While releasing series of singles and EPs, the group played various unpromoted and experimental shows through the year, some of which are chronicled in the liner notes of later releases. Their debut album, Angles Without Edges, was released on the unfortunate date of September 11, 2001 and was ignored by virtually everyone, except those who listened, and loved it. An album of Stevie Wonder covers titled Stevie was recorded during their formative period was also released later in 2003.
Madlib envisioned something similar to a Wu-Tang Clan trajectory for the group, with each of the subsequent records released as different phases of the group under their individual names. Several new performers came into the frey during this period, many of whom performed on Madlib's Shades of Blue, his remix album for Blue Note. Expanded beyond the original five members of YNQ, the greater collective grew into Yesterdays Universe.
As early as 2003, Madlib's all-inclusive approach to expanding Yesterdays Universe was causing tensions among the original core group. Yesterdays New Quintet announced a breakup in 2007, but by this time several new groups had already recorded dozens of tracks under Madlib's direction: Young Jazz Rebels, The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble, Sound Directions, Jahari Massamba Unit, and Jackson Conti, just to name a few. The compilation Yesterdays Universe (2007) served to announce these new groups. Madlib Medicine Show #7: High Jazz (2010) introduces even more.
At this point we should address the frequent claims that the five members of Yesterdays New Quintet and the entire Yesterdays Universe collective are fictional aliases, mere figment of Madlib's hazy imagination. Unfortunately, our agreement with Yesterdays New Quintet/Yesterdays Universe prohibits us from divulging any biographical data about the group members or commenting on their physical status in space and time. We can, however, point out that there are documented live performances, and Yesterdays Universe artists who are known for their work outside of the Madlib circle – Karriem Riggins, Ivan Conti, Todd Simon, and Dan Ubick among them. But due to the private nature of Madlib and the members of Yesterdays Universe, we can say no more.
Too High
Yesterday's New Quintet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do do dodo do dodo
Dodo dodo do do
Dodo do do do dodo
Do do do do dodo do
Dodo dodo dodo
I'm too high
But I ain't touched the sky
I'm too high
I'm too high
But I ain't touched the sky
She's a girl in a dream
She sees a four eyed cartoon monster on the T.V. screen
She takes another puff and says
It's a crazy scene
That red is green
And she's a tangerine
I'm too high
I'm too high
But I ain't left the ground
I'm too high
I'm too high
I hope I never ever come down
She's the girl in her life
But her world's a superficial paradise
She had a chance to make it big more than once or twice
But no dice
She wasn't very nice
Ooh
Dodo do do do dodo
Do do dodo do dodo
Do do do do do do
Dodo do do do dodo
Do do dodo do dodo
Dodo dodo
Dodo dodo
Dodo dodo
I'm too high
I'm too high
I can't ever touch the sky
I'm too high
I'm so high
I feel like I'm about to die
She's a girl of the past
I guess that I got to her at last
A did you hear the news about the girl today
She passed away
What did her friend say
They said she's too high
Too high
Can't hang around anyway
Dodo do do do dodo
Do do dodo do dodo
do...do...do...
do...do...do...
do
The first thing that stands out about the lyrics to Yesterday's New Quintet's "Too High" is the repetition of the phrase "I'm too high." This repetition creates a sense of disorientation and confusion, which is amplified by the psychedelic imagery in the verses. The girl in the dream sees a four-eyed cartoon monster on the TV screen, and the colors of the world are all mixed up – "red is green and she's a tangerine." The song is a commentary on the dangers of drug use – the girl in the dream is "too high" and can't come down, and the girl in real life "passed away" because she was "too high" and "couldn't hang around anyway."
The chorus seems to be a plea for help – "I'm too high, but I ain't touched the sky" – and the repetition of the phrase "I'm too high" creates a sense of urgency. The lyrics are simple and repetitive, but they convey a powerful message about the dangers of drug use and the feeling of being trapped in a psychedelic haze.
In conclusion, "Too High" by Yesterday's New Quintet is a song about the dangers of drug use and the feeling of being trapped in a psychedelic haze. The repetition of the phrase "I'm too high" creates a sense of disorientation and confusion, and the psychedelic imagery in the verses reinforces this feeling. The chorus is a plea for help, and the repetition of the phrase "I'm too high" creates a sense of urgency.
Line by Line Meaning
Dodo do do do dodo
The sound of the music.
Do do dodo do dodo
The continuation of the sound of the music.
Dodo dodo do do
The continuation of the sound of the music.
I'm too high
The artist is feeling the euphoric effects of drugs.
I'm too high
The artist reaffirms their elevated state
But I ain't touched the sky
The singer is not literally flying or physically ascending above the ground after taking drugs.
She's a girl in a dream
Refers to someone who is lost in their own reality during the drug-fueled experience.
She sees a four eyed cartoon monster on the T.V. screen
The artist describes a hallucinatory experience.
She takes another puff and says
The individual takes more drugs to achieve a high state of mind.
It's a crazy scene
The individual is living in a surreal world of their own perception.
That red is green
The individual's perceptions are distorted and confused.
And she's a tangerine
The individual's perception of themselves may also be distorted by the drug use.
I'm too high
Reiteration of the singer's high state.
I'm too high
The individual reaffirms their drug-influenced state of mind.
But I ain't left the ground
The singer acknowledges that their high state is not a physical ascent into the air.
I'm too high
The artist is still experiencing the effects of the drugs.
I hope I never ever come down
The artist does not want the drug-induced high to end.
She's the girl in her life
Referring to someone with a selfish nature living a superficial and privileged life.
But her world's a superficial paradise
The individual inhabits a world that is devoid of depth and meaning.
She had a chance to make it big more than once or twice
The individual has had opportunities for success more than once in their life.
But no dice
The individual's poor behavior and/or choices resulted in missed opportunities.
She wasn't very nice
The individual was not a kind or likable person.
They said she's too high
Referring to the individual who has passed away, characterized as being overly intoxicated.
Too high
Reiteration of the individual's extreme elevated state.
Can't hang around anyway
The individual's extreme drug use may have contributed to their death, making it impossible for them to continue existing in this world.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: STEVIE WONDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Patrick Pender
This track is a little gem,madlib is my favourite modern day hip hop producer,This album has his style all over it esp the drum playing!
Pls no
Madlib is a great musician.
bigjunefan
he is so badass he samples himself
MarkHaze
Madlib is a genius!!! he does so many styles of music. Its crazy just thinking about how he did the Quasimoto albums while listening to this. NOTHING alike at all. I love his more soulful beats the best. But I also love his funky beats like this one.
RecklessWonders
i love madlib.. i love stevie wonder.. bring on more yesterday's new quintet
Kai The MC
Listened to YNQ album for the first time high out of my mind. One of my greatest moment
Yeehee
top notch production!
James Hyde
Damn love YNQ, trippy and funky can't be beat. That label is spinning the wrong direction though... ha ha
Kromo K
Got new speakers in my car this never sounded so good madlib the bad kid
3KeepDaBeat6
this is the jam. for sure.