The Dogs of War
Ghostface Killah Lyrics


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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 lyrics to Ghostface Killah's "The Dogs of War" are dense with references to violence, drug use, and the gritty realities of street life. In the opening lines, Ghostface warns off anyone who might try to push him around. Later in the song, he describes a phone call he received about a fight that broke out down the block. The individuals involved in the fight include a 19-year-old who refused to give up his Louis Vuitton gear to his attackers, and another man who had previously stolen Ghostface's clothing. Ghostface ultimately intervenes in the fight, getting physical with one of the individuals and breaking his wrist in the process. Further on in the song, Ghostface describes a gunslinger from back in the day who accidentally shot himself in the groin, and the chaos that ensued.


Despite the violent and gritty nature of the lyrics, "The Dogs of War" is also an insightful commentary on the ways in which violence perpetuates itself, and how deep-seated grudges and rivalries can lead to tragedy. The song highlights the lack of trust and the pervasive sense of danger that characterizes life in many impoverished and violence-prone areas. Additionally, the song uses vivid imagery and slang to create a richly detailed portrait of Ghostface Killah's neighborhood and the people who inhabit it, underscoring the complex intersection of violence, poverty, and cultural identity that ensnares many individuals who grow up in such environments.


Line by Line Meaning

Holllllllld it!
Stop what you are doing and listen.


Now you get out of here, I'm warning you
I am warning you to leave.


(You bastards can't push us around - wanna fight?)
Don't try to intimidate us. Are you looking for a fight?


I'll take you on
I am willing to fight you if necessary.


That nigga's twisted
That person is mentally unstable.


Stop playin with that clip man
Stop toying with that gun clip.


Close them fuckin blinds too man, why'knahmsayin'?
Close the blinds. You know what I mean.


Yo Don my man, get out of the stove man
Don, get away from the stove.


Get away from the stove nigga
Leave the stove alone.


Stop playin' man, the fuck is you talkin' 'bout?
Stop joking around. What are you talking about?


I'm in the crib watchin' Larry King Live, the new Guccis on
I am at home watching Larry King Live, wearing my new Gucci shoes.


Refrigerator, smokin' some kush, this nigga's a lighter
I am smoking marijuana by the refrigerator, using a lighter.


Swisher, becomin' a roach, go get the glass ashtray
My Swisher cigar is almost gone. Get the glass ashtray for me.


Pour the glass of Crut, tap the bottle then toast
Pour me a glass of champagne. Tap the bottle and we'll make a toast.


Barrie took a sip for the cause, yeah my son
My friend Barrie drank some champagne for a celebratory cause.


Soon to be 3, tried to fill his bottle then run
My son, who is almost 3 years old, tried to fill his bottle and run away.


Then I got a collect call, heard niggaz down the block is fightin'
I received a collect call informing me that there is a fight happening nearby.


Some nigga got, knifed up brawlin'
Someone was stabbed during a fight.


Heard the kid was 19, Lil' Infinity too
The person who got stabbed is only 19 years old and is known as Lil' Infinity.


His father worked up at the dealer he loved boo
Lil' Infinity's father works at a drug dealer and loves his girlfriend.


They tried him for his Louis', son wasn't havin' it though
Lil' Infinity was attacked because he wouldn't give up his Louis Vuitton items.


Yeah, yeah my nigga, the color of glue
Yes, my friend, this situation is sticking to us like glue.


Decided on a intervene, guess who tried to wild on me my nigga
I decided to intervene in the situation, and Lil' Infinity tried to attack me.


This is like out of the blue
This is sudden and unexpected.


I'm in the Range stretch, jumped out, tucked the chain
I got out of the car and secured my chain.


Proceeded to talk to him, then you heard the heavy face slap
I tried to talk to him, but ended up slapping him hard in the face.


Think I broke my wrist, now I'm at the hospital vexed
I think I broke my wrist, and now I am at the hospital feeling frustrated.


Fucked up my writing hand, that's my check
My writing hand is damaged, and that is the hand I use to sign my checks.


Now I wanna kill this lil' nigga true
Now I want to kill Lil' Infinity for what he did.


Only thing that stop my gun flamin' cause he related to you
The only reason I didn't shoot him is because he is related to you.


Who? He ain't related to me
He is not related to me.


Just that I knew him for like 18 years until he violated, stealin' my gear
I knew him for 18 years, but he violated my trust by stealing my possessions.


If my lil' homey, yo he eat anything for me
My friend will do anything for me, even commit crimes.


Send him uptown, he get bagged, yo he never call me
If I send him uptown to commit crimes, he will be arrested, and he won't even call me for help.


Come home and still blow cats for me
He comes home and still works with drugs for me.


Pump crack, stabbin' all them hoodrat shorties
He sells crack and stabs women who live in the neighborhood.


A live gunslinger well known, born to dance
He is known for carrying and using guns, and is also a good dancer.


When the heat is on, Stapleton days, shoot hisself in the groin
In high-pressure situations, he has accidentally shot himself in the groin.


The gun went off, it looked like a flick
The gun went off, and it happened quickly.


When he fell to the floor, holdin' his nuts, screamin' "God damnit
When he fell to the floor, he held his genitals and yelled "God damnit!"


Shit I put one in my balls, what the fuck y'all lookin at me for?
I accidentally shot myself in the testicles. Why are you looking at me like that?


Call the police, do somethin'
Someone call the police or do something to help me.


Motherfuckers standin' around, watch when I get better
People are just standing there, watching me suffer. They will regret not helping.


All hell's gonna be terror
There will be chaos and destruction.


Death to you, you," he pointed at Red
He is threatening to kill Red.


I said chill that's fam duke
I told him to calm down because Red is like family.


He put real work in that make you cute, fuck that
Red has done significant work that has helped us. We need to respect that.


But anyway son indeed, he stole two Polo rugbies
Despite his contributions, he did steal two Polo shirts.


Swore to his dead mother, I couldn't take it
He swore on his deceased mother's life that he didn't steal the shirts, but I didn't believe him.


Yo Lord I knocked out his teeth
I punched him, knocking out his teeth.


Now he's rockin' those false joints like everything's peace
He is wearing false teeth, trying to act like everything is okay.




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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