"
This beast caged in the heart of the city
Circumvents common speech
Gutter tongue kept filthy
Histories passed in handshakes
Wisdom achieved
Victory's always fleeting for these pseudo Mcs
Trapped by narrow minds
Eyes blinded
Political prisoners terrorized in confinement
Confirms what we learned of US police state
Asphyxiate the people they claim to liberate"
There are few in the music making business today writing lyrics this clever and this passionately about an important subject they believe in. Enter Dälek (pronounced
Dia - leck); an alternative hip-hop duo from New Jersey concerning themselves not with guns, bitches and hoes but oppression, poverty, religion and ignorance. MC Dälek himself drops plenty of tantalising lines throughout the record, delivered with such articulacy that the words themselves become a delight for the senses. “
Asymmetric hatred only feeds apathetic / Volatile vocals turned thoughts kinetic / Never knew your happiness could just be injected / Belt to clenched jaw teeth hurt all infected”; the perfect example of his great inter-rhyming skills.
However, what really stands out about Dälek is the production.
This is as dark, noisy and abrasive as it gets folks. Oktopus seems intent on putting the sound of the Apocalypse to record. These are loud in your face industrial beats, turntable scratches, reverberating electronic sounds and cacophonous noise that rise up in a wall of sound. Add the vocals as well and there is almost too much going on and yet each compliment each other - magnifying the power each hold in their grasp. This is the power of art against social injustice. And it’s ear shattering.
Believe me when I say this isn't your every day hip hop.
