| Dumb It Down | |
|---|---|
 | |
| by Styles Of Beyond | |
| from the album Reseda Beach | |
| Working title: | Get Stupid'r |
| Recorded: | 2006-2007 |
| Released: | October 23, 2012 |
| Format: | Digital, CD |
| Samples: | The Trashmen - Surfin' Bird The Meters - Handclapping Song |
| Writer: | Takbir Bashir, Chad Aaron Bromley, Ryan Matthew Maginn, Mike Shinoda |
| Producer: | Chad Bromley, Mike Shinoda |
| Label: | Dirty Version Records, Tokyo Sex Whale Records |
| Reseda Beach tracklist | |
Disc 2:
| |
"Dumb It Down" is the ninth song on Reseda Beach, the third studio album by Styles Of Beyond.
Background
"Dumb It Down", originally "Get Stupid'r", was co-produced by Apathy and Mike Shinoda in 2007 for Styles Of Beyond's third studio album, Reseda Beach. Besides the name change, the song had to be completely redone due to samples.[1] The final version samples "Surfin' Bird" by The Trashmen and "Handclapping Song" by The Meters. The lyrical content of the song is about how the group needed to adapt their creative process to reach a mainstream audience due to being signed to a major label at the time. Ryu explained Mike's role in this, "He polished this record for us because we were on a major label when we did this, we couldn’t just necessarily go in there and do 68-bar verses on every song and no hooks and stuff like that so it had to be somewhat acceptable for the label so he helped polish our sound a little bit."[2]
Styles Of Beyond were signed to Linkin Park's label Machine Shop Recordings after the Fort Minor tour wrapped up in Japan. Shortly after, the started putting the finishing touches on their third studio album, Reseda Beach, but due to disagreements between Linkin Park and Warner Bros. Records, the album wouldn't come out until 2012.[3]
Linkin Park got involved in a dispute with their label, Warner Bros Records in April 2005. Representativess of Linkin Park inquired about the band receiving a cut of the label's upcoming stock sale. The label refused, stating that none of the artists signed would be getting paid. The band, then, felt the label would not be able to financially market and promote their future endeavors.[4] Linkin Park's issues with the label were resolved in December of 2005, and the band started work on their third studio album,[5] but the ongoing differences between Warner Bros. and Machine Shop's views on the creative and non-creative aspects of their albums led Machine Shop Records to be put on indefinite hiatus.
Regarding Styles Of Beyond, Warner Bros. wasn't as thrilled about the record as the band were and weren't committed to spending a healthy budget on it either. The label intended to limit the hours and funds spent on the release and the band felt that by limiting the attention put on the record, the record would never get a chance. After a lot of disagreements, the label agreed to let the band explore other options, like releasing the album independently.[6]
After they got out of the record deal, Styles Of Beyond were tired of the whole situation. They didn't have the energy to put the album out and just didn't care about it anymore. The group was put on hiatus and their members started pursuing other projects. It was only after years of being asked by fans about the album that Celph Titled convinced the group to finally release it.[2]
Versions
Note: Only the date of the very first release of each version is listed.
| Title | Album | Length | Recorded | Released | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dumb It Down | Reseda Beach | 3:34 | 2006-2007 | October 23, 2012 |
|
Personnel
- Ryu - Rap
- Tak - Rap
- Mike Shinoda - Producer
- Apathy - Producer
Production (Album)
- Brian Gardner - Mastering
- Mike Shinoda - Executive-Producer
- Vin Skully - Recording
Lyrics
I dumb it d-d-d-down, d-d-d down down
I dumb it d-d-d-down, d-d-d down down
I dumb it d-d-d-down, d-d-d down down
I dumb it d-d-d-down, d-d-d down get down
Now
Get stupider, get g-g-get stupider
Get stupider, get g-g-get stupider
Get stupider, get g-g-get stupider
Get stupider, get g-g-get stupider
They told me dumb it down
The song is too underground
They wanted some other style
Or something with southern bounce
But this is southern Cal, sucker we rocking L.A
So we don't 'Walk It Out' unless you get shot in the leg
I tried to keep it simple and maybe create a dance
I need a single and I gotta repay the advance
So get stupider, pockets are getting poofier
Shooting up the chart and won't stop when it hits Jupiter
Damn, if you don't want your band's stock to plummet
You need a hook so catchy your dog spot can hum it
So understand it's a game, but you gotta get paid
So if life is handing me lemons I'mma make a meringue
I let it rain
Hot Chicken Noodle Soup in your seeds
Make you chew on some Laffy Taffy till you ruin your teeth
Any musical feat's possible if you want a hit
Just grab an 808 kit and dumb it down a little bit
I dumb it d-d-d-down, d-d-d down down
I dumb it d-d-d-down, d-d-d down down
I dumb it d-d-d-down, d-d-d down down
I dumb it d-d-d-down, d-d-d down get down
Now
Get stupider, get g-g-get stupider
Get stupider, get g-g-get stupider
Get stupider, get g-g-get stupider
Get stupider, get g-g-get stupider
Yeah, I dumb it down but I'm sticking to the truth
And I don't mean no soda with no Chicken Noodle Soup
See people are a medium, marshmallowed up
Listen to the stereo inside a small yellow bus
And now they going mad with some crazy type of
Trend where grown men rap in baby diapers
And I could care less who distributes the coke now
I got more respect for all the members in O-Town
You dig it?
Cause now the streets can tell
So stop picking all your lyrics out your Speak N Spell
Now you in the top 10 but who writes it sucks?
Try picking up a pen in your life for once
But what?
It's too hot, puffing kush in the Rover
He should be on the block getting pushed in a stroller
Looks like they need a hit for the year so here's one
Just a little something for the preschool eardrums
I dumb it d-d-d-down, d-d-d down down
I dumb it d-d-d-down, d-d-d down down
I dumb it d-d-d-down, d-d-d down down
I dumb it d-d-d-down, d-d-d down get down
Now
Get stupider, get g-g-get stupider
Get stupider, get g-g-get stupider
Get stupider, get g-g-get stupider
Get stupider, get g-g-get stupider
I dumb it down for ya
I dumb it down
I dumb it down for ya
I dumb it down
I dumb it down for ya
I dumb it down
I dumb it down for ya
I dumb it down
Get stupider, get g-g-get stupider
Get stupider, get g-g-get stupider
Get stupider, get g-g-get stupider
Get stupider, get g-g-get stupider
I dumb it d-d-d-down, d-d-d down down
I dumb it d-d-d-down, d-d-d down down
I dumb it d-d-d-down, d-d-d down down
I dumb it d-d-d-down, d-d-d down get down
I dumb it d-d-d-down, d-d-d down down
I dumb it d-d-d-down, d-d-d down down
I dumb it d-d-d-down, d-d-d down down
I dumb it d-d-d-down, d-d-d down get down
"Get stupid"
Gallery
-
Reseda Beach
External Links
- Dumb It Down: YouTube
References
- ↑ Ryu Live Chat Last Night - Newswire - Linkin Park Live, April 16, 2009
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ryu Of Styles Of Beyond Explains Long Delays Of "Reseda Beach," Mike Shinoda's Involvement | HipHopDX, November 25, 2012
- ↑ Fort Minor Fans: The Album You Thought You’d Never Hear. « Mike Shinoda's Blog, September 27, 2012
- ↑ Billboard, May 2005
- ↑ New York Times, December 2005
- ↑ STYLES OF BEYOND and Machine Shop « Mike Shinoda's Blog, January 15, 2009