Das Racist Breaks Up: 5 Reasons To Celebrate [VIDEOS]
Das Racist broke up earlier today. For fans it's a sad occasion. For most people in the world the news that a Brooklyn-based hipster Rap duo broke up is meaningless. But me, I'm celebrating.
Confused? Let me start at the beginning.
1. "Combination Pizza Hut And Taco Bell"
Das Racist was Himanshu "Heems" Suri and Victor "Kool A.D." Vasquez (along with hype man Ashok "Dapwell" Kondabolu). The duo met at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, the same school I went to, and although they graduated before I was ever a student I never went far on campus without hearing their music.
I was never a fan. I guess I enjoyed their first big hit, the extremely repetitive "Pizza Hut Taco Bell," but only because of that one line, "I've got a pizza gut (Uh)/ I've got that pizza butt. (No)."
2. "Michael Jackson"
The suddenly, Das Racist went from joke to serious Hip Hop act. I never understood how they made the leap, especially since their new album was packed with songs even worse than their debut single.
If someone had asked me as a college freshman whether the guys who wrote that song about Pizza Hut and Taco Bell would get really big and then release an album of somehow even more terrible songs I would have reported them to the dean.
3. You Oughta Know
But before I could graduate Das Racist had dropped a new album, which Pitchfork decided to don with the label "Best New Music." At this point I sighed and closed my laptop, but it wasn't over. Instead, Das Racist set out to personally torture me. I can't explain it unless somehow they built a time machine in 2011, travelled forward in time, and read this article.
4. Das Racist at Carnegie Hall with Razhel for a Tibet Benefit
In early 2012 I bought a ticket for a Tibet Benefit concert at Carnegie Hall. Not because I care, but because I wanted to see Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, James Blake and Antony Hegarty play live. At the last minute Das Racist was added to the lineup. I was worried, but figured they wouldn't play for long. I was wrong.
Lou Reed played 3 songs. James Blake played two. Laurie Anderson played just one. Das Racist got two separate sets. During the second set of songs they even incorporated an American flag into the performance, first cuddling with the flag and then dragging it behind them as the paraded across the storied stage.
This was the last straw. From that night on I hated Das Racist.
5. "Michael Jackson" Live at Union Square, NY For May Day 2012
Das Racist spurned me one more time.
On May Day 2012, while the streets of New York City were flooded with protesters, celebrations and music, I was stuck at my desk in the financial district, unsure what to write about the Occupy Wall Street -organized event. I refreshed Twitter for a while before uncovering a live stream of Tom Morello and his guitarmy (a massive parade of musicians and singers) on their way through the city. I promptly embedded the live video in a new article and published it online.
After arriving at Union Square the music really started. Until eventually Das Racist took the stage, and, well... you can imagine what happened next.
So that's my story, and that's why I can't stop smiling ever since hearing that Das Racist is finally dead. The final score may be Das Racist: 5, Me: 1, but in the end I still won!