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.
Message to the Soldier
Ice-T Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why don't you drop some knowledge for these brothers who
want to get involved in this war...
Take notes: real gangstas wear trench coats
Grey suits, black ties and they seek votes
And you're not to be misled
They'll kill you in your fuckin' bed
But they don't look that much like me or you
But if you pull up the sheets and expose them
They'll crawl up like snakes and show fangs of venom
Now I've been soldier for years
Representin' the tattooed tears
Other brothas locked up with no choice
Left in the bowels of devil with no voice
My phones are tapped, my crib is bugged
My car is tailed from club to club
And this ain't no fuckin' joke
They want to see a nigga broke
You can't slip, if you slip you're out
You gotta know what you're talkin' about
Drop science every chance you get
Hit direct and indirect, speak in code
Cause you're never alone
That's why I use this low tone
Follow this and you might grow older
This is a message to the soldiers...
Now they killed King and they shot X
Now they want me, you could be next
All you gotta do is speak too loud
All you gotta be is be too proud
Cause once you let'em know
Who you are and where you're at
You better watch your back
Cause you might think you're just dope
While you're livin' in a sniper's scope
I'm not tryin' to scare you
But there's a danger if you get too deep
Some nights I don't sleep
All you want to do is tell the truth
All you want to do is save the youth
Ice Cube knows, Souljah knows, P.E. knows
They throw death blows
And if you got kids or a girl that's true
They'll move on them too
But when I'm gone I need you to carry on
You gotta be strong and fight for our salvation
But there will be retaliation, soldier...
To think that rap could be attacked
Is ignorin' the simple fact
That they never ment us to speak
They had planned to keep the black man weak
But rap hit the streets
Black rage amplified over dope beats
Now they want to shut us down
And they don't fuck around
Check the history books, son
Black leaders die young
They tell us that your words are scary
They're revolutionary
Because we speak the truth
About crime and drugs
And expose the real thugs
This info is not beneficial
To the groups that go by three initals
So they try to discredit
They'll dog you with an edit
Print the words the way you never said it
But we gotta make'em regret it, soldiers...
Word! I know a lot of brothas out there want to get in this war...
You know what I'm sayin'? a lot of sistas got a lot of knowledge
to drop on our people but right now they're movin' to shut down
all hip-hop! The first amendment had absolutely nothin' to do
with black people at the time constitution was written, we were
considered nothin' but property...The expectation of havin' black
people speak on records never came to mind, so we gotta move!
But belive me all the black leaders have been silenced and most
of the time it's been violent so if you choose to get in this war,
realize what you're in for but we gotta move on...
And we gotta stay strong...
Message to the soldiers, welcome to the struggle...
Message to the soldiers, be careful, soldiers...
In "Message to the Soldier," Ice-T urges listeners to be aware of the machinations of the government and to exercise caution when voicing radical sentiments. He paints a picture of a world where power is held by those who wear suits and ties, not gang colors. He suggests that even those who appear to be allies can turn on a person in a moment. He refers to himself as a soldier in the βwarβ and warns his fellow soldiers to be constantly vigilant, as the system will try to discredit them and use fear tactics to silence them.
Ice-T references slain civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, and implies that speaking out against the system can lead to violent retribution. He also mentions that the government is attempting to shut down hip-hop, a genre of music that emerged out of the Black community and has become a tool for expressing radical ideas. The song encourages young people, especially African Americans, to continue to speak out against the system, as their voices are needed in the ongoing fight.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, Ice, you been down with the struggle for a long time, man...
Ice, you have been actively involved in the fight for equality and justice for a significant period, my friend...
Why don't you drop some knowledge for these brothers who want to get involved in this war...
Could you share your wisdom with these individuals who aspire to participate in this battle?
Take notes: real gangstas wear trench coats
Take heed: true warriors don't conform to stereotypes and can be found in unexpected places.
Grey suits, black ties and they seek votes
These powerful individuals dress impeccably in formal attire and strive to gain political influence through democratic means.
And you're not to be misled
You should never allow yourself to be deceived.
They'll kill you in your fuckin' bed
They will not hesitate to murder you while you sleep in your own damn bed.
They don't sell dope, yo, excuse me, yes they do
They may claim otherwise, but in reality, they are involved in illegal activities such as drug trafficking.
But they don't look that much like me or you
However, their appearance does not resemble ours to a significant extent.
But if you pull up the sheets and expose them
But if you uncover their true nature and reveal their secrets to the world
They'll crawl up like snakes and show fangs of venom
They will react aggressively like venomous snakes, lashing out in response.
Now I've been soldier for years
I have been actively fighting for a long time
Representin' the tattooed tears
Symbolizing the tears shed by incarcerated individuals through my tattoos
Other brothas locked up with no choice
Other African-American men incarcerated without any alternatives
Left in the bowels of devil with no voice
Abandoned within the depths of a devilish system, voiceless and powerless
My phones are tapped, my crib is bugged
My telephone conversations are monitored, my home is infiltrated with listening devices
My car is tailed from club to club
I am constantly followed and surveilled wherever I go, moving from one club to another
And this ain't no fuckin' joke
This is not a trivial matter to be taken lightly
They want to see a nigga broke
They desire to witness a Black man's downfall
You can't slip, if you slip you're out
You cannot afford to make a mistake, as even a slight misstep could be disastrous
You gotta know what you're talkin' about
You need to have a profound understanding of the subject matter you address
Drop science every chance you get
Seize every opportunity to impart knowledge and enlighten others
Hit direct and indirect, speak in code
Convey your message both overtly and subtly, utilizing encoded language
Cause you're never alone
Because you are always under surveillance and never truly isolated
That's why I use this low tone
Hence, I employ this hushed tone to avoid attracting unnecessary attention
Follow this and you might grow older
By adhering to these guidelines, you may have the chance to live longer
This is a message to the soldiers...
Consider this communication as guidance for those actively fighting for a cause...
Now they killed King and they shot X
Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were assassinated
Now they want me, you could be next
Now they intend to target me, and you could easily be the next victim
All you gotta do is speak too loud
Merely speaking your mind with excessive volume can pose a threat
All you gotta be is be too proud
Simply possessing excessive pride can make you a target
Cause once you let'em know
Because once you reveal your true beliefs to them
Who you are and where you're at
Your identity and your whereabouts
You better watch your back
It is imperative that you remain vigilant and aware of your surroundings
Cause you might think you're just dope
Although you may believe you are exceptional
While you're livin' in a sniper's scope
You are actually living within the crosshairs of a sniper's rifle
I'm not tryin' to scare you
I do not intend to frighten you
But there's a danger if you get too deep
Yet, there is a substantial risk if you become too deeply involved
Some nights I don't sleep
On certain nights, I am unable to find rest
All you want to do is tell the truth
You only desire to speak the truth
All you want to do is save the youth
Your sole aspiration is to protect and guide the younger generation
Ice Cube knows, Souljah knows, P.E. knows
Ice Cube, Sister Souljah, Public Enemy, they are fully aware
They throw death blows
They face deadly attacks and challenges
And if you got kids or a girl that's true
If you have children or a significant other who is loyal
They'll move on them too
They will harm those individuals as well
But when I'm gone I need you to carry on
However, in the event of my absence, I require you to continue the fight
You gotta be strong and fight for our salvation
You must possess strength and tirelessly battle for our deliverance
But there will be retaliation, soldier...
Yet, it is important to acknowledge that there will be severe consequences from the opposition, my fellow soldier...
To think that rap could be attacked
To consider the possibility of rap being targeted and criticized
Is ignorin' the simple fact
Is disregarding the straightforward truth
That they never meant us to speak
Those in power never intended for us to have a voice
They had planned to keep the black man weak
Their intentions were focused on ensuring the African-American community remained powerless
But rap hit the streets
However, rap music emerged and became incredibly popular
Black rage amplified over dope beats
Expressing anger, frustration, and discontent within the Black community through powerful lyrics and captivating music
Now they want to shut us down
Now, they seek to silence us and eradicate our presence
And they don't fuck around
They are not playing games or taking this lightly
Check the history books, son
Examine the historical records, my friend
Black leaders die young
Black leaders tend to meet their demise at a young age
They tell us that your words are scary
They inform us that your words are intimidating and alarming
They're revolutionary
They possess a revolutionary quality
Because we speak the truth
Since we boldly speak the truth
About crime and drugs
Addressing issues of crime and drug-related problems
And expose the real thugs
And unveiling the true culprits behind these issues
This info is not beneficial
This information is not advantageous
To the groups that go by three initials
To the organizations identified by acronyms consisting of three letters
So they try to discredit
Consequently, they attempt to undermine our credibility
They'll dog you with an edit
They will relentlessly pursue you and manipulate your words through editing
Print the words the way you never said it
Printing words in a manner that completely distorts your intended meaning
But we gotta make'em regret it, soldiers...
Nevertheless, we must ensure they regret their actions, my fellow soldiers...
Word! I know a lot of brothas out there want to get in this war...
Absolutely! I am aware that many brothers aspire to join this struggle...
You know what I'm sayin'? a lot of sistas got a lot of knowledge to drop on our people but right now they're movin' to shut down all hip-hop!
Do you understand me? Many sisters possess valuable wisdom to share with our community, but at present, there is an effort to suppress hip-hop entirely!
The first amendment had absolutely nothin' to do with black people at the time constitution was written, we were considered nothin' but property...
The initial intention behind the first amendment had no relevance to the rights of Black individuals when the Constitution was crafted β we were merely viewed as property...
The expectation of havin' black people speak on records never came to mind, so we gotta move!
The notion of Black people expressing themselves on records was never even considered, so now we must take action!
But belive me all the black leaders have been silenced and most of the time it's been violent so if you choose to get in this war, realize what you're in for but we gotta move on...
But trust me, all the Black leaders have been silenced, often through violent means, so if you decide to engage in this struggle, understand the dangers involved, but we must press forward...
And we gotta stay strong...
Furthermore, we need to remain resilient and resolute...
Message to the soldiers, welcome to the struggle...
This message is for all the soldiers fighting for justice β welcome to the ongoing battle...
Message to the soldiers, be careful, soldiers...
This message is for all the soldiers fighting for justice β exercise caution, my comrades...
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALPHONSO HENDERSON, TRACY LAUREN MARROW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
B. Rod Clark
'Queen Of The Nile' by Young-Holt Unlimited ('71) and 'Soul Power '74' by Maceo & The Macks ('73)...there's more to Ice-T than Law & Order...this knowledge was long before SVU!
suckermofo1
Grew up on the O.G. His shit's dope. Doper than anything now.
Renegade Pharmacy
thhose breaks and licks from jazzifyed
are amaxin
a pure inspiration
Kevin Barrett
Was listening to this when a little kid, a solider
flap jack
Wicked track ... you can be next .
Hussam Elnory
I am not a soldier I am Dr .
Paul gabbard
Like all old school hip-hop rap music old school hip-hop mix music old school hip-hop jam music old school hip-hop 90s music old school hip-hop ICE T TRACK 18 MESSAGE TO THE SOLDIER
assfold
dislikes must be a glitch or operator error
Keith Witcher
Ice T Message To The Soldier song is a classic. Home Invasion album is a classic. I don't like the album cover. I like Ice T.
TUFF GONG GB
JAHBLESS MARANATHA KYMRY SOULJAH ROCKERZ....