Dälek

Dälek is an American experimental hip-hop group from Newark, United States, active since 1998. The group is known for combining hip hop with industrial, noise and dark ambient elements, and it is also associated with conscious hip hop and experimental hip hop.

Formation and line-up

The group forms in Newark in 1998. Its current members are MC Dälek, Mike Mare and The Oktopus. In earlier line-ups, the group includes MC dälek on vocals and production, Mike Manteca on electronics and production, and rEK on production.

Sound and style

Dälek’s music is described as dark, noisy and atmospheric. Its approach draws on industrial acts such as Einstürzende Neubauten, the layered noise of My Bloody Valentine and the dense sample-based collage style of Public Enemy. Sampling is central to the group’s method, and its music often uses a musical base that sits outside typical hip hop structures, which makes the group difficult to categorise neatly. Over time, it is labelled in different ways, including trip hop, glitch-hop and metal-shoegaze-hip-hop.

MC Dälek describes the group’s work as hip hop in a broad historical sense, rooted in collecting different sounds and influences rather than fitting a narrow modern definition of the genre.

Touring and collaborations

The group often tours with artists from very different styles, including Godflesh, Isis, Prince Paul, Melvins, De La Soul, RJD2 and Lovage. It also works on collaborative releases with a wide range of artists and groups, including Techno Animal, Kid 606, Velma, Faust, My Education, The Young Gods and Charles Hayward.

Releases

Dälek’s studio albums include Negro Necro Nekros, From Filthy Tongue of Gods and Griots, Absence, Abandoned Language, Gutter Tactics, Untitled, Asphalt for Eden, Endangered Philosophies, Precipice and Brilliance of a Falling Moon.

Its other releases include Megaton / Classic Homicide, a split collaboration with Techno Animal; Ruin It, with Kid 606; Dälek vs. Velma; Derbe Respect, Alder, with Faust; Streets All Amped; My Education vs. Dälek; Deadverse Massive Vol. 1, a rarities collection from 1999 to 2006; Griots and Gods - Les Eurockeennes Festival Belfort, a live collaboration with The Young Gods; and HAYWARDxDÄLEK, with Charles Hayward.