Deftones - 7 Words | 2024 |

Decades later, even as Deftones evolved into a sophisticated, atmospheric art-rock band, "7 Words" remains the one song they almost have to play. It’s a time capsule of their adolescent rage—a reminder of a time when they were just kids from Sacramento who were tired of being told what to do.

The story begins in the early 90s, long before the world knew the term "nu-metal." Chino was working at a Tower Records warehouse, dealing with the daily friction of being a young person of color in a space where he felt constantly looked down upon by authority figures—specifically the police and "the man." deftones - 7 Words

The "7 words" of the title actually refer to the explosive chorus: "You have no right / Fuck with me." (The count comes from the seven syllables/words of that defiant hook). Decades later, even as Deftones evolved into a

"7 Words" wasn’t just a song; it was a pressure valve for a nineteen-year-old Chino Moreno working a dead-end job in Sacramento. "7 Words" wasn’t just a song; it was