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.
New Jack Hustler
Ice-T Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Grit my teeth, spray till every nigga's gone.
Got my block sewn, armored dope spots,
Last thing I sweat's a sucka punk cop.
Move like a king when I roll, hops,
You try to flex, bang, another nigga drops.
You gotta deal with this cause there's no way out,
Why? Cash money ain't never gonna play out.
In my brain, I got a capitalist migraine.
I gotta get paid tonight, you muthafuckin right.
[something] my grip, check my bitch, keep my game tight.
So many hos on my jock, think I'm a movie star.
Nineteen, I got a fifty thousand dollar car.
Go to school, I ain't goin for it,
Kiss my ass, bust the cap on the Moet.
Cause I don't want to hear that crap,
Why? I'd rather be a New Jack-----Hustler
Hustler
Hustler
Hustler
H-you-S-T-L-E-are hustler
(kid drop in)
Yo man you know what I'm sayin?
You got it goin on my man, I like how it's goin down.
You got the fly cars, the girls, the jewels.
Look at that ring right there,
I know it's real, it's gotta be real.
Man, you the flyest nigga I seen in my life!
Yo man, I just want to roll with you man,
How can I be down?
What's up? You say you want to be down?
Ease back, or muthafucka get beat down.
Out my face, fool I'm the illest,
Bulletproof, I die harder than Bruce Willis.
Got my crew in effect, I bought em new Jags,
So much cash, gotta keep it in Hefty bags.
All I think about is keys and Gs
Imagine that, me workin at Mickey D's (ha ha ha ha).
That's a joke cause I'm never gonna be broke,
When I die there'll be bullets and gunsmoke.
Ya don't like my lifestyle? Fuck you!
I'm rollin with the New Jack crew.
And I'm a hustler.
H-you-S-T-L-E-are hustler
New Jack, New Jack..........
Here I come, so you better break North,
As I stride, my gold chains glide back and forth.
I care nothing bout you, and that's evident.
All I love's my dope and dead presidents.
Sound crazy? Well it isn't.
The ends justifies the means, that's the system.
I learned that in school then I dropped out,
Hit the streets, checked a grip, and now I got clout.
I had nothing, and I wanted it.
You had everything, and you flaunted it.
Turned the needy into the greedy,
With cocaine, my success came speedy.
Got me twisted, jammed into a paradox.
Every dollar I get, another brother drops.
Maybe that's the plan, and I don't understand,
God damn----you got me sinkin in quicksand.
But since I don't know, and I ain't never learned,
I gotta get paid, I got money to earn.
With my posse, out on the ave,
Bump my sounds, crack a forty and laugh.
Cool out and watch my new Benz gleam,
Is this a nightmare? Or the American dream?
So think twice if you're coming down my block,
You want to journey through hell? Well shit gets hot.
Pregnant teens, children's screams,
Life is weighed on the scales of a triple beam.
You don't come here much, and ya better not.
Wrong move (bang), ambulance cot.
I gotta get more money than you got,
So what, if some muthafucka gets shot?
That's how the game is played,
Another brother slayed, the wound is deep
BUT they're givin us a Band Aid.
My education's low but I got long dough,
Raised like a pit bull, my heart pumps nitro.
Sleep on silk, lie like a politician,
My Uzi's my best friend, cold as a mortician.
Lock me up, it's genocidal catastrophe,
There'll be another one after me!
A hustler.
Hustler.
H-you-S-T-L-E-are hustler.
New Jack, New Jack......
The song "New Jack Hustler" by Ice-T is a track about the life of a hustler. Ice-T describes himself as a kingpin of sorts. He talks to the listener about his ability to move in silence and take down anyone who gets in his way. He boasts about his stash house, his armored things, and his collection of cars. He points out that he's always armed and ready to shoot first to protect his interests.
Ice-T then talks about how he got into the game, which he essentially started on the streets. His life is all about money and power, and he'll do anything to stay on top. He sees his life as a mission to get money or "dead presidents." Ice-T is aware that it's a dangerous lifestyle, and he's got his Uzi as his best friend. He's proud of what he achieved in life, and he'll do anything to keep it.
The song is an excellent commentary on the cultural moment when hip-hop started expounding on the perils and fantasies of street life. By the early 1990s, Los Angeles was a hotbed for gang violence, and the crack epidemic outraged c̶i̶t̶i̶z̶e̶n̶s̶ politicians and communities everywhere. Police brutality, lack of community resources, and a faltering economy created a new form of hustlers needed to navigate and survive the difficult terrain. The song does an excellent job of capturing that atmosphere, signaling the importance of personal gain over everything else.
Line by Line Meaning
Hustler, word, I pull the trigger long,
I am a hustler who will not hesitate to use violence to defend my territory.
Grit my teeth, spray till every nigga's gone.
I will keep firing until every possible enemy is down.
Got my block sewn, armored dope spots,
I have complete control of my neighborhood and secure drug locations.
Last thing I sweat's a sucka punk cop.
I am confident that I am smarter than any police officer around here.
Move like a king when I roll, hops,
I act like a superior leader when around others.
You try to flex, bang, another nigga drops.
If anyone attempts to challenge me, they may be killed.
You gotta deal with this cause there's no way out,
You must confront me because there is no alternative.
Why? Cash money ain't never gonna play out.
Drugs are always in high demand and highly profitable.
I got nothin to lose, much to gain,
I started from the bottom and have everything to win.
In my brain, I got a capitalist migraine.
I am fully committed to capitalism and the idea of making money above all else.
I gotta get paid tonight, you muthafuckin right.
I absolutely must have my payment soon to keep going.
[something] my grip, check my bitch, keep my game tight.
I focus on holding money tight, keeping a close eye on my partner, and maintaining constant readiness.
So many hos on my jock, think I'm a movie star.
Girls think I am worth attention because I am a successful drug dealer.
Nineteen, I got a fifty thousand dollar car.
I am barely an adult and already have a very luxurious car.
Go to school, I ain't goin for it,
I choose the easy way of making money over education.
Kiss my ass, bust the cap on the Moet.
I do not care for or want to hear any criticism; I will continue celebrating my success.
Cause I don't want to hear that crap,
I do not want to listen to or acknowledge the downsides of my situation.
Why? I'd rather be a New Jack-----Hustler
I embrace the identity of a New Jack Hustler and do not care about what other people think of me.
Yo man you know what I'm sayin?
I express admiration towards the individual.
You got it goin on my man, I like how it's goin down.
I approve of and am impressed by the other person's success.
You got the fly cars, the girls, the jewels.
You have the glamorous attributes of a successful drug dealer.
Look at that ring right there,
That expensive ring is a symbol of your success.
I know it's real, it's gotta be real.
The ring seems to be genuine and symbolizes your real success.
Man, you the flyest nigga I seen in my life!
You are the most impressive person I have ever met.
Yo man, I just want to roll with you man,
I would like to join up with you and share in your success.
How can I be down?
Can I please become a loyal part of your team?
What's up? You say you want to be down?
You have expressed interest in joining my crew?
Ease back, or muthafucka get beat down.
Back off, or face the consequences.
Out my face, fool I'm the illest,
Leave me alone; I am the most powerful and successful around.
Bulletproof, I die harder than Bruce Willis.
I am fearless, tough, and capable of surviving anything.
Got my crew in effect, I bought em new Jags,
I have provided for my crew and they now enjoy luxury as well.
So much cash, gotta keep it in Hefty bags.
I make so much money that I store it in large bags.
All I think about is keys and Gs
All I care about is the quantities of drugs and money I possess.
Imagine that, me workin at Mickey D's (ha ha ha ha).
It is laughable to me that I would have to work such a low-paying job.
That's a joke cause I'm never gonna be broke,
I cannot envision a scenario where I would ever be broke.
When I die there'll be bullets and gunsmoke.
My lifestyle will inevitably end in violence and tragedy.
Ya don't like my lifestyle? Fuck you!
I do not care about your disapproval of my chosen way of life.
I'm rollin with the New Jack crew.
I am part of a group of young, aggressive, and successful drug dealers.
And I'm a hustler.
I am proud of my ability to succeed through hard work and dishonest activities.
Here I come, so you better break North,
I am approaching; you better leave or run away.
As I stride, my gold chains glide back and forth.
I wear expensive gold chains that swing as I walk.
I care nothing bout you, and that's evident.
I have no regard for your well-being and it is clear.
All I love's my dope and dead presidents.
I only care about drugs and money.
Sound crazy? Well it isn't.
My behaviors and beliefs may look strange, but to me they make sense.
The ends justifies the means, that's the system.
I justify my criminal behavior under the premise that achieving my goals is worth any means necessary.
I learned that in school then I dropped out,
I may have abandoned traditional education, but I still picked up valuable lessons.
Hit the streets, checked a grip, and now I got clout.
I left school to make useful connections with profitable people, and now I am successful as a result.
I had nothing, and I wanted it.
I grew up poor and my current successful lifestyle is motivated by my past struggles.
You had everything, and you flaunted it.
I envy your prior life of privilege and feel like you did not appreciate it.
Turned the needy into the greedy,
I successfully exploited those who were vulnerable for my own gain.
With cocaine, my success came speedy.
I found rapid financial success through selling cocaine.
Got me twisted, jammed into a paradox.
My situation has become complicated and confusing despite my success.
Every dollar I get, another brother drops.
My wealth and success are tied to the destruction of others who tried to compete with me.
Maybe that's the plan, and I don't understand,
It is possible that the system is set up to benefit me even if I do not perceive it.
God damn----you got me sinkin in quicksand.
I am becoming increasingly entrenched in my this life, and it is surprisingly difficult to escape.
But since I don't know, and I ain't never learned,
Since I never learned a better way to live, I must continue on this path.
I gotta get paid, I got money to earn.
I need to keep making money to keep driving deeper into this lifestyle.
With my posse, out on the ave,
I hang out with my crew on the streets.
Bump my sounds, crack a forty and laugh.
We listen to music and joke around, drinking forties of malt liquor.
Cool out and watch my new Benz gleam,
We relax and admire my brand new Benz, which looks very shiny and fancy.
Is this a nightmare? Or the American dream?
I cannot tell if my current success is good or bad.
So think twice if you're coming down my block,
Think twice before confronting or challenging me.
You want to journey through hell? Well shit gets hot.
If you try something, be ready for the dangerous and difficult road ahead.
Pregnant teens, children's screams,
The area I control is dangerous and full of human suffering.
Life is weighed on the scales of a triple beam.
My life and success are judged only by how much money I have made.
You don't come here much, and ya better not.
Avoid coming here if you can, because it is dangerous and unsavory.
Wrong move (bang), ambulance cot.
Making the wrong move can cost you dearly, such as losing your life or ending up in the ambulance.
I gotta get more money than you got,
I am consumed by a burning desire to be richer than anyone else.
So what, if some muthafucka gets shot?
I am so obsessed with making more money that I do not care if others suffer or are hurt in the process.
That's how the game is played,
This criminal business is brutal and ruthless.
Another brother slayed, the wound is deep,
I have lost friends and associates; their deaths have been painful and difficult.
BUT they're givin us a Band-Aid.
The government and society offer only small solutions that do little to heal the damage.
My education's low but I got long dough,
Even though I am poorly educated, I have a lot of money.
Raised like a pit bull, my heart pumps nitro.
I was raised to be as fierce and powerful as a pit bull dog.
Sleep on silk, lie like a politician,
I live luxuriously and am capable of deceptively making anything sound good.
My Uzi's my best friend, cold as a mortician.
My gun is always with me, and I am willing to kill without feeling remorse or showing emotion.
Lock me up, it's genocidal catastrophe,
Locking me up would be a terrible mistake and lead to more death and destruction.
There'll be another one after me!
Even if you take me down, others will come after me and have the same motivations and determination.
A hustler.
I am a successful drug dealer and criminal hustler.
New Jack, New Jack......
I belong and identify with the roughness and intensity of the New Jack culture.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TRACY LAUREN MARROW, ALPHONSO HENDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheLousalvador
Anyone born in the 70’s and still rocking this in 2023?? ✌🏽
@jowhit226
Fa sho, no let up
@gregward5328
Born in 1970, in South Wales in the UK. I was into punk, metal and was playing drums at 17. I came across Public Enemy and Ice-T not long after. I started playing Hip-Hop beats along with mostly Thrash Metal and any genre of punk but those Hip-Hop beats really put some groove into my style.
Absolutely delighted to catch PE, ICE-T AND BODY COUNT on the same line up at an outside festival. Superb.
@nidbars2455
Born in the 90s and rockin this in 2023😁
@arturoalmazan5262
yup dude. born in 72 and still listening to the good shit. real RAP music.
@BadTV1993
heck im trying to buy that LA KINGS trenchcoat right now!
@danielhernandez3019
This came out 31 years ago and it still sounds better than today's music
@gregmartinez8274
Muthafuckin right
@Arvence
EXACTLY! WAAAAAY BETTER THAN TODAY'S MUSIC!!! 🔥🔥
@justinvermilyea7640
Fn a is all I gotta say