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.
Heartbeat
Ice-T Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rhymin' with timin', as EVIL E lets the record spin
Kickin' it, hittin', rockin', just so dope it's shockin'
'Cause I be layin' rhymes super sly, 'cause this is do or die
Make it or break it, although most emcees do fake it
I'll say the ICE can't take it, time to microphone bake it
Raise the heatin' level, break out your coal shovel
Pump the temp, I'm sweatin' like a devil
But that's natural, 'cause you know that I am
No punk, no chump, no fool, no toy
Try to get ill and serve you, boy
I'm on a hype tip, this ain't no ego trip
Just rollin' thick as hell, champagne I sip as well
Listen and you'll envision, this rap's metabolism
I think the beat is dope, but it's still your decision
Whether to turn it on, turn it off
Turn it up, make it loud, make it soft
Eq me with new frequencies or
Just rewind me till the tape bleeds
My heartbeat's kickin' like a Saturday movie
Some say it's def, some say it's groovy
I say it's fly, you know why?
'Cause it's spoken by the brother, whose name is spelt
The "I" the C-E-T., cold chillin', rhyme villain on the M-I-C
With raps roarin', I'm never borin', I keep tourin'
My record sales keep soarin' and soarin'
I'll make a million, maybe two
Buy some rides, go blow the dough on my crew
I wake up the next morning broke as hell
Not for long 'cause my records sell
My heartbeat's kickin' like a gun shot
Why not? That's who I made it for, the hardrocks
Better watch your gold when the posse breaks
'Cause what they want, is what they take
But I'm coolin', I'm never foolin', too busy rulin'
Sucker emcees who need microphone schoolin'
Leave 'em dazed, dogged, served and droolin'
By the playin' punk slayin' mac of microphone duelin'
This conglomeration is just a demonstration
Of rap's penetration to the core of our nation
Some rappers get down with toy commercial sounds
I had my choice, I chose the underground
Like me or hate me, now if you want you can rate me
My beat is by ISLAM, the cut's by the great E.
My heartbeat is kickin', it's kickin' louder and louder
It's gettin' deafer and deafer, I'm feelin' prouder and prouder
Not robbin', killin', just mic illin'
The phone rings, "we made another million"
Break out the Dom and pop the corks
I catch a flight to New York
Hit the L. Q., watch RED spin, "it's closed"
Brooklyn strikes again
Once again, my friends, it's time to rock it 'til the party ends
Rhymin' with timin', as EVIL E lets the record spin
Kickin' it, hittin', rockin', just so dope it's shockin'
'Cause I be layin' rhymes super sly, 'cause this is do or die
Make it or break it, although most emcees do fake it
I'll say the ICE can't take it, time to microphone bake it
Raise the heatin' level, break out your coal shovel
Pump the temp, I'm sweatin' like a devil
Listen to my heartbeat, it's beatin' like a wild man
But that's natural, 'cause you know that I am
No punk, no chump, no fool, no toy
Try to get ill and serve you, boy
In the song "Heartbeat," Ice-T raps about his passion for music and his desire to keep creating and performing despite the challenges that come with being an artist. He describes the beat of his heart as he writes and performs music, and how it keeps getting louder and stronger as he rises to fame. He also references the underground rap scene, noting that he chose to stay true to that scene even when others were pursuing more commercial sounds.
Throughout the song, Ice-T boasts about his skills as a rapper and his success in the industry. He mentions his record sales, his ability to sell out shows, and his intention to take care of his crew with his earnings. However, he's also realistic about the ups and downs of the business, acknowledging that he sometimes has to face setbacks and financial struggles.
Overall, "Heartbeat" is a celebration of Ice-T's artistry and his love for hip-hop. It's a song about perseverance and determination, as well as the joy that comes from creating music that speaks to people.
Line by Line Meaning
Once again, my friends, it's time to rock it 'til the party ends
It's time to have an amazing time and keep the energy high until the party comes to an end.
Rhymin' with timin', as EVIL E lets the record spin
We're perfectly synchronizing with the music EVIL E is playing.
Kickin' it, hittin', rockin', just so dope it's shockin'
We're having such an amazing time that it's mind-blowing.
'Cause I be layin' rhymes super sly, 'cause this is do or die
I'm putting all my effort into delivering these slick rhymes and it's a make or break situation.
Make it or break it, although most emcees do fake it
This is a high-pressure situation where we either succeed or fail, and many artists fake their performances.
I'll say the ICE can't take it, time to microphone bake it
I'm so confident in my skills that I'm going to crank up the heat and give it everything I've got.
Raise the heatin' level, break out your coal shovel
Let's turn up the heat and push ourselves to our limits.
Pump the temp, I'm sweatin' like a devil
I'm giving it my all and it's making me sweat profusely.
Listen to my heartbeat, it's beatin' like a wild man
My heart is pumping hard and fast with excitement.
But that's natural, 'cause you know that I am
This level of excitement is normal for me because of my passion for music.
No punk, no chump, no fool, no toy
I'm not an easy target and won't be taken advantage of.
Try to get ill and serve you, boy
I'll defend myself and show you who's boss if you try to mess with me.
I'm on a hype tip, this ain't no ego trip
I'm simply hyped up about the music and not trying to show off.
Just rollin' thick as hell, champagne I sip as well
I'm living my best life and enjoying the success, sipping champagne along the way.
Listen and you'll envision, this rap's metabolism
Pay close attention and you'll feel the energy and intensity of this rap.
I think the beat is dope, but it's still your decision
I personally think the beat is great, but you can decide for yourself.
Whether to turn it on, turn it off
It's up to you to decide whether to continue listening or not.
Turn it up, make it loud, make it soft
Adjust the volume to suit your preference.
Eq me with new frequencies or
Use an equalizer to adjust the sound to your liking.
Just rewind me till the tape bleeds
You can listen to this rap over and over until the tape wears out.
My heartbeat's kickin' like a Saturday movie
My heart is pounding like the climax of an action-packed movie.
Some say it's def, some say it's groovy
Some people think the rap is great, while others think it's cool.
I say it's fly, you know why?
I personally think this rap is awesome.
'Cause it's spoken by the brother, whose name is spelt
Because I, ICE-T, am the one delivering these rhymes.
The "I" the C-E-T., cold chillin', rhyme villain on the M-I-C
My name is ICE-T, I am cool and relaxed, and I'm the king of rap on the microphone.
With raps roarin', I'm never borin', I keep tourin'
My rhymes are always exciting and I keep touring to keep the party going.
My record sales keep soarin' and soarin'
My music is selling like crazy and getting more popular each day.
I'll make a million, maybe two
I'm going to make a lot of money with my music.
Buy some rides, go blow the dough on my crew
I'll buy some fancy cars and spend the money on my friends.
I wake up the next morning broke as hell
Despite all of the money I'm making, I'm still spending it all and ending up broke.
Not for long 'cause my records sell
I don't stay broke for long because my music continues to sell well.
My heartbeat's kickin' like a gun shot
My heart is pounding hard like the sound of a gun shot.
Why not? That's who I made it for, the hardrocks
I made this music for the people who love it loud and intense.
Better watch your gold when the posse breaks
Be careful when my crew shows up, they might try to steal your valuables.
'Cause what they want, is what they take
My crew takes what they want, and they want your valuables.
But I'm coolin', I'm never foolin', too busy rulin'
I'm relaxed and in control, never playing around and always in charge.
Sucker emcees who need microphone schoolin'
I show up and put down any amateurs who think they can rap.
Leave 'em dazed, dogged, served and droolin'
I leave these amateurs wondering what happened and unable to compete.
By the playin' punk slayin' mac of microphone duelin'
I am the master of the microphone and I take down any challenger who comes my way.
This conglomeration is just a demonstration
This rap is a small example of the power of the genre.
Of rap's penetration to the core of our nation
Rap music has become part of the fabric of our culture.
Some rappers get down with toy commercial sounds
Some rappers make music that is meant to sell products and lacks authenticity.
I had my choice, I chose the underground
I chose to make music that is authentic and native to the culture.
Like me or hate me, now if you want you can rate me
You can love or hate me, but you can judge me based on my music.
My beat is by ISLAM, the cut's by the great E.
My music is created by the talented producers ISLAM and EVIL E.
My heartbeat is kickin', it's kickin' louder and louder
My heart is pounding harder as the energy of the music grows stronger.
It's gettin' deafer and deafer, I'm feelin' prouder and prouder
The music is getting louder and more intense, and I'm proud of the performance.
Not robbin', killin', just mic illin'
I'm not a criminal, I'm just making great music on the microphone.
The phone rings, "we made another million"
My team is calling to tell me that we've made even more money from our music.
Break out the Dom and pop the corks
Let's celebrate with some expensive champagne.
I catch a flight to New York
I'm heading to the Big Apple to continue my music career.
Hit the L. Q., watch RED spin, "it's closed"
I go to the nightclub LQ and see RED spinning records, but unfortunately the club is closed.
Brooklyn strikes again
My hometown of Brooklyn continues to produce great musicians and performers.
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, O/B/O DistroKid, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MAURICE VAN DER MOLEN, ROBIN SEBASTIAAN KLAVER, MARK SANDERLIN, TOFER BROWN, ALLIE CRYSTAL, BROOKE FORMAN, ALEC RYAN MAIRE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
xTHESALTSHAKERx
Once again,my friends,it's time to rock it till the party ends
Rhymin' with timin',while EVIL E lets the record spin
Kickin' it,hittin',rockin',just so dope it's shockin'
Because I be layin' rhymes super sly,'cause this is do or die
Make it or break it,although most emcees do fake it
I'll say the ICE can't take it,time to microphone bake it
Raise the heatin' level,break out your coal shovel
Pump the temp,I'm sweatin' like a devil
Listen to my heartbeat,it's beatin' like a wild man
But that's natural,'cause you know that I am
No punk,no chump,no fool,no toy
Try to get ill and serve you,boyI'm on a hype tip,this ain't no ego trip
Just rollin' thick as hell,champagne I sip as well
Listen and you'll envision, this rap's metabolism
I think the beat is dope,
but it's still your decision
Whether to turn it on,turn it off
Turn it up,make it loud,make it soft
EQ me with new frequencies or
Just rewind me till the tape bleeds
My heartbeat's kickin' like a saturday movie
Some say it's def,some say it's groovy
I say it's fly,you know why?
Because it's spoken by the brother,
whose name is spent with the "I" The C-E-T.,
Cold Chillin' rhyme villain on the M-I-C.
With raps roarin',I'm never borin',I keep tourin'
My record sales keep soarin' and soarin'
I'll make a million,maybe two
Buy some rides,gold blow the dough on my crew
Wake up the next morning broke as hell
But not for long 'cause my records sell
My heartbeat's kickin' like a gun shot
Why not?That's who I made it for,the hardrocks
Better watch your gold when the posse breaks
Because what they want is what they take
But I'm coolin',I'm never foolin',too busy rulin'
Sucker emcees who need microphone schoolin'
Leave'em dazed,dogged,served and droolin'
By the playin' punk slayin' mac of microphone duelin'Heartbeat [scratch freestyle]This conglomeration is just a demonstration
Of rap's penetration to the core of our nation
Some rappers get down with toy commercial sounds
I had my choice,I chose the underground
Like me or hate me,now if you want you can rate me
My beat is by ISLAM,the cut's by the great E.
My heartbeat is kickin',it's kickin' louder and louder
It's gettin' deffer and deffer,
I'm feelin' prouder and prouder
Not robbin' or killin',just mic illin'
The phone rings,"WE MADE ANOTHER MILLION"
Break out the Dom and pop the corks
Catch a flight to New York
Hit the L.Q. watch RED spin,"IT'S CLOSED"
Brooklyn strikes againHeartbeat [scratch]Once again,my friends,it's time to rock it till the party ends
Rhymin' with timin',while EVIL E lets the record spin
Kickin' it,hittin',rockin',just so dope it's shockin'
Because I be layin' rhymes super sly,'cause this is do or die
Make it or break it,although most emcees do fake it
I'll say the ICE can't take it,time to microphone bake it
Raise the heatin' level,break out your coal shovel
Pump the temp,I'm sweatin' like a devil
Listen to my heartbeat,it's beatin' like a wild man
But that's natural,'cause you know that I am
No punk,no chump,no fool,no toy
Try to get ill and serve you boy... 💖...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmUERreobck
KING JAMU
Ice T hasn't steered me wrong in over 30 years...He snapped...incredible piece of art
Terry Hesticles
One of my favorite Ice T songs, the hook and wordplay goes so hard🔥🔥🔥
Anastasia Beaverhausen
Back when real talent was shown with a mic and a turntable and NO FUCKING AUTOTUNE.
Yvon Ejakulay
The scratch is very Nice
foreign warren
Ice T man....that voice...master of all rappers
Emmett Marbury
My favorite from this album
ZeAgazeto Tsiyon
I have a lot of favorites on this album. This was his best work out of his catalogue.
Philipp Wolgast
absolutely.
Oliver Hernandez
This song is dope
The MAC
🦍🦍🦍🎚🎛🎤🎙🎶🎵