Dance with the Devil (Immortal Technique song)
| "Dance with the Devil" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Immortal Technique | |
| from the album Revolutionary Vol. 1 | |
| Released | September 18, 2001 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 9:39 |
| Songwriter(s) | Felipe Coronel |
| Producer(s) | 44 Caliber |
| Music video | |
| "Dance with the Devil" on YouTube | |
"Dance with the Devil" is a song by American rapper Immortal Technique from his debut studio album Revolutionary Vol. 1 (2001). Produced by 44 Caliber, it revolves around a teenager who becomes a thug to gain the admiration of other gangsters.
Content
[edit]The first part of the song tells the story of a young man named William "Billy" Jacobs. As narrated by Immortal Technique over a piano-driven instrumental, Billy grew up with no father and a mother who was a recovering drug addict. Over time, he develops an ambition to become a "hustler" out of desire for money and respect. To prove his street credibility, he begins to sell drugs and steal, eventually attempting to join a gang.[1][2][3] As part of an initiation, Billy engages in the gang's attack and violent rape of an innocent woman, whose shirt is covering her face. Billy pulls back her shirt, only to discover the victim is his mother, which leads him to commit suicide by jumping off the roof where the crime occurred. The gang then kills the woman.[1][2][3][4] The story ends with the narrator revealing that he was one of the gang members who participated in the act[3] and is now convinced that the Devil pursues him for it to this day.
The second part of the song is a hidden track featuring a verse from American rapper Diabolic.
Interpretation
[edit]Immortal Technique has addressed the meaning behind the song as well as questions concerning the truth of the story on many occasions. In a 2004 interview with BrownPride.com, he said:
With "Dance with the Devil" it was a true story that I made myself more of a part of when I wrote the song, it became an urban legend and what's sick is that people thought it was about rape and it was really about how we are killing ourselves and destroying the most valuable resource that the Latino/Black community has, our women."[5]
In a 2012 interview on the YouTube channel Montreality, Technique stated in regard to the song, "The only thing I changed about that story was me being on the roof", and that he actually never raped a woman nor was complicit in the act.[6] In a 2022 podcast interview with Bootleg Kev, Technique again maintained his innocence and said he can take people to the building where the incident happened in Harlem.[7]
Technique has also claimed that such crimes similar to those depicted in the song's narrative happen every day in every country and city.[6][8][9][10]
Reception
[edit]Complex placed the song at number 10 on their list of "The 25 Most Violent Rap Songs of All Time".[3] The third verse of the song was ranked number four on Highsnobiety's list of "The 25 Scariest Rap Verses".[11]
In a 2020 interview with HipHopDX, Immortal Technique said that "Dance with the Devil" has globally become one of his most well-known songs.[12]
Samples
[edit]"Dance With the Devil" samples "(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story" by Francis Lai, "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins, and "Survival of the Fittest" by Mobb Deep. The hidden track with Diabolic contains a sample of "Sonata for Viola and Harpsichord – 1st Mvt" by Johann Sebastian Bach.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Findlay, Mitch (May 20, 2020). "The Art Of Storytelling, With A Twist". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ a b "The Art Of Storytelling: 10 Great Stories Told Through Rap Songs". HipHopDX. June 29, 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ a b c d Ettelson, Robbie (May 15, 2013). "The 25 Most Violent Rap Songs of All Time". Complex. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ Whatley, Jack (February 16, 2022). "Behind the Mic: The story behind Immortal Technique song 'Dance with the Devil'". Hip Hop Hero. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ Garcia III, Gerardo (2004). "Immortal Technique - Revolutionary Vol. 2". BrownPride.com. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ a b "IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE x MONTREALITY - Interview". YouTube. March 8, 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ "Immortal Technique on "Dance With The Devil" Being a True Story". YouTube. November 8, 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ "Immortal Technique - Explaining Dance With the Devil". YouTube. September 25, 2007. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ Tardio, Andres (August 1, 2011). "Ms. Lauryn Hill, Immortal Technique & Rage Against the Machine Perform at L.A. Rising Festival". HipHopDX. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ Martinez, Cameron (November 17, 2019). "Immortal Technique Teaches Houston A History Lesson". Houston Press. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ Schwartz, Danny (October 31, 2019). "The 25 Scariest Rap Verses". Highsnobiety. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ "Immortal Technique Explains "Dance With The Devil" Impact On His Career". YouTube. June 25, 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2023.