Deftest

"Deftest" is the second track on the Xero 1997 cassette tape given by the band to record label executives in order to try to get signed.

Background

"Deftest" was an early Xero demo written by Mike Shinoda and Mark Wakefield around the same time as "Dialate", before the band was formed. It was first mentioned by Mike on Twitch on October 15, 2020. He was questioned about it on October 20, to which he said, "LPLive is now trying to get locked on to Deftest as the new Pictureboard. Pictureboard is a pay off. Other demos, not so much. If you were to hear that, you would not be... I strongly suggest you don't start putting your attention on Deftest. That is not a thing to do. Pictureboard, you hear it, "Wow that's cool, I'm so glad we were so focused on that song." No I never said Pictureboard was a bad song. It has Chester on it. Deftest, Mark and I did like a four track cassette version of it and it sounds like shit. You guys don't want that, trust me. It's D-E-F-T-E-S-T by the way, not D-E-A-F, because Mark was a big fan of the Deftones. And we were just testing out ideas. So you can tell just right away, from the name itself, that it is not a grail. This is not an incredible fucking thing. Trust me on this."

Versions

Note: Only the date of the very first release of each version is listed.

Title	Album	Length	Recorded	Released	Notes
Deftest	Xero	3:31	1996	1997

Personnel

• Mike Shinoda
• Mark Wakefield
• Brad Delson
• Rob Bourdon
• Dave Farrell
• Joe Hahn

Lyrics

A certified chemist with a bachelor in beats
And break a beaker on your brain
And turn your mind to minced meats
Stethoscope is headphones to the heart of CD’s
Hundred three BPM equals ninety degrees
Celsius, adjust your ventilator to ten (Ten)
Inject the fluid flow into the hearts of men
Through IV’s, in search for a sample of hits
And make the Frankenstein of funk out of musical bits

I’m turning off my head
I’m going through these changes
I want you to be here
I’m turning off my hеad
I’m going through these changes
I want you to bе here

Laboratories storage from the depths of the debt
Test the positive flatline on the opposition you slept
Crept in through the halls of my ICU
Three hundred CCs of some act right juice
Injected into the body with a thick syringe
Your whack rhyme binge will be stopped due operation (they cut me down)
Like medical meditation send your brain on vacation
Musical medication (good patient)
As you begin to lose your vision
I pick up my pencil and begin to make incisions
On your head with doughlet and plant my text
Bass lifts and snare transplants in your deftest

I’m turning off my head
I’m going through these changes
I want you to be here
I’m turning off my hеad
I’m going through these changes
I want you to bе here

I don't give a fuck about who you are for a second
I don't give a fuck about who you are for a second
I don't give a fuck about who you are for a second
I don't give a fuck about who you are for a second
I don't give a fuck about who you are for a second
I don't give a fuck about who you are for a second
I don't give a fuck about who you are for a second
I don't give a fuck about who you are for a second
I don't give a fuck about who you are for a second
I don't give a fuck about who you are for a second
I don't give a fuck about who you are for a second
I don't give a fuck about who you are for a second
I don't give a fuck about who you are for a second
I don't give a fuck about who you are for a second
(I want you to bleed me)
I don't give a fuck about who you are for a second
I don't give a fuck about who you are for a second
I don't give a fuck about who you are for a second
(I want you to bleed me)
I don't give a fuck about who you are for a second
I don't give a fuck about who you are for a second
I don't give a fuck about who you are for a second

I’m turning off my head
I’m going through these changes
I want you to be here
I’m turning off my hеad
I’m going through these changes
I want you to bе here