Dälek

(2002) From Filthy Tongue of Gods and Griots / V2

The word on the street is that Dälek should billed as alternative or metal-infused hip hop, but I can't help but feel the people who do so are missing the mark. Hip hop is fundamentally a derivative art form; there is no specific sound that you can point to and say 'that is emblematic of hip hop'.

But, I'll turn around and say that Dälek is most certainly a bastion of the philosophy of hip hop. It's about digging through the collective music consciousness for new sounds to appropriate. The sometimes industrial, sometimes prog, sometimes raga-laced beats laid out by Oktopus serve as a solid foundation for MC Dälek's politically polemic verses. Enjoy.