Antoine McColister (born May 11, 1988 in Port St. Lucie, Florida), better k… Read Full Bio ↴Antoine McColister (born May 11, 1988 in Port St. Lucie, Florida), better known by his stage name Ace Hood, is an American rapper signed to DJ Khaled's label, We The Best Music. Following a football injury in the tenth grade he began to seriously consider rapping as a career. In 2007, he met DJ Khaled and gave him his demo tape. Khaled asked Ace to rap over the instrumental of I'm So Hood and then decided to sign him. His debut album, Gutta, was released in 2008 and featured appearances from T-Pain, Rick Ross, Akon, Flo Rida and Trey Songz. His second album, Ruthless, was released in June 2009 and debuted at #23 on the Billboard 200.

PFFFFFF! Yeah right! What are you? The King of Knots? You think you're the freaking King of Tying Knots??

Florida’s heat has been radiating over hip-hop for many years. From the legendary “Uncle” Luke Campbell, Trick Daddy and Trina to DJ Khaled, Flo Rida, T-Pain, Rick Ross and Plies, the sunshine state has always produced hot music. The next artist to emerge from this sizzling climate is Ace Hood, and with an ace on the top of the deck, he is guaranteed to continue Florida’s heat wave.

“I got the name Ace as a child. My family always thought that I would be the one who would succeed in whatever I did,” he explains. “I feel like I’m an army in myself. I carry my own weight and since I represent for the hood, why not attach that to my name?”

Born Antoine McColister in Broward County, Florida, Ace knew he was destined for greatness. After an injury derailed his burgeoning football career, Ace turned to his true passion, rapping. At the age of 17, Ace teamed up with the Broward-County-based entertainment label, Dollaz & Dealz, to record the hit "M.O.E." ("Money Over Everything") which sparked an immediate buzz in South Florida. Ace began to perform and network which helped him gain exposure like never before. After fine-tuning his craft on local crowds, he set his sights on performing for DJ Khaled at his annual birthday bash.

“We was outside the radio station not even trying to get a deal, just hoping to perform at his birthday bash,” he recalls. “We just figured we’d try and perform. He had a contest going on where you had to give a certain amount of reasons why you should perform at the birthday bash. So I was going to rap for him on camera and show him why I was worthy. Although he had to go to a meeting, he came out, looked at me and said I love his image. We handed him a CD and once we did that he listened to it and called my manager that night. He said I love his swag, I hear starvation in his music and I want to take a meeting with him.”

That meeting turned into Ace becoming the first artist signed to DJ Khaled’s label “We the Best” distributed by Def Jam Records. His hot new single “Cash Flow” featuring T-Pain and Rick Ross is currently blazing the radio waves everywhere. “Once I played the song for Rick Ross he loved it and he put his whole swag to it” explains Khaled. “The song was pretty much done but we felt to make it more of a hit record, get somebody like T-Pain who’s running the game right now, on the hook to make it go that much further.” The song is setting the stage for Ace’s debut album, Gutta, with guest appearances from some of rap’s elite including Trick Daddy, Flo Rida, Akon, Plies and production from Cool & Dre, The Runners, Danjahandz and J.U.S.T.C.E. League, Ace’s deck is definitely stacked.

“This album is definitely gonna be a classic,” Ace says confidently. “People are expecting a lot out of me not only because I’m on Khaled’s label, but because everyone knows that the ace is ranked as the highest.”

With an ace up your sleeve, how can you go wrong?

Have Mercy
Ace Hood Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Lord forgive 'em, for they know not what they do
As I walk through that Valley of the Shadow of Death
See no p****

Ugh, so I guess we finally meet again
Should I kill 'em? Well, that all depends
Due to success I started losing friends
N**** sleepin', only reason he don't follow trends

Never was a gimmick, the realest in it, come bear witness
And I see them rappers is actors, boy, they so Robin Givens
I kept it humble, my stomach grumble, my Rollie tickin'
They did me dirty, I may forgive 'em, but won't forget it
And not to mention, they wasn't worthy of what I'm spittin'
It's God's will, and them haters just pray they could prevent it
I'm so addicted to gettin' it, I need intervention
The hottest spittin', your favorite rapper scared to admit it
Have mercy, let me bow my head
I count a million up, that's daily bread
Ain't no more humble in me, s*** is dead
Tell them p**** n****s I ain't never scared
Poor n****s hate to see a n**** win
Say you comin' for me? P**** n****, when?
I been cold-hearted since I lost a twin
I swear I love it when they hate, I made a hit again
I did this before my n****s, them
Use your b**** whenever like a membership
Never bothered over Twitter beef
We'll probably never meet up where the money be
Me and Kiko on the wood, yeah, the money seats
Five grand just to see him hit a three
Balenciagas on a n**** feet
Death to the competition, may they rest in peace

I know my mama prayin' for me, I hope your mama prayin' too
'Cause me and my n****s gotta eat, we'll die over these canned foods
Have mercy on a real n****, 'cause I'm sinnin' every day, Lord
Have mercy on a real n****, 'cause I'mma ride for my n****s, dog

What the f*** these n****s talkin' 'bout?
Load the choppers, bring them problems that they talkin' 'bout
Roll the reefer, no Khalifa, you gon' ride or die
No homicide, it's suicide before I testify
That's on my daughter, I'm runnin' Florida, no kinda, sorta
And I hear 'em talkin', that money callin', them out of order
Yeah, n****, f*** all that talkin', be 'bout it, then
A lot of small talk, there they go runnin' their mouth again
Bold n****, 'til they meet them gorillas
F*** a cavity, my n****s ain't got no fillings
Money is the motive, family is the reason
On my mama, ain't nobody ever came between it
And they never will, streets got me grippin' steel
These scared n****s need to go to church or either Dr. Phil
I tell 'em look me in my eyes, we are not the same
Lion-hearted n****, gunpowder in my veins huh

Have mercy on 'em
Bow your head

I know my mama prayin' for me, I hope your mama prayin' too
'Cause me and my n****s gotta eat, we'll die over these canned foods
Have mercy on a real n****, 'cause I'm sinnin' every day, Lord
Have mercy on a real n****, 'cause I'mma ride for my n****s, dog

P**** n****s still hatin' hard
B****, I just went and bought the boulevard
B****, I just went and blew another check
'Bout my money, catch a bullet tryna intercept
Jumpin' up out that whip, I let my chain swing
Blood up on my sneakers like I gang bang
Every day's a struggle tryna maintain
And free my real n****s in the chain gang
I hear them broke n****s still talkin'
Watch your words, do be very cautious
You threaten mine, you can pick a coffin
Ain't no talkin', tell 'em shock it once it go to sparkin'
Self-made Rollie and a pair of Js
Hood n**** livin' like I'm Bruce Wayne
New Ferrari kickin' like it's Liu Kang
Real n****, ain't it true? 2 Chainz

I know my mama prayin' for me, I hope your mama prayin' too
'Cause me and my n****s gotta eat, we'll die over these canned foods
Have mercy on a real n****, 'cause I'm sinnin' every day, Lord
Have mercy on a real n****, 'cause I'mma ride for my n****s, dog

I'mma ride for my n****s, you better ride for your n****s
Trials and tribulations

Overall Meaning

The opening line of Ace Hood's "Have Mercy" is a plea to God to forgive those who have wronged the artist, a theme that is carried throughout the song. The song looks at the artist's struggles internally, as well as the external issues he encounters with those in his life. The chorus calls for mercy on the artist, as well as his friends, as they struggle to survive in a difficult world.

The first part of the song sees the artist grappling with his success, losing friends along the way, and trying to remain humble. He calls out his contemporaries in the rap game for being phony and not living up to their image as being true to their words. He talks about the addiction to success and wealth and the need for intervention.

In the second half of the song, Ace Hood turns his attention to his enemies, speaking out on his status as a self-made man and the need to protect himself and his friends. He talks about his commitment to his family and his willingness to die for those around him. He ends the song by saying that he will continue to ride for his friends.

Overall, the song is a reflection on the struggles of life, including betrayal, success, and the need for fidelity and loyalty to oneself and one's friends. The artist's plea for mercy is real and heartfelt, emphasizing that life is not easy and that everyone should show compassion for those going through difficult times.

Line by Line Meaning

Lord forgive 'em, for they know not what they do
I'm praying for forgiveness for those who don't understand their actions

As I walk through that Valley of the Shadow of Death
Facing difficult and dangerous situations

See no p****
I'm not interested in fake people or their intentions

Ugh, so I guess we finally meet again
Encountering someone who has crossed paths before

Should I kill 'em? Well, that all depends
Considering retaliation, depending on circumstances

Due to success I started losing friends
Success has caused me to lose friendships

N**** sleepin', only reason he don't follow trends
Someone is not paying attention, avoiding conformity

Never was a gimmick, the realest in it, come bear witness
I've never been fake, I'm the most authentic, see it for yourself

And I see them rappers is actors, boy, they so Robin Givens
Rappers are just acting, pretending to be someone they're not

I kept it humble, my stomach grumble, my Rollie tickin'
I remained modest, despite hunger and the constant ticking of my expensive watch

They did me dirty, I may forgive 'em, but won't forget it
Others have treated me unfairly, and while I may forgive them, I won't forget

And not to mention, they wasn't worthy of what I'm spittin'
They didn't deserve the lyrics and talent I bring

It's God's will, and them haters just pray they could prevent it
My success is determined by a higher power, and my haters wish they could stop it

I'm so addicted to gettin' it, I need intervention
I'm extremely dedicated to achieving success, I need someone to intervene and help me control it

The hottest spittin', your favorite rapper scared to admit it
I'm currently the best rapper, and even your favorite rapper is too scared to acknowledge it

Have mercy, let me bow my head
I'm asking for mercy, humbling myself in prayer

I count a million up, that's daily bread
Counting a million dollars, which is my daily sustenance

Ain't no more humble in me, s*** is dead
I've lost my humility, it's no longer a part of me

Tell them p**** n****s I ain't never scared
Inform those cowardly individuals that I remain fearless

Poor n****s hate to see a n**** win
Individuals with a lack of wealth despise witnessing someone succeed

Say you comin' for me? P**** n****, when?
Claiming to pose a threat to me? Coward, when will you actually do something?

I been cold-hearted since I lost a twin
After losing my twin, I became emotionally detached

I swear I love it when they hate, I made a hit again
I enjoy the negativity from haters because it motivates me to create more successful music

I did this before my n****s, them
I achieved success before my friends did

Use your b**** whenever like a membership
I can access and use your girl anytime I want, as if she's a membership

Never bothered over Twitter beef
I never paid attention to meaningless arguments on Twitter

We'll probably never meet up where the money be
We won't likely cross paths where significant wealth is present

Me and Kiko on the wood, yeah, the money seats
Me and my partner Kiko in exclusive seats, where the wealthy sit

Five grand just to see him hit a three
I'm willing to pay five thousand dollars to witness someone make a three-point shot

Balenciagas on a n**** feet
I'm wearing expensive Balenciaga shoes on my feet

Death to the competition, may they rest in peace
I want my rivals to fail, and I hope they find peace in their failure

I know my mama prayin' for me, I hope your mama prayin' too
My mother prays for me, and I wish the same for you

'Cause me and my n****s gotta eat, we'll die over these canned foods
My friends and I need to survive, we're willing to fight for basic necessities

Have mercy on a real n****, 'cause I'm sinnin' every day, Lord
I'm asking for forgiveness, as I'm constantly making mistakes

Have mercy on a real n****, 'cause I'mma ride for my n****s, dog
I'm asking for mercy, as I am devoted to standing up for my friends

What the f*** these n****s talkin' 'bout?
I'm confused by the nonsense these individuals are saying

Load the choppers, bring them problems that they talkin' 'bout
Preparing for conflict and confronting the issues they're mentioning

Roll the reefer, no Khalifa, you gon' ride or die
Smoking marijuana, like Wiz Khalifa, decides if you'll stay loyal until the end

No homicide, it's suicide before I testify
Rather than testifying in a trial, I would rather take my own life

That's on my daughter, I'm runnin' Florida, no kinda, sorta
I promise on my daughter's life, I'm in control of Florida, without a doubt

And I hear 'em talkin', that money callin', them out of order
I hear the chatter, but my focus is on making money and those who disrupt that are out of line

Yeah, n****, f*** all that talkin', be 'bout it, then
I don't care for empty words, take action if you're serious

A lot of small talk, there they go runnin' their mouth again
People with a lot of meaningless chatter, constantly running their mouths

Bold n****, 'til they meet them gorillas
Individuals who act tough until they encounter serious threats

F*** a cavity, my n****s ain't got no fillings
We don't fear danger, my friends are fearless

Money is the motive, family is the reason
I'm motivated by money, but my family is the most important thing in my life

On my mama, ain't nobody ever came between it
I swear on my mother, nobody will ever come between me and my family

And they never will, streets got me grippin' steel
They will never come between us, and I'm prepared to use weapons to defend myself

These scared n****s need to go to church or either Dr. Phil
Cowardly individuals should seek spiritual guidance or therapy to overcome their fears

I tell 'em look me in my eyes, we are not the same
I challenge them to meet my gaze and understand that we're not equals

Lion-hearted n****, gunpowder in my veins huh
I have a fearless heart, and the desire for violence runs in my blood

B****, I just went and bought the boulevard
I purchased the entire street, showing off my wealth

B****, I just went and blew another check
I casually spent a large sum of money

'Bout my money, catch a bullet tryna intercept
If you try to interrupt my money-making, you may get shot

Jumpin' up out that whip, I let my chain swing
Exiting my car, allowing my expensive chain to freely move

Blood up on my sneakers like I gang bang
My sneakers are covered in blood, as if I'm involved in gang violence

Every day's a struggle tryna maintain
Every day is difficult as I try to stay in control

And free my real n****s in the chain gang
I hope for the release of my loyal friends who are in prison

I hear them broke n****s still talkin'
I'm aware that impoverished individuals are still talking about me

Watch your words, do be very cautious
Be careful with your words, think before speaking

You threaten mine, you can pick a coffin
If you threaten my loved ones, you will face deadly consequences

Ain't no talkin', tell 'em shock it once it go to sparkin'
No need for discussion, let them experience the shock of sudden violence

Self-made Rollie and a pair of Js
I earned my Rolex watch and a pair of exclusive Air Jordan sneakers

Hood n**** livin' like I'm Bruce Wayne
Despite being from the streets, I live a wealthy lifestyle like Batman's alter ego, Bruce Wayne

New Ferrari kickin' like it's Liu Kang
My new Ferrari has powerful performance, just like the character Liu Kang from Mortal Kombat

Real n****, ain't it true? 2 Chainz
I'm an authentic individual, isn't it true? Similar to the rapper 2 Chainz

P**** n****s still hatin' hard
Cowardly individuals are still expressing their strong hatred