Ice-T started in 1982 out with other West Coast rap pioneers such as Kid Frost, DJ Flash, and The Egyptian Lover with Electro recordings. Later on, he changed his style and was the first West Coast rapper to be accepted by the East Coast. 6 'n The Mornin is sometimes seen as the track that triggered the whole gangster rap movement. It was produced by The Unknown DJ, who produced electro funk tracks before and went on to produce Compton's Most Wanted. The song was inspired by Schoolly D's "P.S.K. What Does It Mean?" and became itself the inspiration for Eazy-E and N.W.A's Boyz-N-The-Hood. Ice-T went on to work with Afrika Islam, the man behind the beats on 1987's Rhyme Pays, 1988's Power and 1989's The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech... Just Watch What You Say.
He also is a star in Law in Order: Special Victims Unit.
In 1992 he created the crossover band Body Count with 4 other black musicians.
Escape From the Killing Fields
Ice-T Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm movin' off death row
Ya gotta keep up hops
Ya can't be slow
Cuse their towers are high
They got the hype gaats
Check the perimeters good
Read the maps
They might not see us
Cuse if they catch us out there
They'll bleed us
Shoot us, kill us
Dump us in a dark ditch
Clean it up, call it a gang hit
I gotta make my move
Cause I'm a renegade
I recognize
when mind techniques
Are being played
It's a plot they use
To keep down another
Here comes another
Brainwashed brother
Shut up do you know
How dumb you sound?
That mentality
What keeps my people down
No one wants to
Live in an urban war
You live there cause
Your parents were poor
They live there because
Theirs were also
Get yourself together
Hit the gates bro!
CHORUS
Ya gotta get out!
Ya gotta get out! Why?
Ya gotta get out!
Ya gotta get out! Why?
Ya gotta get out!
Ya gotta get out! Why?
Cause the fields
Are where you die!
Escape from
The killing fields
You try to keep us
Running and running faster
But I ain't runnin' from ya
I'm runnin' at ya
and my posse's thick
About a mil strong
Too late to make up now
Cause it's on
I'm the one that's got ya
In constant fear
I'm the nigga
You shoulda killed last yeaar
But you played yourself
You let me gain wealth
Now I can change the wy
The cards are dealt
I've schooled my homeboys
Made 'em all understand
The tricks nd twists
Inflicted on the Black man
How ya make me think
to be down
I gotta stay around
Down in the motherfuckin'
Battleground
There'll never be any good
Schools in the hood
There'll never be any cops
That are any good
The hospital is a great place
To go to die
Real estate's cheap
Let me tell ya why?
The man's got a
Sure fire system
A economic prison!
CHORUS
Escape from
The killing fields!
The song Escape From the Killing Fields by Ice-T is thought to be a commentary on urban violence, racism and poverty. The opening verse is about trying to escape a dangerous criminal underworld, and the singer explains how he has to be smart and avoid the dangers around him. He talks about how he recognizes the manipulative techniques being used to hold down people in the area and how it's a plot to keep the poor down. The chorus repeats several times, "Ya gotta get out! Ya gotta get out! Why? Cause the fields are where you die," suggesting that there is no future for these people in their current situation and they need to escape the cycle of violence.
The second verse discusses the difficulties of growing up in a poor family, and how this can create a cycle of poverty that is hard to break. The singer explains how there will never be good schools or good cops in their area, and that the hospital is a great place to go to die. He also talks about how the real estate is cheap, implying that people don't want to live there as it is too dangerous. He then goes on to discuss how this is all part of an economic prison; people are trapped in poverty and cannot escape.
Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on poverty and violence, and how difficult it can be to escape these cycles. The lyrics are raw and honest, and they paint a bleak picture of life in the urban ghettos of America. This song is a reminder that there is still much work to be done to address these issues.
Line by Line Meaning
Here we go
Starting the journey
I'm movin' off death row
Leaving prison and starting a new life
Ya gotta keep up hops
You have to stay alert and focused
Ya can't be slow
You cannot waste time
Cuse their towers are high
Prison towers are tall and intimidating
They got the hype gaats
The guards have powerful weapons
Check the perimeters good
Be thorough when observing your surroundings
Read the maps
Have a good understanding of the area
It's night
It's dark outside
They might not see us
It's possible to remain undetected
Cuse if they catch us out there
If they catch us outside the prison
They'll bleed us
They'll shoot us and we'll bleed to death
Shoot us, kill us
They'll shoot and kill us
Dump us in a dark ditch
Leave our bodies in a remote location
Clean it up, call it a gang hit
Make it look like a gang-related murder
I gotta make my move
I have to take action
Cause I'm a renegade
Because I'm rebellious
I recognize
I understand
when mind techniques
when psychological tactics
Are being played
Are being used against me
It's a plot they use
It's a conspiracy they employ
To keep down another
To oppress another person
Here comes another
Another victim
Brainwashed brother
A person who has been indoctrinated
Shut up do you know
Be quiet, you don't understand
How dumb you sound?
How unintelligent you appear?
That mentality
That mindset
What keeps my people down
What causes oppression for my community
No one wants to
Nobody desires to
Live in an urban war
Reside in a violent environment
You live there cause
You live there because
Your parents were poor
Your family couldn't afford to live elsewhere
They live there because
Their family was also poor
Theirs were also
Everyone living in that area suffers the same fate
Get yourself together
Gain control of your life
Hit the gates bro!
Leave the area quickly
CHORUS
Refrain of the song
Ya gotta get out!
You have to leave
Ya gotta get out! Why?
You must exit this place for a reason
Cause the fields
Referring to the environment
Are where you die!
Are dangerous and can kill you
Escape from
Get away from
The killing fields
The deadly environment
You try to keep us
You attempt to confine and oppress us
Running and running faster
Trying to escape but only getting more tired
But I ain't runnin' from ya
But I refuse to be intimidated by you
I'm runnin' at ya
I'm confronting you
and my posse's thick
I'm not alone; my group is large
About a mil strong
There are millions of us
Too late to make up now
It's too late for reconciliation
Cause it's on
The conflict has already begun
I'm the one that's got ya
I'm the one who has control over you
In constant fear
Feeling perpetually afraid
I'm the n*****
Referring to themselves with a derogatory term
You shoulda killed last year
You should have taken me out when you had the chance
But you played yourself
But you made a mistake
You let me gain wealth
You allowed me to become successful
Now I can change the way
Now I can influence events
The cards are dealt
The situation is what it is
I've schooled my homeboys
I've educated my friends
Made 'em all understand
Helped them to comprehend
The tricks and twists
The methods of deception
Inflicted on the Black man
The methods of oppression directed at people of color
How ya make me think
How you manipulate me mentally
to be down
to be supportive
I gotta stay around
I have to remain in the area
Down in the motherfuckin'
In the messed up
Battleground
The area of conflict
There'll never be any good
There won't be any decent
Schools in the hood
Schools in the inner city
There'll never be any cops
There won't be any police officers
That are any good
That are trustworthy or effective
The hospital is a great place
The hospital is a popular destination
To go to die
To go if you want to die
Real estate's cheap
Land is less expensive
Let me tell ya why?
Do you want to know why?
The man's got a
The system has a
Sure fire system
A foolproof method
A economic prison!
A method of keeping people poor
CHORUS
Refrain of the song
Escape from
Get away from
The killing fields!
The deadly environment
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: GLEN CHARLES, TRACY MARROW ICE-T
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maniac 5000
WHAT A FUCKIN BADASS. LOVE YOU T.
Purple Daz vibe tribe radio.
My mind is being played...
Robert James Taylor
Ice-T was woke af and it was 1993
Robert James Taylor
@Rob Jackson you're right, ma bad
Rob Jackson
1991, bro. Not 1993.
Purple Daz vibe tribe radio.
No escape from coronavirus..