Adams released two albums under the stage name Dre Dog: The New Jim Jones in 1993 and I Hate You With a Passion in 1995. I Hate You With a Passion peaked at #79 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #3 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. In 1998, Adams changed his then current stage name to Andre Nickatina, and released the albums Cocaine Raps and Raven in My Eyes, which were released independently under Dogday Records. Unlike his albums released under the name Dre Dog, Cocaine Raps had deeper production values. Raven in My Eyes was noted for emphasizing "sequencers and keyboards that buzz and whine" over live instrumentation, as reviewed by Todd S. Inoue of the news magazine Metroactive. That year, he founded his own record label, Fillmoe Coleman. Nickatina explained in an interview with Strivin magazine that his name change was "for the better" and that he raps because he feels that he is talented enough to do so but not for the sake of popularity.
Soon afterwards, his following three albums, Tears of a Clown (1999), Daiquiri Factory: Cocaine Raps, Vol. 2 and These R the Tales (both 2000) made him more well-known in the West Coast underground rap scene. Mosi Reeves of the San Francisco Bay Guardian noted Nickatina's popularity at a CD release party for another underground Bay Area rapper, Smoov-E; Reeves called Nickatina "a quick-witted rapper who spits as hard as Kurupt does". A combo CD/movie project, Conversation with a Devil, followed in 2003. Charlie Amter, a music critic for SF Weekly, regarded the film as a knockoff of the classic gangster movie Scarface. Nate Denver for the SF Bay Guardian praised the album, though. Another album, The Gift followed in 2005, when the newspaper SF Weekly named Nickatina the "Best Local Hip Hop Legend" of that year. In 2008, he released A Tale of Two Andres with Mac Dre. Although they released only two songs together, they were close friends and the album was a tribute to his memory.
Bonus
Andre Nickatina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The homie said, now we can chalk em like rocky if ya cocky when you knock me
Do it till we slap you or atleast until you drop me
Nicky back at you like star 6-9
On the grind, on ya mind and I'm runnin outta time
You know that bay bridge heart kid run through my veins
Hang with me burn, let me pocket everythang
I bucka break the law, but I fucka follows through. Holla back
My Cardiar Savoir-Faire
I was born round I could never die square its like that...
The Jack:
Turn up the knock, 7-7 pacs
Hit the mini matchin pretty black boy countin wops
Semi automatic cock 'cause I don't trust that nigga
Smoking purple so I'm calm
Know a known cat pilla
Eyes low gone I'm a stone crack dealer
Surrounded by monsters like mike jack thriller
Ride around strapped 'cause I might jack niggas
Smokin purple like a motha fucking nut
You see a small bank in the cuts hold it up
'cause a nigga like me snorted out to get high
Fell in love with it had to stop fo' I die
Young nigga early 90's pushin rocks so I'm fly
Everday early mornin stackin paper gettin high
Dre dog in the deck will respect like Pac nigga
Ill let my tape rock till my tape pop
Andre Nickatina
I got a lifetime ghetto past if the money gonna last
High way patrol say I drive too fast
Man I'm a bank roll holla I told her blow her quota
But I know you want my picture in ya photo motorolla
In my leather hat man I let my curls hang out
We talking shit, down where the girls hang out
The homie said he's good with the weapons
And when it comes to bitches and clothes he's the freshest
I think you get the message
Its butter on the breakfast, toast
And ill squeeze like a steak if you get too close
I bucka bounce fucka fly with the flames
And pucka pucka party with my life in the game
You know its all the same
The Jacka
The YAY AREA yeah boi that where I'm from
Pushed enough coke to have the whole world numb
Attempt to distribute, first case I run
Break a king down, sniff away the things I've done
Smoke a zip, a two a day boi my memorys done
Remember niggas injuries from the squeeze of a gun
And held the trees in my lungs
Pushin v's to the slums
Been through so much shit they can't believe that I'm young
Eyes tight like jet lee I believe I'm the one
Superb (???) watching allah I believe is the pun
Without a blood test I can't believe that's my son
I'm just a huslah on the run,everday bendin corners
Hoes pullin up on us I'm letting out the smoke
Pullin on a strong one straight out hyphy goin
Muh fucka all that shit
Return a hardball nate is all I wish
Pasta and fish is a mobsters dish
We was blessed with the recipe
Searching for the rest of me
Blinded by the light, going on ecstasy
If it wasn't for this gangsta shit I wonder where the west will be
4 1 3 don't wanna die stand next to me
The lyrics of the song Bonus by Andre Nickatina & Equipto primarily delve into the street life and the struggles of living in a ghetto area. In the first verse, Nickatina expresses his cold attitude towards violence, stating that he is willing to fight cocky people until they drop or at least until they slap him. He boasts about his ability to get away with breaking the law while following through with his plans. The rapper also emphasizes the importance of his Bay Bridge roots and his street smarts while hanging with him. The chorus adds a catchy, rhythmic element to the song, with Equipto's resonant voice adding to the overall vibe of the song.
In the second verse, The Jacka, features prominently rapping about his drug dealing past and brushes with the law. He describes his life dealing with the dangerous people that come with the industry, but calls it all just another day. He reminisces about his days pushing rocks, and how it made him feel like he could fly. His references to smoking weed and getting high also indicate the significant role it played in his life. The verse ends with The Jacka expressing how he is proud of his street hustle and his artistry, proving to his detractors that he is more than just hot air.
Overall, Bonus is a song about the struggles of living a ghetto life, the tribulations that come with making ends meet, and the need to survive despite the adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
The homie said, now we can chalk em like rocky if ya cocky when you knock me
My friend told me that if someone tries to act tough after pulling a cheap move, we can fight like Rocky until they're on the ground.
Do it till we slap you or atleast until you drop me
We're not stopping until either they're incapacitated or I am.
Nicky back at you like star 6-9
I'll return your calls and come at you with vengeance.
On the grind, on ya mind and I'm runnin outta time
I'm busy hustling, dealing with my own situation, and running out of time.
You know that bay bridge heart kid run through my veins
I have the spirit and resilience that is characteristic of people from the Bay Area.
Hang with me burn, let me pocket everythang
Stick with me and I'll show you how to make money and keep it.
'cause my 3 10 shoes they don't leave no clues
I wear shoes that can't be traced, which helps me avoid getting caught for illegal activities.
I bucka break the law, but I fucka follows through. Holla back
I may break the law, but I'm committed to seeing things through to the end.
My Cardiar Savoir-Faire
I have a keen sense of fashion/style.
I was born round I could never die square its like that...
I was made for the streets, and I embrace that lifestyle to the fullest.
Turn up the knock, 7-7 pacs
Increase the bass in the music we're playing in the car.
Hit the mini matchin pretty black boy countin wops
I'm with a good-looking guy who is counting money.
Semi automatic cock 'cause I don't trust that nigga
I'm carrying a semi-automatic gun because I don't trust someone nearby.
Smoking purple so I'm calm
I'm smoking weed to keep myself relaxed and calm.
Know a known cat pilla
I know someone who deals drugs.
Eyes low gone I'm a stone crack dealer
I'm high and selling crack.
Surrounded by monsters like mike jack thriller
I have dangerous people all around me, like those associated with Michael Jackson's infamous Thriller music video.
Ride around strapped 'cause I might jack niggas
I'm carrying a gun because I might rob someone if I need to.
Smokin purple like a motha fucking nut
I'm smoking a lot of weed and getting really high.
You see a small bank in the cuts hold it up
If you see a bank in a quiet area, rob it.
'cause a nigga like me snorted out to get high
I used to take drugs by snorting them to get high.
Fell in love with it had to stop fo' I die
I became addicted to drugs but had to stop before it killed me.
Young nigga early 90's pushin rocks so I'm fly
I was flying high in the early 90s because I was selling drugs.
Everday early mornin stackin paper gettin high
Every day, I wake up early, make money, and get high.
Dre dog in the deck will respect like Pac nigga
People will respect and admire me like they do with fellow Bay Area rapper, Tupac Shakur.
Ill let my tape rock till my tape pop
I'll keep playing my own music until the cassette tape breaks.
I got a lifetime ghetto past if the money gonna last
I've been through tough times growing up in the ghetto, and I plan on keeping my money for a long time.
High way patrol say I drive too fast
Law enforcement says that I'm a reckless driver.
Man I'm a bank roll holla I told her blow her quota
I'm rich and I encourage others to spend their allotted money.
But I know you want my picture in ya photo motorolla
You want to take a picture with me and have it as your phone's wallpaper.
In my leather hat man I let my curls hang out
I wear a cool leather hat and let my curly hair be visible.
We talking shit, down where the girls hang out
We're hanging out in a place where girls gather and talking trash.
The homie said he's good with the weapons
My friend is skilled with using weapons.
And when it comes to bitches and clothes he's the freshest
He's also really good at dressing well and attracting women.
I think you get the message
I hope you understand what I'm saying.
Its butter on the breakfast, toast
Everything is going well and smooth, like a perfect breakfast with buttered toast.
And ill squeeze like a steak if you get too close
I'll physically hurt you if you invade my personal space.
I bucka bounce fucka fly with the flames
I'm confident and stylish, and I attract attention wherever I go.
And pucka pucka party with my life in the game
I attend parties and enjoy the nightlife while also being involved in illegal activities.
You know its all the same
Everything is predictable and doesn't change much in my life.
The YAY AREA yeah boi that where I'm from
I'm from the Bay Area and proud of it.
Pushed enough coke to have the whole world numb
I've sold enough cocaine to get the entire world high on it.
Attempt to distribute, first case I run
If I'm caught trying to distribute drugs, I'll run away from the law.
Break a king down, sniff away the things I've done
I break down cocaine and snort it, which makes me forget my actions and past.
Smoke a zip, a two a day boi my memorys done
I smoke a lot of weed, which has affected my memory.
Remember niggas injuries from the squeeze of a gun
I recall seeing people getting hurt from gun violence.
And held the trees in my lungs
I've smoked weed for so long that it's become part of me.
Pushin v's to the slums
I'm distributing drugs to impoverished areas.
Been through so much shit they can't believe that I'm young
I've experienced a lot of hardships despite being young.
Eyes tight like jet lee I believe I'm the one
My eyes are squinted like Jet Lee's, and I believe that I'm the chosen one.
Superb (???) watching allah I believe is the pun
I'm attentive to Allah, and I believe it's a clever pun.
Without a blood test I can't believe that's my son
I can't trust that a child is mine without a DNA test.
I'm just a huslah on the run,everday bendin corners
I'm a hustler on the move, always turning corners.
Hoes pullin up on us I'm letting out the smoke
Women are approaching us, and I'm exhaling smoke from my mouth.
Pullin on a strong one straight out hyphy goin
I'm puffing on a strong joint, and I'm feeling hyped.
Muh fucka all that shit
Fuck all this nonsense.
Return a hardball nate is all I wish
I'm looking for someone to throw me a baseball.
Pasta and fish is a mobsters dish
Italian pasta and fish are meals that mafia members enjoy.
We was blessed with the recipe
We were lucky to learn the right way to do something.
Searching for the rest of me
I'm trying to find my true self and purpose.
Blinded by the light, going on ecstasy
I'm feeling ecstatic and blinded by the intensity of the moment.
If it wasn't for this gangsta shit I wonder where the west will be
Gangsta rap has had a significant effect on the West Coast, and I wonder what it would be like if it didn't exist.
4 1 3 don't wanna die stand next to me
If you don't want to die, you should stand by my side.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: ANDRE LAMOND ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Slawdawg
on Savage as Fuck
The rope is his dick not an actual rope.