of making someone ill
This world on an infant
This world imposing its negative influence on an innocent child
More deathful than the waste of
More destructive than the squandering and misuse of
Freezing meaning in instant
Preserving significance and depth in a fleeting moment
So Do you just shell or do
Are you merely pretending and conforming, or do you truly express yourself?
You only heart in hell
You are the only one who truly feels and understands the suffering and emptiness
Tell me wealthy singster prey, tell
Enlighten me, privileged singer who preys on your audience, enlighten me
Does the great white sugeknight above you
Do those in powerful positions manipulate and control you?
Comb your hair while I hell… i hell
Do they take care of you while I suffer... while I suffer
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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