Thievery Corporation is on the Eighteenth Street Lounge record label named after the DC club owned by Eric Hilton, but several of their singles and EP's appear on the 4AD and !K7 labels.
Formed in the summer of 1995 at D.C.’s Eighteenth Street Lounge. Rob Garza and Lounge co-owner Eric Hilton bonded over club life, dub, bossa nova and jazz records, then decided to see what would come of mixing all these in a recording studio. From this, the duo was born and their self started label Eighteenth Street Lounge Music began to emerge on an international level.
The duo caught the ears of underground DJ’s with their first two 12" offerings, Shaolin Satellite and 2001: a Spliff Odyssey. Their 1997 debut LP, Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi began to both define a new genre of electronic music and connect with an international community of like-minded souls. Though the terminology has varied (downtempo, chill out, left field and a myriad of other permutations), they have maintained their unique musical standards for the duration of their popularity.
In 2002, they released The Richest Man in Babylon on their ESL label. This fifteen track album is similar in sound and timbre to their earlier 2000 release, The Mirror Conspiracy, and features performances by vocalists Emiliana Torrini, Pam Bricker, and Loulou.
In 2005 they released The Cosmic Game, which has a darker, more psychedelic sound than The Richest Man in Babylon. The album also featured more high-profile guest singers on it, including Perry Farrell, David Byrne, and Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips.
In 2006, the group released Versions, a selection of remixes done by Thievery Corporation for other artists and toured the United States, playing at Lollapalooza.
The group released their fifth studio album, Radio Retaliation, on 23 September 2008.
The language of the group's lyrics are as diverse as English, Spanish, French, Persian, Portuguese, Romanian and Hindi. This reflects the group's global feel and collaborative structure.
They were the opening act on August 1, 2009 for Sir Paul McCartney at FedExField in Landover, Maryland.
On July 27, 2010, Babylon Central, the cinematic directorial debut of founding member Eric Hilton, was released. Set (and shot) in Washington, D.C., the film follows tripwire events in the interconnected lives of its characters, each influencing power brokers' schemes to manipulate international currencies.
In June 2011, Thievery Corporation released their sixth album, Culture of Fear.
In January 2012, Thievery Corporation launched a remixes contest in conjunction with Dubspot.
.38.45
Thievery Corporation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A thievery number
The corporation
38.45
That's a rude boy number
We come annihilate the blood clot nation,
Since you must learn give your sense to me
And watch me make burn
Hear me what I say
The song ".38.45" by Thievery Corporation can be interpreted as a call to action against oppression and corruption. The lyrics suggest a sense of rebellion and urgency, with the numbers 38.45 being referenced as "a rude boy number" - a term typically used to describe young men in Jamaica who are associated with gangs or political movements. The line "We come annihilate the blood clot nation, build it up from the foundation" can be seen as a powerful declaration of intent to overthrow unjust systems and rebuild them from scratch. This sentiment is further reinforced in lines like "Since you must learn give your sense to me and watch me make burn", which suggest a desire for knowledge and a willingness to take action.
Overall, the song conveys a strong sense of social and political awareness, with Thievery Corporation using their platform to encourage listeners to stand up against oppression and fight for change. The use of Jamaican patois and references to Rastafarianism also contribute to the song's rebellious and revolutionary spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
38.45
This is a secret code used by the Thievery Corporation.
A thievery number
This number is associated with the Thievery Corporation and their activities.
The corporation
Referring to the Thievery Corporation and their organized group.
That's a rude boy number
This is a term used to describe the number as cool or impressive.
We come annihilate the blood clot nation,
We, the Thievery Corporation, come to destroy corrupt organizations and rebuild them from the ground up.
Build it up from the foundation
Start from the basic principles and build it up with a strong structure.
Since you must learn give your sense to me
If you want to learn, listen and provide your attention to what I have to say.
And watch me make burn
Observe as I create change and bring about destruction to the corrupted system.
Hear me what I say
Pay attention to my words and heed my message.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RICHARD ERIC HILTON, ROBERTO MANUEL GARZA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind