Dogs of War
Ghostface Killah Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yo, I'm talking bags of heavy coke, bracelets on every men
Innocent dope pushers, over night king pins
Indeed, we smack niggas up for their cheese
Throw bleach in yo face, got beef, let it be chuck
The streets don't know my peeps
Jumpin' out of UPS trucks, blowing niggas off they feet
With four-four gloves, rims spinning, tippin' on fo-fo's
My mouth be worth millions, something like Paul Wall's
Ladies look out they ain't thugs, they homo's
The film look hyper, when I clap 'em in slo mo'
Ya'll still paying the mob? We whip niggas out like waffle batter
Theodore ancient with dart, flossin' them diamonds
Discussing our hits over a glass of scotch
Baywatch bitches that ski, take turns when they hand us the twat
Think not, we still run the trains, 'til the condom pop
On the low, we still fucking them cops
Pretty things from all precints, friday nights, we holding they Glocks
This is family, nigga, niggas can't stand me
Next up, my little man, I hand you the jammy

You know the fam, what it is, it is what it is
S.I.N.Y., where the animals live
Ass bet, niggas run in yo cribs
I don't care if you blast for the cash, then scramble yo wig
I'm like "Damn, what a wonderful kid"
I could do what I want, doing dirt, not serving a bid
You know a real fam handle they biz, everybody get searched
From the grandpops, down to the kids
And my time, I'm officially here, tell ya man
Go and start up ya car, start shifting the gears
Sun God got the pits for his ears, cuz niggas is scared
Hoping I don't let it blow in they ribs
I said hot, niggas get robbed non stop
Once the gun cock, niggas strip down to they socks
And my fam at the tippity top, I won't stop
Believe it or not, you and ya man is close targets
Juks everything, dice games, mini markets
Fam gon' spark it, I'mma take whatever's in the pockets
Mostly the cash and the wallet, slide off the jewels
Cuz you shining, begets and the diamonds
Never deny niggas with iron, yo

Ayo, chillin' with the Ceasar crew
Reefer smoke, all in the halls
It's how many niggas with guns, got 'em on
All tip top, cling to the fullest, mad bullets
This is a hobby, the lobby where they clap yo hoods
Get the paper, word to everything, we a acre up
Barbequin' like a mutt, we ain't taking nothing
A high tech extremist, Gatorade, paid ya boy some money
To lay up on the low, swinging beamers
I need to be an actor, but instead, I'd rather be in Hempstead
All of my bread came from crack barbers and shoppers
So much beef in these whoppers
Guns that'll knock out floors and hit choppers
What? What? The family remains, cuz it's grain
It's automatic, I live it and I claim it
It's real, come around here, you bought here
Yo, lay that half tape, then you will get wrapped real quick

Ayo, we hug the block on President's Day
Slinging all year round, gettin' that money the American way
Might run up in yo wedding, grab the reverend and spray
And let the shots fall wherever they may
This is family, nigga, minus the mob ties
The resurrection of Toney Starks & Trife Dies', starring in Part 5
Niggas'll rather die when they're pride's in question
Try'nna play hero, getting stuck for they prized possessions
Look you staring in the eyes of oppression, that's why I ride with protection
Extended clips, super sizing my weapons
Five eleven, keep the heat tucked
That'll burn a hole thru ya stomach like acid reflux
Get buried in ya cheap tux'
We make it hard for you niggas to keep up
Been thru a hundred towns, and running, beating the streets up
Come up north in New York, down in Miami, pumping
At a table, breaking bread like a family

Florida, where we follow the code of the streets and
Breaking the beats and, we taking the eats
Never the least, we invading the streets
Shaking the beast, we familiar for life
We don't run, we grab knives, my double edged spit life
My dogs is real tight, shooting the dice
Some of my fam might snatch ya ice
Got family that go to church, come back like you don't work
Got family that'll set you up, got family that chill, wanna spark the dutch
Wizard my fam, that stuck you up, I got fam that'll fuck you up
Chop you up, put your body in the back of the truck




Osama Island, we been wilding, see the violence
We display talent, respect balance, nigga, Shaolin

Overall Meaning

The song "Dogs of War" by Ghostface Killah is a reflection on the rapidly growing drug trade that was prevalent during the 1990s in the United States. The lyrics talk about the violence, power and dangerous nature of the drug trade. The opening lyrics, "Yo, I'm talking bags of heavy coke, bracelets on every men Innocent dope pushers, over night king pins" showcase the subversion of ordinary people, who get trapped in the drug trade, and eventually rise up to the ranks of kingpins, all due to the temptations of easy money. The next line "Indeed, we smack niggas up for their cheese" points to the violent nature of the drug trade.


The song talks about how the drug trade became rampant in the streets, and the various methods used by drug dealers to carry out their business. It mentions how their identities are often unknown to people, and they blend in with society to avoid arrest. The lines "Jumpin' out of UPS trucks, blowing niggas off they feet With four-four gloves, rims spinning, tippin' on fo-fo's" show how they can strike without warning, and how they use elaborate planning to carry out their operations. Lastly, the song highlights the importance of family and loyalty to each other while also acknowledging the destructive and violent nature of the drug trade.


Line by Line Meaning

Yo, I'm talking bags of heavy coke, bracelets on every men
I'm discussing large amounts of cocaine and the flashy jewelry that accompanies it.


Innocent dope pushers, over night king pins
Even seemingly innocent drug dealers can quickly rise to power within the drug trade.


Indeed, we smack niggas up for their cheese
We physically assault people to intimidate them into giving us their money.


Throw bleach in yo face, got beef, let it be chuck
We will go to extreme lengths to harm our enemies, including throwing bleach in their faces.


The streets don't know my peeps
The general public is unaware of our criminal connections.


Jumpin' out of UPS trucks, blowing niggas off they feet
We surprise our foes by attacking them while disguised as delivery drivers, knocking them off their feet with gunfire.


With four-four gloves, rims spinning, tippin' on fo-fo's
We wear gloves to conceal fingerprints while using .44 caliber guns, and our cars have spinning rims.


My mouth be worth millions, something like Paul Wall's
My dental work is expensive and flashy, similar to the famous rapper Paul Wall's.


Ladies look out they ain't thugs, they homo's
Even though some women may appear innocent, they are just as dangerous as male criminals.


The film look hyper, when I clap 'em in slo mo'
When I shoot and kill someone, it looks dramatic and exaggerated, as if in slow motion.


Ya'll still paying the mob? We whip niggas out like waffle batter
While others are still paying the mafia for protection, we violently attack and defeat our enemies.


Theodore ancient with dart, flossin' them diamonds
Theodore, my associate, is highly skilled with throwing darts, and he proudly displays his diamond jewelry.


Discussing our hits over a glass of scotch
We casually discuss our successful criminal activities while enjoying a glass of Scotch whisky.


Baywatch bitches that ski, take turns when they hand us the twat
Attractive women who are skilled in skiing willingly engage in sexual activity with us.


Think not, we still run the trains, 'til the condom pop
Don't doubt us, we are still in control of the drug trade, even until sexual encounters are interrupted by a broken condom.


On the low, we still fucking them cops
Secretly, we are still engaging in sexual relations with police officers.


Pretty things from all precincts, Friday nights, we holding they Glocks
We have relationships with attractive women from various law enforcement departments who hand us their guns on Friday nights.


This is family, nigga, niggas can't stand me
We are a close-knit group, and outsiders are envious of our bond.


Next up, my little man, I hand you the jammy
I am passing a firearm to my trusted younger associate.


You know the fam, what it is, it is what it is
You are familiar with who we are and the situation we are involved in.


S.I.N.Y., where the animals live
We reside in Staten Island, New York, where the streets are filled with dangerous individuals.


Ass bet, niggas run in yo cribs
We are so confident in our abilities that we are willing to bet our asses that we can successfully invade people's homes.


I don't care if you blast for the cash, then scramble yo wig
Even if you try to defend yourself and fight back for money, we will still harm you and scramble your brain.


I'm like 'Damn, what a wonderful kid'
I am impressed by an exceptional individual.


I could do what I want, doing dirt, not serving a bid
I have the freedom to engage in criminal activities without going to prison.


You know a real fam handle they biz, everybody get searched
A true family skillfully manages their business affairs, and everyone is thoroughl searched for safety.


From the grandpops, down to the kids
Even the older generations in our family, as well as the younger members, are involved in our criminal activities.


And my time, I'm officially here, tell ya man
I have arrived and established myself in the criminal underworld, make sure to inform your associates.


Go and start up ya car, start shifting the gears
Prepare to escape quickly by starting your car and shifting gears as we engage in criminal activities.


Sun God got the pits for his ears, cuz niggas is scared
My associate, Sun God, wears earrings shaped like pits, signifying that our enemies are fearful of us.


Hoping I don't let it blow in they ribs
Our adversaries are praying that I don't shoot them in the chest.


I said hot, niggas get robbed non stop
I stated that it is currently dangerous, as people are being constantly robbed.


Once the gun cock, niggas strip down to they socks
As soon as we cock our guns, individuals quickly remove their clothes and even strip down to their socks to give us what we want.


And my fam at the tippity top, I won't stop
My family is at the highest level of power and influence, and I will not rest or slow down.


Believe it or not, you and ya man is close targets
Whether you believe it or not, both you and your associate are prime targets for us.


Juks everything, dice games, mini markets
We commit robberies and steal from various establishments, including participating in illegal dice games and targeting small stores.


Fam gon' spark it, I'mma take whatever's in the pockets
My family will initiate violence, and I will personally take any money or valuables found in people's pockets.


Mostly the cash and the wallet, slide off the jewels
Our main focus is stealing cash and wallets, but we will also take any valuable jewelry.


Cuz you shining, begets and the diamonds
We specifically target individuals who display wealth and wear expensive diamonds.


Never deny niggas with iron, yo
We will never refuse or decline an encounter with individuals carrying guns.


Ayo, chillin' with the Ceasar crew
I am relaxing and spending time with my associates from the Ceasar crew.


Reefer smoke, all in the halls
The scent of marijuana smoke fills the halls where we are present.


It's how many niggas with guns, got 'em on
There are numerous individuals with guns in our vicinity, and they are openly carrying them.


All tip top, cling to the fullest, mad bullets
Everyone is armed and ready for action, loaded with plenty of ammunition.


This is a hobby, the lobby where they clap yo hoods
Engaging in criminal activities, specifically targeting rival groups, is like a hobby for us.


Get the paper, word to everything, we a acre up
We make money through various illegal means, and I swear on everything that we have amassed a large fortune.


Barbequin' like a mutt, we ain't taking nothing
We are cooking up drugs like a mutt barbecues food, and we are not tolerating any interference or theft.


A high tech extremist, Gatorade, paid ya boy some money
I am an advanced criminal who readily accepts payment from others, even compensating me with Gatorade.


To lay up on the low, swinging beamers
I prefer to lay low and relax while driving expensive BMW cars.


I need to be an actor, but instead, I'd rather be in Hempstead
While some may aspire to be actors, I personally prefer to be present in Hempstead, engaging in criminal activities.


All of my bread came from crack barbers and shoppers
I have earned all my money from selling crack cocaine and conducting illegal business with barbers and shoppers.


So much beef in these whoppers
There is a significant amount of conflict and disputes within my group.


Guns that'll knock out floors and hit choppers
We possess firearms that are so powerful they can cause structural damage and even shoot down helicopters.


What? What? The family remains, cuz it's grain
The unity and strength of our family endures because of our illegal activities involving drugs.


It's automatic, I live it and I claim it
Engaging in criminal activities is natural for me, and I openly embrace and take ownership of it.


It's real, come around here, you bought here
The dangers and consequences of entering our territory are real, and if you come here, you will face the consequences.


Yo, lay that half tape, then you will get wrapped real quick
If you reveal any information or cooperate with authorities, you will quickly find yourself in a dangerous situation.


Ayo, we hug the block on President's Day
On President's Day, we actively control and dominate the neighborhood block.


Slinging all year round, gettin' that money the American way
We are involved in drug dealing and making money illegally, following the American tradition of seeking wealth.


Might run up in yo wedding, grab the reverend and spray
We are bold enough to intrude on a wedding ceremony, attacking even the reverend with gunfire.


And let the shots fall wherever they may
We shoot indiscriminately, allowing the bullets to hit whatever or whoever they may.


This is family, nigga, minus the mob ties
We function as a close-knit criminal family, but we do not have ties to traditional organized crime groups.


The resurrection of Toney Starks & Trife Dies', starring in Part 5
We have resurrected the criminal personas of Toney Starks and Trife Dies, and our actions could be turned into a movie franchise.


Niggas'll rather die when they're pride's in question
Some individuals would prefer to die rather than have their pride questioned or compromised.


Try'nna play hero, getting stuck for they prized possessions
Those who attempt to act heroically against us often end up being attacked and losing their valuable belongings.


Look you staring in the eyes of oppression, that's why I ride with protection
When you look into our eyes, you see the oppressive force we represent, and that's why I always carry protection.


Extended clips, super sizing my weapons
I equip my firearms with extended clips, enhancing the firepower and making the weapons larger.


Five eleven, keep the heat tucked
I am five feet, eleven inches tall, and I always keep a concealed firearm with me.


That'll burn a hole through ya stomach like acid reflux
My gunshots are so powerful that they can penetrate your body, causing damage similar to the effects of severe acid reflux.


Get buried in ya cheap tux
If someone crosses us, they are likely to end up dead and buried in a low-quality suit.


We make it hard for you niggas to keep up
We constantly stay ahead and make it difficult for other individuals to match our criminal activities.


Been thru a hundred towns, and running, beating the streets up
We have traveled through numerous towns, constantly on the move, asserting our dominance in the streets.


Come up north in New York, down in Miami, pumping
We operate both in northern New York and in southern Florida, actively participating in drug distribution and other criminal activities.


At a table, breaking bread like a family
We gather around a table, sharing a meal and dividing our criminal profits among ourselves, just like a real family.


Florida, where we follow the code of the streets and
In Florida, we adhere to and abide by the unwritten rules and principles of street culture.


Breaking the beats and, we taking the eats
We are breaking records and dominating the music industry, while also taking control of the opportunities and money available.


Never the least, we invading the streets
We are constantly making moves and asserting our presence in the streets, leaving no area unoccupied.


Shaking the beast, we familiar for life
We provoke and challenge our enemies, remaining closely associated with a life of danger and criminality.


We don't run, we grab knives, my double-edged spit life
We don't retreat, instead, we arm ourselves with knives, metaphorically representing the dangerous lifestyle we embrace.


My dogs is real tight, shooting the dice
My close associates are loyal and trustworthy, and we enjoy gambling by playing dice games together.


Some of my fam might snatch ya ice
Certain members of my family might forcefully steal your expensive jewelry.


Got family that go to church, come back like you don't work
Even within our criminal family, we have individuals who attend church, yet return to our illegal activities without showing signs of moral conflict.


Got family that'll set you up, got family that chill, wanna spark the dutch
Within our family, we have members who will betray and deceive you, as well as those who are more relaxed and interested in smoking marijuana.


Wizard my fam, that stuck you up, I got fam that'll fuck you up
Some highly skilled members of our family use their expertise to rob and ambush others, while other members are ruthless and will violently attack you.


Chop you up, put your body in the back of the truck
We will dismember your body and transport the pieces in the trunk of a vehicle.


Osama Island, we been wilding, see the violence
We have been engaging in violent activities for a long time on a secluded island, like a criminal version of the infamous Osama Bin Laden.


We display talent, respect balance, nigga, Shaolin
We showcase our skills and abilities, while also demanding respect, just like the disciplined martial artists from Shaolin in China.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dennis Coles, Gintas Janusonis, Nathaniel Wilson, Shawn Simons, Wesley Mingus

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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